PHEGEUS (mythical son of Alpheius)

Phegeus resided in a palace in Psophis where he received the mad Alcmaeon.^4,5 He purified Alcmaeon of the madness caused by his mother's murder.⁴ After believing his story, Phegeus gave the necklace and robe to Alcmaeon.⁴ He ordered his sons to kill Alcmaeon after learning the truth about the gifts.⁴ His sons murdered Alcmaeon through treachery.⁶ Phegeus was killed by the sons of Alcmaeon in his palace at Psophis.⁵ His wife was also slain by Alcmaeon's sons.⁵

Phegeus was identified as one of the band of fifty warrior-souls.⁷ He was ordered to ride quickly to the Trian towers to deliver a message from Theseus to the Thebans.^8,9 He was tasked with proclaiming that the Danaids must burn or Thebes must fight.⁸ Phegeus acted as a messenger delivering commands from his lord.⁹ He held an olive branch while standing before the captives.⁹ He threatened war in loud and angry tones.⁹ He warned that Theseus would soon arrive with his cohorts.⁹

In combat, Phegeus attacked Aconteus with a drawn sword while the latter was unarmed.¹ He threatened to attack Tydeus while holding an axe raised high.¹⁰ Tydeus commanded Phegeus to go join Deilochus in the underworld.¹⁰ Calydonian Agreus severed Phegeus's right arm from his shoulder during combat.¹¹ Acoetes struck Phegeus's severed arm because he feared it while it lay among weapons.¹¹ Phegeus's detached arm continued to grip a sword and shake it on the ground.¹¹ He died on the bodies of the sacred beasts.¹

Phegeus was the father of Eeropus, Alphesiboea, Pronous, Agenor, Arsinoe, and Temenus.^12,3,5,4,6 He had a daughter who became the mother of Clytius.¹³ His sons dedicated Eriphyle's necklace to the god at Delphi.⁶ His sons were kings in the city still called Phegia during the Trojan expedition.⁶ Phegeus was killed by the iron Atropos, who spanned his destined years.⁷ The blind seer saw Phegeus among a dense throng of warrior-souls in the underworld.⁷