In Greek mythology, Triopas /ˈtraɪəpəs/ or Triops /ˈtraɪ.əps/ or /ˈtraɪˌɒps/ (Ancient Greek: Τρίωψ, gen.: Τρίοπος) was the name of several characters whose relations are unclear.
Triopas of Thessaly, a son of Poseidon and Canace, husband of Myrmidon's daughter Hiscilla, father of Iphimedeia, Phorbas and Erysichthon. He destroyed a temple of Demeter in order to obtain materials for roofing his own house, and was punished by insatiable hunger as well as being plagued by a snake which inflicted illness on him. Eventually Demeter placed him and the snake among the stars as the constellation Ophiuchus to remind others of his crime and punishment. A city in Caria was named Triopion after him.
Triopas, one of the Heliadae, sons of Helios and Rhodos and grandson of Poseidon. Triopas, along with his brothers, Macar, Actis and Candalus, were jealous of a fifth brother, Tenages's, skill at science, and killed him. When their crime was discovered, Triopas escaped to Caria and seized a promontory which received his name (the Triopian Promontory). Later he founded the city of Knidos. There was a statue of him and his horse at Delphi, an offering by the people of Knidos.
Triopas, king of Argos, son of Phorbas (not the same as the son of the above Triopas). By Oreasis or Sosis he was father of Messene, Iasus, Xanthus, Agenor, and Pelasgus. Alternately, Triopas was a son of Peiranthus (himself son of Argus and brother of Criasus). He belonged to the house of Phoroneus. Triopas may be an aspect of the Argive Zeus (sometimes represented with a third eye on his forehead), or may be his human representative.
