Agenor (Ancient Greek: Ἀγήνωρ translation: "heroic, manly"), was a Phoenician in Greek mythology, and a king of Tyre and/or Sidon. His brother was Belus. He was the ancestor of many kings of Thebes, Phoenicia and Cilicia . He was one of the many children of the god of the seas; Poseidon and his mother is Libya. His sons with his wife Telephassa were Cadmus, ancestor of the Theban kings, Cilix, ancestor of the Cilician kings, and Phoenix, ancestor of the Phoenician kings. His daughter Europa became ancestress of the Cretan kings by Zeus, who abducted her.
Mythology[]
Zeus saw Agenor's daughter Europa gathering flowers and immediately fell in love with her. Zeus transformed himself into a white bull and carried Europa away to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Agenor, meanwhile, sent Europa's brothers, Cadmus and Cilix in search of her, telling them not to return without her. In some versions of the tale, Agenor sends her other brothers as well: Phineus or Thasus (and of course Phoenix in the versions in which Cadmus's father is Agenor).
According to the Byzantine chronicler Malalas, when Agenor was about to die, he ordered that all the land he had conquered be divided among his three sons. Phoenix took Tyre and its hinterland, and called the country Phoenicia after himself. Similarly, Syros call the country allotted to him Syria. Likewise, Cilix called the latitudes allotted to him Cilicia.
Family[]
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In Popular Culture[]
Films[]
- Agenor appears as a protagonist alongside Perseus in the 2012 film Wrath of the Titans, he is played by Toby Kebbell.
Preceded by: None (Title Created) |
King of Phoenicia Mythic |
Succeeded by Phoenix (king) |