| Type: | Greek |
| Lelex | |
| Deity Of: | First king of Lelegia |
| Abode: | Lelegia (later called Laconia) |
| Consort: | (1) Cleocharia (2) unknown (3) Peridia (4) unknown (5) unknown |
| Parents: | (a) autochthonous (b) Poseidon (c) Helios (d) Spartus |
| Siblings: | unknown |
| Children: | (1) Eurotas (2) Myles and Polycaon (3) Myles, Polyclon, Bomolochus and Therapne (4) Amyclas (5) Lakonia |
| Successor: | Myles |
| Predecessor: | none |
| Member Of: | the Sparta Royal Family |
In Greek mythology, Lelex (; Ancient Greek: Λέλεξ, gen. Λέλεγος) was one of the original inhabitants of Laconia which was called after him, its first king, Lelegia.
Lelex was said to be autochthonous[1] or his father was the sun-god Helios or the sea-god Poseidon.[2] He was married to the Naiad nymph Cleocharia and became the father of several sons, including Eurotas,[3] and possibly Myles and Polycaon.[4] Some called his wife Peridia and their children were Myles, Polyclon, Bomolochus and Therapne.[5]
In one tradition, again, Lelex was described as the son of Spartus, and father of Amyclas.[6] The eponymous heroine Lakonia was credited to be a daughter of Lelex as well.
Through Myles, Lelex was the grandfather of Eurotas, who had a daughter named Sparta.[7] This woman later marry Lacedaemon[8] who named the city of Sparta after his wife; however, the city's name would also be his own, as it was called either Lacedaemon or Sparta interchangeably.
Sources indicate that Perseus was a descendant of Lelex. The latter's great-granddaughter Sparta gave birth to a daughter named Eurydice who had married Acrisius, the king of Argos. Eurydice became the mother of Danaë, thus making her Perseus’ grandmother.[9]
Lelex appears to have been conceived by ancient mythographers as the eponymous founder of the Leleges, a semi-mythical people who lived on both sides of the Aegean Sea.[10] He had a heroön at Sparta.[11]