Phorcys (Trojan War)

Last updated

In Greek mythology, Phorcys ( /ˈfɔːrsɪs/ ; Ancient Greek : Φόρκυς , Phorkus) was a Phrygian ally of King Priam in the Trojan War. Phorcys appears in The Iliad as the leader of the Phrygians, a son of Phaenops. [1] The Bibliotheca , however, refers to him as a son of Aretaon and brother of Ascanius, another Phrygian leader. [2] Phorcys is mentioned among the Trojan allies whom Hector addresses with a speech in Book 17 of the Iliad. [3] He was killed in battle by the Greek hero Ajax. [4]

Greek mythology body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks

Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks. These stories concern the origin and the nature of the world, the lives and activities of deities, heroes, and mythological creatures, and the origins and significance of the ancient Greeks' own cult and ritual practices. Modern scholars study the myths in an attempt to shed light on the religious and political institutions of ancient Greece and its civilization, and to gain understanding of the nature of myth-making itself.

Phrygia ancient kingdom in Anatolia

In classical antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now Asian Turkey, centered on the Sangarios River. After its conquest, it became a region of the great empires of the time.

Priam mythological king of Troy

In Greek mythology, Priam was the legendary king of Troy during the Trojan War. His many children included notable characters like Hector and Paris.

Phorcys is referenced in Pausanias' Description of Greece: the author explains that Phorcys was referred to as "shieldless" in the Iliad because he was wearing a two-piece corselet, which was thought to provide enough protection in the battle. [5]

Pausanias (geographer) 2nd-century AD Greek geographer

Pausanias was a Greek traveler and geographer of the second-century AD, who lived in the time of Roman emperors Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. He is famous for his Description of Greece, a lengthy work that describes ancient Greece from his first-hand observations. This work provides crucial information for making links between classical literature and modern archaeology. Andrew Stewart assesses him as:

A careful, pedestrian writer...interested not only in the grandiose or the exquisite but in unusual sights and obscure ritual. He is occasionally careless or makes unwarranted inferences, and his guides or even his own notes sometimes mislead him, yet his honesty is unquestionable, and his value without par.

Related Research Articles

There were several figures named Elatus or Élatos (Ἔλατος) in Greek mythology.


In Greek mythology, Polyxenus or Polyxeinus is a name that may refer to:

Lycomedes king in Greek mythology

The name Lycomedes may refer to several characters in Greek mythology, of whom the most prominent was the king of Scyros during the Trojan War.

In Greek mythology and history, there were at least eight men named Medon.

In Greek mythology, Iasus or Iasius was the name of several people:

In Greek mythology, Bias may refer to the following characters:

In Greek mythology, Hicetaon may refer to:

In Greek mythology, there were eleven people named Melanippus :

In Greek mythology and history, Promachus is a name that refers to several different people.

In Greek mythology, King Mygdon of Phrygia, was a son of Acmon and father of Coroebus by his wife Anaximene.

Menestheus, the son of Peteus, son of Orneus, son of Erechtheus, and either Polyxene or Mnesimache, was a legendary King of Athens during the Trojan War.

In Greek mythology, Agapenor was a leader of the Arcadians in the Trojan war.

In Greek mythology, Elephenor was the king of the Abantes of Euboea.

In Greek mythology, Prothous (Πρόθοος) may refer to:

In Greek mythology, the name Hyperenor( ; Ancient Greek: Ὺπερήνωρ means "man who comes up") may refer to:

In Greek mythology, Peneleos or, less commonly, Peneleus, son of Hippalcimus (Hippalmus) and Asterope, was an Achaean soldier in the Trojan War.

In Greek mythology, Leitus was a leader of the Boeotians and admiral of 12 ships which sailed against Troy.

In Greek mythology, Eioneus is a name attributed to the following individuals:

In Greek mythology, Eurypylus was a Thessalian king.

In Greek mythology, the Trojan Leaders were those who responded to the summon of King Priam of Troy as allies against the Achaean invaders during the Trojan War.

References

  1. ↑ Homer, Iliad , 2. 862
  2. ↑ Bibliotheca Epitome of Book 4, 3. 35
  3. ↑ Homer, Iliad , 17. 218
  4. ↑ Homer, Iliad , 17. 312 ff
  5. ↑ Pausanias, Description of Greece, 10. 26. 6


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.