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