In Greek mythology, Phoenix or Phoinix (Ancient Greek: Φοῖνιξ) was the eponymous king of Phoenicia, a son of Agenor of Tyre sent with his brothers to search for their abducted sister Europa. Failing to find her, he settled in the land named Phoenicia after him. He is to be distinguished from Phoenix son of Amyntor, the Myrmidon tutor of Achilles.
Adapted from Wikipedia, "Phoenix (son of Agenor)" · CC BY-SA 4.0
I.Family
Phoenix was a son of King Agenor of Tyre by Telephassa, Argiope, Antiope, Damno, or Tyro in various accounts, and brother of Europa, Cadmus, Cilix, and others. In some versions his father is instead Belus of Egypt, making him sibling to Agenor, Aegyptus, Danaus, and others.
Early poetry sometimes makes Europa Phoenix's daughter rather than his sister, and Cadmus his son. By Cassiopeia he is credited with children including Cilix, Phineus, and Doryclus; by Alphesiboea, with Adonis; other lists add Cepheus of Ethiopia, Astypalaea, and Thasus.
II.Search for Europa
When Zeus carried Europa off, Agenor sent her three brothers to find her and forbade them to return without her. The search failed. Phoenix eventually settled in a country of Asia or Africa that took the name Phoenicia from him. He was also said to have founded Bithynia, previously called Mariandyna.
A late Byzantine tale in Malalas links King Phoenix with Heracles the Tyrian's discovery of the purple-shell dye: Heracles brings the dyed wool to Phoenix, who makes purple the exclusive royal mantle of Phoenician kings.
III.Homonyms
The name Phoenix is shared with the Myrmidon counsellor, son of Amyntor and tutor of Achilles (treated separately in this atlas as phoenix-myrmidon), and with other minor figures. This article concerns specifically the Agenorid eponym of Phoenicia.