Phorbas (son of Triopas)

For other uses, see Phorbas.

In Greek mythology, Phorbas^{[pronunciation?]} (Ancient Greek: Φόρβας, gen. Φόρβαντος) or Phorbaceus^{[pronunciation?]} was a Thessalian prince and hero of the island of Rhodes. He was sometimes confounded with the Phlegyan Phorbas.^[1]

Family

Phorbas was the son of Triopas^[2] and Hiscilla, daughter of Myrmidon,^[3] and thus brother to Erysichthon^[4] and Iphimedia, mother of the Aloads.^[5] He was probably the Phorbas who was identified as the father of Pelles,^[6] founder of Achaean Pellene, who fathered Hyperasius, father of the Argonauts Amphion and Asterius.^[7]

Mythology

When the people of the island of Rhodes fell victim to a plague of masses of serpents (may have been dragons or simply snakes), an oracle directed them to call on a man named Phorbas. Phorbas cleansed the island of the snakes and in gratitude the Rhodians venerated him as a hero. For his achievement he won a place among the stars as the constellation Serpentarius or Ophiuchus.^[3]

According to an early account, before his departure, Phorbas was a rival in love of the god Apollo.^[2] In a later account he was portrayed as Apollo's lover, consequently dying.^{[8][failed verification]}