In Greek mythology, Phorbas (Ancient Greek: ) or Phorbaceus was the sixth king of Argos.Augustine, City of God 18.8; Eusebius, Chronography 66; Tatian, Address to the Greeks 39
Family Phorbas was given two different parentage and progeny by various sources. According to scholia on Euripides, his parents were Criasus and Melantho (MelantomiceAugustine, City of God 18.8), brother of Ereuthalion and Cleoboea and father of Arestor and Triopas by Euboea.Scholia ad Euripides, Phoenician Women 1116; ad Orestes 932 While Pausanias stated that Phorbas was the son of Argus, brother of Peirasus and possibly Tiryns and Epidaurus as they were sons of Argus.Pausanias, 2.16.1 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.Apollonius Rhodius, 1.176; Pausanias, 7.26.12 +Comparative table of Phorbas' familyRelationNamesSourcesEuripidesPausaniasSch. on PWParentsCriasus and Melantho✓Argus✓SiblingEreuthalion✓Cleoboea✓Peirasus✓Tiryns✓Epidaurus✓WifeEuboea✓ ChildrenArestor✓Triopas✓✓Pellen✓
Reign According to Tatiānus, he may have been a king of Argos himself, succeeding either Argus or Criasus.Tatian, Address to the Greeks 39 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.Eusebius, Preparation for the Gospel 10.11.2 During Phorbas' reign, Cecrops Diphyes became the first king of the Athenians.Eusebius, Chronography 66
PHORBAS' CHRONOLOGY OF REIGN ACCORDING TO VARIOUS SOURCESKings of ArgosRegnal YearsCastorRegnal YearsSyncellusRegnal YearsTatianRegnal YearsPausaniasPrecessor1569.554 winters & summersCriasus156754 winters & summersCriasus1575Criasus1600ArgusPhorbas1542.535 winters & summersPhorbas1539.525 winters & summersPhorbas1550Phorbas1575PhorbasSuccessor152546 winters & summersTriopas152736 winters & summersTriopas1525Triopas1550Triopas
Notes
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. . 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