- Phorbas
In
Greek mythology , Phorbas (Greek: Φόρβας) or Phorbaceus, native toThessaloniki , was the son of Lapithes and Orsinome, and a brother ofPeriphas . When the people of the island ofRhodes fell victim to a plague of masses ofserpent s (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 orOphiuchus .Other less well-supported traditions have Phorbas as the father of
Augeas (perhaps he of theAugean Stables ), or as a well-known boxer who was eventually defeated byApollo .Phorbas is also the name of a character in a play by
Seneca the Younger entitled "Oedipus". Phorbas, a shepherd, finds the infantOedipus on the hillside and ensures his survival to fulfill his destiny. A number of sculptures, ranging from the 14th to the 19th century, memorialize Phorbas' rescue of Oedipus.Another Phorbas is listed as a king or archon of Athens.
References
* [http://www.cosmovisions.com/$Phorbas.htm Imago Mundi: Phorbas. Accessed 14 May 2006.]
* [http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/rr_gateway/research_guides/art/art_lib/oedipus_art.shtml Oedipus in Art]
* [http://www.insecula.com/oeuvre/photo_ME0000033073.html Phorbas bringing Oedipus back to life] , Louvre, Paris, France (french)
* [http://www.loyno.edu/~vafelter/senoedipus.html Seneca: Oedipus. Accessed 14 May 2006.]
* [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2678.html Smith, William (ed.). "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities". 1870.]ee also
*
Ophiuchus
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