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Oenomauss

Oenomauss, a variant spelling of Oenomaus, is a figure in Greek mythology who ruled the city of Pisa in the region of Elis. He is best known as the aging king who presided over a deadly series of chariot races to decide the fate of his daughter Hippodamia in marriage.

According to myth, Oenomaus challenged every suitor to a chariot race, promising death to those who failed.

The tale of Oenomaus is a common motif in Greek myth—the deadly chariot race as a contest

The
most
famous
contestant
was
Pelops,
who
sought
Hippodamia's
hand.
Pelops
secured
victory
with
the
aid
of
Myrtilus,
the
king's
charioteer,
by
bribing
him
to
sabotage
the
king's
chariot.
Myrtilus
allegedly
replaced
the
pins
with
wax,
causing
the
axle
to
fail
during
the
race
and
leading
to
Oenomaus's
death.
Pelops
won
Hippodamia
and
became
king
of
Pisa.
Afterward,
Myrtilus
was
killed
by
Pelops,
and
in
some
versions
of
the
tale
the
bribe-taker's
death
is
said
to
be
followed
by
a
curse
on
Pelops's
line.
of
prowess
and
fate—and
it
serves
as
part
of
the
origin
narrative
for
the
Pelopid
dynasty
that
features
prominently
in
later
myths
about
the
House
of
Atreus.
The
name
Oenomaus
has
variant
spellings,
including
Oinomaos,
and
is
mentioned
by
authors
such
as
Apollodorus
and
Pausanias
as
part
of
the
broader
mythography
of
Elis
and
the
legendary
precursors
to
the
Olympic
era.