ABSTRACT
In historical times Triphylia is the central area of the western Peloponnese. To the north is Elis, to the east Arcadia, to the south Messenia. The Triphylians feel affinity with the Arcadians, but are progressively taken over by the West-Greek Eleans. A different picture of Melampous emerges at the Alpheios, northern margin of Triphylia: there he 'acquired the skill of prophecy by sacrificial victims; and, meeting with Apollo at the Alpheios, in future he was the best seer'. Melampous' father is Amythaon, a figure more faded even than Proitos or Neleus: he has, as Robert observes, 'no story of his own', and in the whole of Greek art he may be depicted once. The location of the myth indicates a ritual at the Artemis shrine at Ledrinoi, on the banks of the Alpheios. The river forms a margin, its mouth is another margin, and the area is specially sacred.
