[1] Phorbas was the son of Triopas[2] and Hiscilla, daughter of Myrmidon,[3] and thus brother to Erysichthon[4] and Iphimedia, mother of the Aloads.
[7] When the people of the island of Rhodes fell victim to a plague of masses of serpents (may have been dragons or simply snakes), an oracle directed them to call on a man named Phorbas.
Phorbas cleansed the island of the snakes and in gratitude the Rhodians venerated him as a hero.
For his achievement he won a place among the stars as the constellation Serpentarius or Ophiuchus.
[3] According to an early account, before his departure, Phorbas was a rival in love of the god Apollo.