Before the establishment of a democracy, the Ancient Greek city-state of Argos was ruled by kings.
Inachos, the supposed son of Oceanos and Tethys, is affirmed to have been the founder of this kingdom.
After the death of Temenos, the royal prerogative began to decrease.
His son Meltas, impatient of such restraint, endeavored, when it was too late, to restore it to its ancient dignity; but the people were by that time so powerful that, as soon as they discovered his plan, they ended the royal power, converted the government to a democracy, and condemned Meltas to death.
[7] After Meltas, the kingship survived into historical times but rarely had any political power, one exception being the tyrant king Pheidon.