title: Phorbas of Thessaly
text: # Phorbas of Thessaly
  
  In Greek mythology, Phorbas (Ancient Greek: Φόρβας, gen. Φόρβαντος) or Phorbaceus was a Thessalian prince and hero of the island of Rhodes. He was sometimes confounded with the Phlegyan Phorbas.
  
  ## Family
  
  Phorbas was the son of Triopas and Hiscilla, daughter of Myrmidon, and thus brother to Erysichthon and Iphimedia, mother of the Aloads. He was probably the Phorbas who was identified as the father of Pelles, founder of Achaean Pellene, who fathered Hyperasius, father of the Argonauts Amphion and Asterius.
  
  ## Mythology
  
  When the people of the island of Rhodes fell victim to a plague of masses of serpents (may have been dragons or simply snakes), an oracle directed them to call on a man named Phorbas. Phorbas cleansed the island of the snakes and in gratitude the Rhodians venerated him as a hero. For his achievement he won a place among the stars as the constellation Serpentarius or Ophiuchus.
  
  According to an early account, before his departure, Phorbas was a rival in love of the god Apollo. In a later account he was portrayed as Apollo's lover, consequently dying.
  
  