IPHITUS, SON OF NAUBOLUS (argonaut from Phocis)

Iphitus revived the Olympic games at Olympia after a long period of inactivity.^6,7 This renewal happened when people had forgotten the old traditions.^6,7 The Eleians were considered a sacred people when he created the games.⁸ The revival led to the gradual addition of new events.⁶ A quoit belonging to him was kept among the offerings, with its letters arranged in a circle rather than a straight line.⁹ The inscription on this quoit recorded the truce proclaimed by the Eleans.⁹

Iphitus led the Phocian troops.⁵ He was among the nobles of Greece who assembled to sail on the Argo.¹ He hosted and welcomed Jason into his own halls when the hero visited Pytho to seek an oracle about his journey.² Iphitus possessed a bow that was discussed in the context of a meeting in Messene.¹⁰

During battles, Iphitus used a long spear to defend the walls against incoming rocks.¹¹ He remained at the speaker's side during the fight.¹² However, he was too old to continue fighting effectively.¹² He was present when Laius was killed by his own horses, and he was holding the reins of the chariot at the time of the accident.⁵ His father Naubolus was described as a friend of Laius.⁵

His sons held the rocky city of Pytho, the holy city of Crisa, and the city of Daulis.³ They dwelt in the region of Anemorea, the city of Hyampolis, and lived near the waters of the river Cephissus.³ His sons held Lilaea by the springs of the Cephissus.³ His son Schedius died in the Troad, and his bones were later brought home from there.¹³ The sons of Iphitus are buried in a tomb near a spring in a well.¹³