Pheres

This article is about the son of Cretheus. For the son of Jason and Medea, see Mermeros and Pheres.

In Greek mythology, Pheres (Ancient Greek: Φέρης), son of Cretheus and Tyro and brother of Aeson and Amythaon, was the founder of Pherae in Thessaly.[1][2] He fled there from Iolcus after his half-brother, Pelias, seized the throne. He married Periclymene, daughter of Minyas,[3] and became the father of Admetus, Lycurgus, Eidomene (wife of Amythaon or Bias) and Periopis (possible mother of Patroclus). Of them Admetus was the husband of the famous Alcestis, who died in his stead and was rescued by Heracles, while Pheres, despite his old age, would not do the same for his son.[4]

In Aeschylus' Eumenides Pheres is mentioned by the Chorus of Erinyes of Clytemnestra. The Erinyes were the avengers for the mother-blood Orestes spilled by ordering of Apollo. The Chorus leader argues with Apollo over the just sentence Athena and her panel of judges are about to speak.

'Chorus Leader - You honor bloody crimes that aren't your business. Your oracles will never now be pure.
Apollo - So Zeus made a mistake when Ixion, the first to kill, appealed to him for help?
Chorus Leader - You said it, I didn't. But if I don't get justice, I will come back to crush this land forever.
Apollo - How so? You have no honor among the gods, young or old. I will win this case.
Chorus Leader - You did the same thing too, in Pheres' house: you persuaded the Fates to let men hide from death.
Apollo - Is it unjust to treat someone so kindly, someone so pious, in his time of need?'[5]

References

  1. ↑ Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 9. 11&14
  2. ↑ Tzetzes on Lycophron, 175
  3. ↑ Hyginus, Fabulae, 14
  4. ↑ Euripides, Alcestis
  5. ↑ Aeschylus, Eumenides, 711-731

6. http://pheres.com/albume/press.html

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