IOBATES IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Iobates in Greek mythology
Iobates was a king of Lycia in Greek mythology. Iobates was the father of Stheneboea and Philonoe, and father-in-law of Bellerophon.
Iobates Father of Stheneboea
Nothing is told about the early life of Iobates, with no details given of the family line, but Iobates is said to have been the father of two daughters, Stheneboea (also known as Antea) and Philonoe. The wife of Iobates though is not recorded.
Iobates and Proetus
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Iobates first comes to prominence in surviving tales of Greek mythology, when his story overlaps with that of Proetus, son of Abas.
Proetus and his twin brother, Acrisus, had argued ever since they were in their mother’s womb, and culminated when disagreement about the succession to the throne of Argos, when Abas died. Acrisus won the argument and Proetus was exiled. Proetus would travel to Lycia, and there found welcome in the court of Iobates. Iobates would marry his daughter, Stheneboea, to Proetus, and also provided him with a Lycian army with which to take the throne of Argos. The war between Acrisus and Proetus ended in stalemate, and so the kingdom was divided, with Acrisus ruling Argos, and Proetus, Tiryns. Iobates and BellerophonSometime afterwards Bellerophon would arrive in Tiryns, and Proetus welcomed the Corinthian exile, but when Stheneboea made false accusations against Bellerophon Proetus was faced with a dilemma. Proetus wished to kill his guest, but doing so would bring forth the Erinyes.
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Proetus thus dispatched Bellerophon to the court of Iobates, with a sealed letter, this letter told Iobates of the alleged attempt of Bellerophon to rape Iobates’ daughter.
Proetus hoped that Iobates would kill Bellerophon, but Iobates, having welcome Bellerophon into his home, was faced with the same issue of the wrath of the Erinyes, if he murdered a guest.
Iobates thus instead sent Bellerophon on a quest which he believed would kill Bellerophon, the quest being the killing of the Chimera. Bellerophon of course succeeded with this quest, and so Iobates then sent Bellerophon on further dangerous quests against the Lycian tribe named the Solymi, and then against the Amazons. Finally, when Bellerophon came back unscathed, Iobates had his best soldiers try to ambush the hero, but again, Bellerophon overcame.
Iobates now realised that he was trying to kill someone who was being helped by the gods, and so now Iobates stopped trying to kill Bellerophon, and now married him to his second daughter, Philonoe. Iobates also made Bellerophon heir to the throne of Lycia.
Proetus hoped that Iobates would kill Bellerophon, but Iobates, having welcome Bellerophon into his home, was faced with the same issue of the wrath of the Erinyes, if he murdered a guest.
Iobates thus instead sent Bellerophon on a quest which he believed would kill Bellerophon, the quest being the killing of the Chimera. Bellerophon of course succeeded with this quest, and so Iobates then sent Bellerophon on further dangerous quests against the Lycian tribe named the Solymi, and then against the Amazons. Finally, when Bellerophon came back unscathed, Iobates had his best soldiers try to ambush the hero, but again, Bellerophon overcame.
Iobates now realised that he was trying to kill someone who was being helped by the gods, and so now Iobates stopped trying to kill Bellerophon, and now married him to his second daughter, Philonoe. Iobates also made Bellerophon heir to the throne of Lycia.
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Colin Quartermain - Iobates - 19th January 2020