Phorbas (king of Argos)

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In Greek mythology, Phorbas[pronunciation?] (Ancient Greek: Φόρβας, gen. Φόρβαντος) or Phorbaceus[pronunciation?] was the sixth king of Argos.[1]

Family[]

Phorbas was given two different parentage and progeny by various sources. According to scholia on Euripides, his parents were Criasus and Melantho ([2]), brother of Ereuthalion and Cleoboea and father of Arestor and Triopas by Euboea.[3] While Pausanias stated that Phorbas was the son of Argus, brother of Peirasus and possibly Tiryns and Epidaurus as they were sons of Argus.[4] His mother in the latter case maybe Evadne, daughter of river god Strymon. In which case, both authors agree that he had a son Triopas who also became a king after him. Another son, Pellen (Pelles) was credited to be the founder of the city of Pellene in Achaea.[5]

Comparative table of Phorbas' family
Relation Names Sources
Euripides Pausanias
Sch. on PW
Parents Criasus and Melantho ✓
Argus ✓
Sibling Ereuthalion ✓
Cleoboea ✓
Peirasus ✓
Tiryns ✓
Epidaurus ✓
Wife Euboea ✓
Children Arestor ✓
Triopas ✓ ✓
Pellen ✓

Reign[]

According to Tatiānus, he may have been a king of Argos himself, succeeding either Argus or Criasus.[6] Eusebius included him in the list of kings of Argos, in which he reigned for thirty five years and was succeeded by Triopas. He was a contemporary of Actaeus, the first king of Attica who named the country after himself, Actaea.[7] During Phorbas' reign, Cecrops Diphyes became the first king of the Athenians.[8]

Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Argos Succeeded by
PHORBAS' CHRONOLOGY OF REIGN ACCORDING TO VARIOUS SOURCES
Kings of Argos Regnal Years Castor Regnal Years Syncellus Regnal Years Tatian Regnal Years Pausanias
Precessor 1569.5 54 winters & summers Criasus 1567 54 winters & summers Criasus 1575 Criasus 1600 Argus
Phorbas 1542.5 35 winters & summers Phorbas 1539.5 25 winters & summers Phorbas 1550 Phorbas 1575 Phorbas
Successor 1525 46 winters & summers Triopas 1527 36 winters & summers Triopas 1525 Triopas 1550 Triopas

Notes[]

  1. ^ Augustine, City of God 18.8; Eusebius, Chronography 66; Tatian, Address to the Greeks 39
  2. ^ Augustine, City of God 18.8
  3. ^ Scholia on Euripides, Phoenician Women 1116: on Orestes 932
  4. ^ Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 2.16.1
  5. ^ Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 1.176; Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 7.26.12
  6. ^ Tatian, Address to the Greeks 39
  7. ^ Eusebius, Preparation for the Gospel 10.11.2
  8. ^ Eusebius, Chronography 66

References[]

  • Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica translated by Robert Cooper Seaton (1853-1915), R. C. Loeb Classical Library Volume 001. London, William Heinemann Ltd, 1912. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
  • Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica. George W. Mooney. London. Longmans, Green. 1912. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
  • Pausanias, Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. ISBN 0-674-99328-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
  • Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio. 3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
  • William Smith. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology s.v. Phorbas


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