Meliad was ruled by King Iphicles and Queen Camilla. The patron god of Meliad was Dionysus and every year, the citizens held a festival after the creation of the New Wine. A group of virgins would drink the wine and, through it, Dionysus would tell them whether the king of Meliad should rule for another year or be killed and replaced. Hercules visited Meliad during this festival when Prince Pentheus plotted with Ares to kill the king and succeed him.