Agenor in Levantine tradition
Agenor travelled from Egypt to Phoenicia and became its king after his twin Belos took rule in Egypt. He married Telephassa, also called Argiope, and fathered Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix and Cilix. Through these children, Agenor’s family became linked with royal lines in Phoenicia, Thebes and Crete.
The quick answers
Who is Agenor?
Agenor is a Levantine hero.What family links are recorded for Agenor?
Father: Poseidon, Mother: Libya, Spouse: Argiope, 9 children, 2 siblings.
Agenor’s family, at a glance
The myths of Agenor
2 myths, with sources recorded for each.
The Birth of Agenor
Agenor left Egypt and travelled to Phoenicia, where he became king and founded a royal line. He was the son of Poseidon and Libya, the daughter of Memphis and the Nile. His twin brother was Belos, who remained in Egypt and became king there. The brothers therefore took different kingdoms after their birth, with Belos ruling in Egypt and Agenor ruling in Phoenicia.
Agenor married Telephassa, also called Argiope. Their children were Cadmus, Phoenix, Cilix, Thasus, Phineus, and Europa. Cadmus later became the founder of Thebes. Zeus carried Europa to Crete after taking the form of a white bull. Through these children, Agenor’s family was connected with Phoenicia and with the royal families of Thebes and Crete. His children carried the family line into several kingdoms and royal houses.
Agenor’s parentage links him to Egypt, while his migration and rule place him in Phoenicia. Some accounts place him in the Land of Canaan and identify Telephassa as his wife. Other accounts describe Europa as the daughter of Phoenix rather than Agenor. The traditions therefore differ over Europa’s parentage, while retaining Agenor’s connection with Libya, Belos, Telephassa, and the Phoenician royal line.

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19
- 1The Greek MythsT1
- 2The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)T1
- 3Apollodorus, The LibraryT1
Quote
“Agenor, son of Poseidon and Libya, ruled Phoenicia with Telephassa and had Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix, while his brother Belos ruled Egypt.”
Apollodorus, The Library
Agenor’s Marriage and Royal Children
Agenor married Telephassa, who is also called Argiope in some traditions. The two names identify the same woman in this account, and both are attached to Agenor’s wife. No separate courtship, journey, dispute, or other event is recorded before or during the marriage. The account moves from the union directly to the children born from it.
Agenor and Telephassa had four children. They were Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix. Europa was their daughter. Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix were their sons. The children are named together, so the account presents them as one family group descending from the same parents. Agenor remains their father throughout the tradition. Telephassa, or Argiope, remains their mother.
Europa is the first child named. She is followed by three sons, Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix. No additional child is included. The account gives no separate episode about the birth or upbringing of any of them, and it records no further action involving Agenor and Telephassa as a couple.
The four children became founders of several royal lines. Their descendants therefore traced those lines back to Agenor and Telephassa. The tradition preserves the mother’s alternate name while keeping the family relationships unchanged. Whether she is called Telephassa or Argiope, she is the woman married to Agenor and the mother of Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix. The account ends with this family and its royal descent.

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19
- 1The Greek MythsT1
- 2Apollodorus, The LibraryT1
Quote
“Agenor’s wife Telephassa, also called Argiope, bore him Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix.”
Apollodorus, The Library
- 3The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)T1
Also mentioned in
Stories elsewhere on MythSource that mention Agenor, each on that figure’s page.
- Aegyptus Conquers and Names Egypt · on Aegyptus
- Artemis Punishes Niobe · on Artemis
- Belus and Anchinoe · on Belus
- The Birth of Belus · on Belus
- Echidna the Pass-Eater and Argus · on Echidna
- Zeus and Europa · on Zeus
What this page is built from
About this page
Written and maintained by MythSource. How a page gets built.
3 sources are cited on this page and listed below.
Cite this page
MythSource. (n.d.). Agenor. https://www.mythsource.com/figures/agenor
"Agenor." MythSource, n.d., www.mythsource.com/figures/agenor.
"Agenor." MythSource. n.d. https://www.mythsource.com/figures/agenor.
The mythology summaries and identity fields on this page are grounded in the sources listed above. The appearance table records candidates separately; only confirmed connections are presented as modern retellings in Overview.
