Triopas of Argos
# Triopas of Argos

In Greek mythology, Triopas (/ˈtraɪəpəs/) or Triops (/ˈtraɪ.əps, ˈtraɪˌɒps/; Ancient Greek: Τρίωψ, gen.: Τρίοπος) was the seventh king of Argos. Triopas may be an aspect of the Argive Zeus (sometimes represented with a third eye on his forehead), or may be his human representative.

## Etymology

The name's popular etymology is "he who has three eyes" (from τρι- "three" + -ωπ- "see") but the ending -ωψ, -οπος suggests a Pre-Greek origin.

## Family

Triopas belonged to the house of Phoroneus of Argos. According to Hyginus' Fabulae, he was the son of Piranthus and Callirhoe, brother of Argus and Arestorides and the father by Oreasis (Oreaside) of Xanthus and Inachus (probably Iasus). Eurisabe, Anthus, Pelasgus and Agenor were probably Triopas' sons when we took into account that Iasus was always called the brother of Pelasgus and Agenor even though their parentage was differently given. Alternatively, Triopas was also called the son of Phorbas and Euboea, brother of Arestor and father again of Pelasgus, Iasus, Agenor and a daughter Messene. In the latter case, among these children, the eldest were the twins Pelasgus and Iasus who were mothered by Sois.

Comparative table of Triopas' family :

| Relation | Names | Source | Source | Source |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Relation | Names | Scholia on Euripides | Hyginus | Pausanias |
| Parentage | Phorbas and Euboea | ✓ | | |
| Parentage | Piranthus and Callirhoe | | ✓ | |
| Parentage | Phorbas | | | ✓ |
| Siblings | Arestor or Arestorides | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Siblings | Argus | | ✓ | |
| Wife | Sois | ✓ | | |
| Wife | Oreaside | | ✓ | |
| Children | Pelasgus | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Children | Iasus | ✓ | | ✓ |
| Children | Xanthus | | ✓ | |
| Children | Inachus | | ✓ | |
| Children | Eurisabe | | ✓ | |
| Children | Anthus | | ✓ | |
| Children | Agenor | | ✓ | ✓ |
| Children | Messene | | | ✓ |

## Reign

According to Eusebius, Triopas reigned for 46 years, in which Prometheus, Epimetheus, Atlas and Io lived during this time. He succeeded either his father Piranthus or Phorbas to the throne of Argos and was in turn replaced either by his son Iasus or Agenor, or by his grandson Crotopus (son himself of Agenor). Triopas was a contemporary of the autochthon Cecrops, first king of Athens and Marathonius, the thirteenth king of Sicyon.

Regnal titles :

| Preceded byPhorbas | King of Argos | Succeeded byIasus |
| - | - | - |

Chronology of Triopas' reign :

| Kings of Argos | Regnal Years | Regnal Years | Castor | Regnal Years | Regnal Years | Syncellus | Regnal Years | Hyginus | Pausanias | Regnal Years | Tatian |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Predecessor | 1542.5 | 35 winters & summers | Phorbas | 1539.5 | 25 winters & summers | Phorbas | 1575 | Peranthus | Peirasus or Phorbas | 1550 | Phorbas |
| Triopas | 1525 | 46 winters & summers | Triopas | 1527 | 36 winters & summers | Triopas | 1550 | Triopas | -do- | 1525 | Triopas |
| Successor | 1502 | 21 years | Crotopus | 1509 | 24 winters & summers | Crotopus | 1525 | Agenor or Iasus | Agenor or Iasus | 1500 | Crotopus |
