Phorbas (king of Argos)

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

For other uses, see Phorbas.

Family

Phorbas was given two different parentage and progeny by various sources. According to scholia on Euripides, his parents were Criasus and Melantho (Melantomice[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]

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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