Phorbas (king of Argos)

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]

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]