1. In Greek myth, a Thracian king, plagued by the Harpies who stole or defiled all his food. When the Argonauts arrived at his land he agreed to prophesy to them their future adventures in return for deliverance from the Harpies. The sons of Boreas (Calais and Zetes) drove them away, turning back at the islands afterwards known as Strophaděs (‘islands of turning’). Phineus' original offence is variously described. The best known version says that he married Cleopatra, daughter of Boreas, and had sons, but at her death remarried; their stepmother so slandered his sons that Phineus blinded them (or let their stepmother do so). Thereupon Zeus gave him the choice of death or blindness; he chose the latter, and Helios (Sun), who sees all, angry at Phineus' choice, sent the Harpies.
2. See PERSEUS.
