Phorcys in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Phorcys

8 passages from 5 ancient authors that tell of Phorcys, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Phorcys is a sea god in Greek mythology, known for his role as the father of numerous monstrous creatures. Born from Pontus and Gaia, he embodies the hidden dangers of the deep ocean. For the story in one place, read our article on Phorcys.

Hesiod (3)

Hesiod, Theogony 265–304Iris, the Harpies, the Graiai, Gorgons and Echidna (265-304)Thaumas and Electra have Iris and the Harpies, and Phorcys and Ceto have the Graiai and the Gorgons. Poseidon lies with Medusa, and when Perseus cuts off her head Chrysaor and the horse Pegasus spring forth; Chrysaor has the three-headed Geryon, whom Heracles kills. The section ends with Echidna, the monstrous child of Ceto and Phorcys, half nymph and half huge snake, who lives in a cave in Arima.
Hesiod, Theogony 210–264Night's children, Strife's children and the Nereids (210-264)Night bears Doom, Fate and Death, Sleep and the tribe of Dreams, and then Blame, Woe, the Hesperides, the Fates and Nemesis; Strife in turn bears Toil, Forgetfulness, Famine and other sorrows. Pontus begets Nereus, the truthful Old Man of the Sea, and then Thaumas, Phorcys, Ceto and Eurybia; Nereus and Doris have fifty daughters, whom the section names.
Hesiod, Theogony 305–334Echidna's offspring: Cerberus, the Hydra, the Chimaera and the Sphinx (305-334)Typhaon is joined in love to Echidna, and their offspring are Orthus, Cerberus, the Hydra and the Chimaera. The Hydra is nourished by Hera and killed by Heracles with Iolaus's help, and the Chimaera is killed by Pegasus and Bellerophon. Echidna and Orthus bear the Sphinx and the Nemean lion, which Hera rears, and the section ends with Ceto and Phorcys's youngest child, the serpent that guards the golden apples.

Homer (2)

Homer, Iliad 17.233–365The Achaeans rally round the body of PatroclusThe Trojans charge in a mass, hoping to drag the body away, and Ajax tells Menelaus to call the Achaean chiefs. The Achaeans fight over the body, and Ajax kills Hippothous. Apollo, in the likeness of Periphas, urges Aeneas to stand fast, and the Achaeans fall back, though fewer of them are killed because they guard one another in the throng.
Homer, Odyssey 13.287–371Athena reveals herselfAthena smiles, takes the form of a tall, handsome woman, and tells him that he is a master of tricks but that she too is cunning and loves him. She says that this is Ithaca, and she scatters the mist so that he sees the harbour of Phorcys and the cave of the nymphs. They hide his treasure in the cave and set a stone at the door.

Aeschylus (1)

Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 786–876Second episode (cont.): the wanderings of Io (2) and her descendantsPrometheus goes on to tell Io of the rest of her way: across to Asia, to the Gorgons and the daughters of Phorcys, and then to the Nile, where Zeus will restore her to her senses and she will bear Epaphus. He foretells that the fifty daughters of one of her descendants will come back to Argos and that all but one will kill their husbands. From the one who spares her husband will come a bold archer who will free Prometheus.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 4.663–801Perseus and AndromedaPerseus sees Andromeda, chained to a rock to be devoured by a sea-monster because her mother Cassiope boasted of her beauty. He strikes the monster from the air with his sword, kills it, and wins Andromeda, and her parents agree to the marriage. He lays the Gorgon's head on a bed of seaweed, which turns to coral, and sets up altars to Athena (Minerva), Hermes (Mercury) and Zeus (Jupiter). At the wedding feast he tells how Medusa won her serpent hair.

Nonnus of Panopolis (1)

Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca 25.0–79Book 25: The poet's invocation; Dionysos set beside PerseusThe poet invokes the Muse and Thebes, announcing that he will sing only the last year of the war, and says he will measure the valour of Dionysos against that of the sons of Zeus. He begins with Perseus, who beheaded the Gorgon and then fled, and contrasts him with Dionysos, who defeated whole armies and fought the river.