PHERES (son of Cretheus in Greek mythology)

Inheriting broad acres from his father, Pheres established the city of Pherae in Thessaly.^5,3 He resided near the fountain Hypereis.⁷ The god Apollo acted within the household of Pheres, persuading the Fates to grant mortals freedom from death there.⁸ This divine favor allowed his son Admetus to live beyond his destined term due to his wife's death.⁵

When the time for death came, Pheres refused to die in place of his son Admetus, citing that fathers dying for children was not a custom in Greece. [f: 5, 29]^5,9 Admetus, stung by this refusal, accused his father of being a coward with a craven heart, void of shame. [f: 31]⁹ The son threatened that Pheres would be disowned, grow old childless with his wife, and die a death of shame, declaring that he was not to be reckoned among men.⁹ Pheres, in turn, threatened to list his son's crimes and warned that Acastus would avenge the sister's blood against Admetus. [f: 19, 30]^9,5

Despite the conflict, Pheres had raised and educated his son to rule the household, and he planned to leave his inherited land to him. [f: 27, 28]⁵ When the wife died, Pheres arrived to share his son's sorrow, giving funeral adornments for the burial and thanking her for saving his son's life. [f: 22, 23, 34]¹⁰ He stated that the wife had prevented him from pining in old age, acknowledging her profound impact on his life. [f: 24]¹⁰ Later, Pheres traveled to welcome Jason upon his return home and attended a five-day feast hosted by the hero. [f: 20, 21]⁷

His lineage extended to the charioteer Eumelus, whom Pheres is identified as the ancestor of, and he was also the father of Periopis, a candidate for Patroclus's mother.^11,12 In battle, Pheres engaged in combat alongside the vigorous Lycus and killed Abas during the fighting. [f: 36, 39]^13,14 However, his fate was sealed when he threw a dart that missed its target, only to be killed by Halaesus. [f: 37, 38]^15,14