Phylacus (Ancient Greek: Φύλακος, "guardian") was the eponymous founder of Phylace in Thessaly, son of Deioneus and Diomede, husband of Clymene (also called Periclymene), and father of Iphiclus. Through Iphiclus he is grandfather of the Phthian captains Protesilaus and Podarces, who lead the Phylace contingent at Troy.
Adapted from Wikipedia, "Phylacus" · CC BY-SA 4.0
I.Family and Phylace
Phylacus founded Phylace in Thessaly. By Clymene (Periclymene), daughter of Minyas in some accounts, he fathered Iphiclus and, variously, Alcimede, Evadne, and possibly Clymenus. His children and grandchildren are sometimes called Phylacides; a grandson through Iphiclus was also named Phylacus.
Alcimede, counted as his daughter in several genealogies, becomes mother of Jason — making Phylacus maternal grandfather of the Argonaut leader in that stem. Other notices give him a daughter Alcimache, mother of Ajax the Lesser by Oileus.
II.At Troy and later memory
Homer remembers the house when the Phthians follow Podarces after Protesilaus falls first ashore: Podarces is son of Iphiclus son of Phylacus, rich in flocks. Some later accounts compress the generations and call Protesilaus and Podarces sons of Phylacus by Astyoche.
The Phthian founder must be kept distinct from the Trojan Phylacus slain by Leitus in Iliad Book 6, and from the Delphic hero Phylacus whose sanctuary and ghost, with three companions, terrified the Gauls who attacked Delphi.
III.Homonyms
This atlas entry (phylacus-phthian) is the Thessalian founder and Iphiclus' father. Separate figures share the name at Troy and at Delphi; the Melampus cycle also knows a Phylacus of Phocis in connection with the seer's cattle-theft ordeal.