Phineus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Phineus

12 passages from 5 ancient authors that tell of Phineus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Phineus was a king of the region of Thrace in Greek mythology, as well as a seer. He appeared in the myth of Jason and the Argonauts, on their way to ... For the story in one place, read our article on Phineus.

Hesiod (2)

Hesiod, Fragments 1.30–49Arcadia and the voyage of the ArgonautsThe first fragments name Pelasgus and Lycaon and the Arcadian sons of Lycaon. Most of the section concerns the Argo, with Phrixus and the ram, Phineus blinded for revealing the future, the Harpies, and the Argonauts' journey through Ocean and Libya.
Hesiod, Fragments 1.19–29Agenor's line, Thebes and BoeotiaThese fragments give the children of Phoenix and Agenor, including Europa, Phineus and Adonis, and then the children of Niobe and the death of Oedipus at Thebes. The rest are brief notes on places and people of Boeotia, such as the river Cephisus, Arnae and Onchestus.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.15.1–3.16.2Erechtheus, Aegeus, Minos's war on Athens and the birth of TheseusPandion's sons divide his inheritance and Erechtheus becomes king; his daughters include Procris, killed accidentally by Cephalus, and Orithyia, carried off by Boreas. The section covers Cleopatra and Phineus, Eumolpus and the war with Erechtheus, who sacrifices his daughter, and Aegeus and his marriages. Minos, to avenge Androgeus, takes Megara through Scylla's treachery and imposes the tribute of youths and maidens for the Minotaur. It ends with the birth of Theseus to Aethra and his first two labours, where the surviving text of the Library breaks off.

Sophocles (1)

Sophocles, Antigone 944–987Fourth stasimon: those shut in stoneThe Chorus sing of others who were shut away: Danae, held in a brass-bound chamber although she was of a noble line and carried the seed of Zeus, the Edonian king, son of Dryas, shut in a rocky prison by Dionysus for mocking the god, and the two sons of Phineus, blinded by their father's savage wife. They say that fate is mysterious and cannot be escaped by wealth or by war.

Apollonius Rhodius (7)

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.178–300Phineus and the HarpiesPhineus tells the heroes how Zeus blinded him for misusing his gift of prophecy, and how the Harpies snatch his food. Zetes and Calais, the sons of Boreas, chase the Harpies away from his table, and Iris stops them from killing them by swearing on the Styx that the Harpies will not trouble Phineus again.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.301–447Phineus' prophecy of the voyage to ColchisFed at last, Phineus tells the heroes how to pass the Clashing Rocks with a dove, and names the peoples and coasts on the way to Colchis: the Mariandyni, the Amazons, the Chalybes, the isle of Ares and the Phasis. When Jason asks about the way home he says that a god will guide them and bids them rely on Cypris. The sons of Boreas return, and Phineus says he wants only death.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.448–527Paraebius and the Etesian windsAt dawn Phineus' neighbours gather, among them Paraebius, whose family had been cursed because his father cut down a Hamadryad's oak, and Phineus tells how he lifted the curse. Paraebius brings sheep for the heroes. The poet then tells how Aristaeus, at the bidding of Zeus, brought the yearly Etesian winds from Ceos.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.528–647Through the Clashing RocksAfter days of gifts from the Thynians the heroes leave Phineus' land, and Euphemus carries a dove to the Clashing Rocks. The dove passes through, losing only its tail feathers; the heroes row hard, Athena holds back one rock, and Argo comes through with only the tip of her stern ornament lost. Jason confesses his fears and the heroes cheer him.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.1030–1225The birds of Ares and the sons of PhrixusNear the island of Ares the heroes scare off the birds that shoot their feathers like arrows, by wearing helmets and clashing shields. On the island they find the four shipwrecked sons of Phrixus, who are Jason's kinsmen, and who tell them of Aeetes and the sleepless serpent. Argus agrees to guide the Argonauts to Colchis.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3.439–575The heroes decide to ask Medea for helpMedea, tormented by love, fears for the stranger's life. Argus tells Jason that Medea knows magic and should be asked for help, and after Peleus, Telamon and Idas offer to face the contest, an omen of a dove escaping a hawk, which Mopsus reads as the will of Cypris, persuades the heroes. Idas scorns the plan, and Argus is sent back to the city.
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.99–177The Bebrycians are routed; arrival at Phineus' landThe Bebrycians attack with clubs and spears, but the Argonauts drive them off, and the Mariandyni under Lycus raid their land. After a night of sacrifice and song Argo passes through the Bosporus and moors on the Bithynian coast opposite, in the land of Phineus.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 7.1–158Jason and MedeaThe Argonauts, after freeing King Phineus from the Harpies, reach Colchis, and Jason demands the Golden Fleece from King Aeetes, who sets him impossible tasks. Medea, the king's daughter, falls in love with the stranger, torn between love and duty, and at last gives way, deciding to save him if he will swear to marry her. She gives him a charm to protect him against the fire-breathing bulls, and he yokes them, ploughs the field, sows the dragon's teeth, and kills the armed men that spring from them by throwing a stone among them. Medea then lulls the dragon to sleep, and Jason takes the fleece and sails away with her to Iolcus.