Phoroneus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Phoroneus

7 passages from 2 ancient authors that tell of Phoroneus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Phoroneus was the primordial king of the city of Argos in Greek mythology, and a hero of the area. He was the son of the river god Inachus and either ... For the story in one place, read our article on Phoroneus.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.1.1–5Inachus, Io and the DanaidsThe line of Inachus of Argos runs through Phoroneus and Apis to Argus the All-seeing, whom Hermes kills while he guards Io, whom Zeus has turned into a cow. Io wanders to Egypt and bears Epaphus, whose descendants include the twins Belus and Agenor. Belus's twin sons Aegyptus and Danaus quarrel over the kingdom, Danaus flees to Argos with his fifty daughters, and they are married to Aegyptus's sons and kill them on the wedding night, all but Hypermnestra, who spares Lynceus.

Pausanias (6)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.16.1–7Mycenae: Perseus, the Argive kings, the Lion Gate and the tombsPausanias lists the Argive kings from Argos and Triopas to Danaus and Lynceus, the division between Acrisius and Proetus, and the death of Acrisius by Perseus’ quoit. He gives accounts of why Perseus founded Mycenae, and of how the Argives later destroyed it. He describes the surviving walls with the lion gate, the Persea fountain, the treasuries of Atreus and the graves of Agamemnon and his companions, with Clytemnestra and Aegisthus outside the walls.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.15.1–5Cleonae and Nemea; Mycenae and the early Argive legends of Inachus and PhoroneusOn the road to Argos Pausanias describes Cleonae, with its Athena by Scyllis and Dipoenus and the tomb of Eurytus and Cteatus, and the Nemean region: the lion’s cave, the temple of Nemean Zeus, the grave of Opheltes and Mount Apesas. He then begins the Argive legends, covering Inachus, the dispute of Poseidon and Hera over the land, and Phoroneus, who first gathered mankind.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.19.1–8Argos: the temple of Wolfish Apollo and the story of DanausPausanias finishes the early Argive kings, from Temenus and Deiphontes to Meltas, whom the people deposed. He then describes the sanctuary of Wolfish Apollo, founded by Danaus after a wolf killed a bull before the Argives’ judgment, with the throne of Danaus, the statue of Biton, the fire of Phoroneus, images of Aphrodite and Hermes, and the tale of Hypermnestra. He ends with the graves of the two Linuses and the altar where the Seven swore their oath.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.34.1–12Methana and Hermionis: the coast and the old and new cities of HermionPausanias describes Methana, with its hot springs, the rite against the south-west wind and the Isles of Pelops, then the origins of Hermion and the Dorian settlement. He follows the road from Troezen to Hermion, past Cape Scyllaeum with its story of Scylla and Minos, the islands and capes of the coast, Mount Buporthmus and the promontory where old Hermion stood. He ends with the sights of the present city, including the temples of Aphrodite of the Deep Sea and of Demeter Warmth.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.39.1–6Eleusis to Megara: the Flowery Well, graves of the Seven and early MegaraOn the road from Eleusis to Megara Pausanias notes the Flowery Well where Demeter sat, the sanctuary of Metanira and the graves of the heroes who marched against Thebes, buried by Theseus. He adds the tomb of Alope and the wrestling-ground of Cercyon, then crosses into Megaris and gives the competing Megarian and Boeotian accounts of its origins, from Car, Lelex and Nisus to Sciron, Megareus and the Dorian takeover.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.20.1–10Argos: Gracious Zeus, the Seven against Thebes and TelesillaAt Argos Pausanias describes the statue of Gracious Zeus by Polyclitus, set up after the Argives destroyed the thousand-man regiment of Bryas, then the relief of Cleobis and Biton and sanctuaries of Nemean Zeus and Fortune. He lists the statues of the Seven against Thebes and the later captors of Thebes, the tombs of Danaus and Cephisus’ shrine, and the theatre group of Perilaus and Othryadas. He ends with the sanctuary of Aphrodite and the story of Telesilla and the women who repelled Cleomenes.