Biographical dictionary of ancient Greeks

< Belus, son of Libya >

1 Origin

Belus was born in Thebes, Egypt, in 1497 BC.

Belus' mother was Libya, daughter of Epaphus. [Apo.2.1.4, Hyginus.157]

2 Family

Belus married Anchinoe (or Achiroe, Sida), daughter of Nilus. [Apo.2.1.4, Tzetzes.7.350, MalaChro.2.30]

Belus had twin sons, Danaus (or Triopas) and Aegyptus (or Sesostris). [Paus.7.21.13, Hyginus.273, Newton.67]

Orus, who founded Oraea (later Troezen), is also presumed to be Belus' son. [Paus.2.30.5]

3 Others

The sons of Belus lived in Chemmis in the Nile Delta. [Herod.2.91]

This suggests that Belus migrated from Thebes to Chemmis.

Or, Belus may have founded Chemmis.

< Belus, father of Phineus >

1 Origin

Belus was born in Melitaea, Thessaly, in 1422 BC.

Belus' father is presumed to be Archander, son of Achaeus.

Belus' mother is presumed to be Cyrene, daughter of Hypseus.

These presumptions are based on the migration of Belus' sons and the marital relations between them and their children.

2 Family

Belus had a son, Cepheus.

Belus had a son, Phineus.

3 Others

In 1420 BC, Belus migrated with his father from Melitaea to Aegialus, north of the Peloponnesus.

In 1402 BC, Belus migrated with his father to the Nile Delta in Egypt, where he founded Archandropolis with his father.

In 1390 BC, Belus joined a colony led by Aeetes, son of Sisyphus, and migrated to the mouth of the Aesepus River, just before Cyzicus. Belus' settlement came to be called Ethiopia.

Strabo records that they migrated from Egypt to Ethiopia and Colchis.

Some of the people led by Belus migrated to Colchis with Aeetes.

< Belus, son of Archander >

1 Origin

Belus (or Authocus) was born in Aegialus (later Achaia) in 1420 BC.

Belus' father was Archander, son of Achaeus. [See Archander]

Belus' mother was Cyrene, daughter of Hypseus. [Just.13.7]

2 Family

Belus had a son, Phineus. [Apo.2.1.4]

Belus had a son, Cepheus. [Apo.2.1.4, Herod.7.61]

Belus had a daughter, Thronia. [Hesiod.15, Strabo.1.2.34]

3 Others

In 1402 BC, Belus, together with Archander, emigrated to the Nile Delta in Egypt and founded Cyrene (also known as Archandropolis). [Estimated from Diod.4.81.1, Herod.2.98, and Just.13.7]

In 1390 BC, Belus led a group of immigrants from Egypt to the northwest of Anatolia, near the mouth of the Aesepus River. Belus' settlement came to be called Ethiopia. [Apo.2.1.4, Herod.7.61, Strabo.1.3.21]

Create:2024.7.28, Update:2025.5.25