What is "periphas"

Periphas (, Períphās) in Greek mythology may refer to:

• Periphas, one of the sons of Aegyptus. He married (and was killed by) Actaea, daughter of Danaus.
• Periphas, a son of Oeneus.
• Periphas, a son of Lapithes in Thessaly. He consorted with Astyagyia, daughter of Hypseus, and had by her eight sons, of whom the eldest, Antion, was a possible father of Ixion with Perimela.
• Periphas, one of the Lapiths at the wedding of Pirithous and Hippodamia. May or may not be identical with the above son of Lapithes.
• Periphas, a legendary king of Attica who Zeus turned into an eagle.
• Periphas, son of the Aetolian Ochesius, fell by the hand of Ares in the Trojan war.
• Periphas, a son of Epytus, and a herald of Aeneas.
• Periphas, a companion of Neoptolemus who took part in the destruction of Troy.
• Periphas, same as Hyperphas.
• Periphas, one of the suitors of Penelope.
• Periphas, one of the five sons of Arrhetus who fought against Dionysus in the Indian War.

In Greek mythology, Periphas (, gen. Περίφας) was a legendary king of Attica who Zeus turned into an eagle. Aside from a passing reference in Ovid's Metamorphoses, the only known source for this story is the second century AD or later Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis.

The story as told by Antoninus Liberalis is as follows. In a time, before Cecrops, who was traditionally recorded to be the first king of Athens, the earth born ( autochthon) Periphas ruled over Attica. He was a pious priest of Apollo, to whom Periphas made many sacrifices, and he was a just king, whose "fair judgments" were numerous. Periphas was above reproach and his rule was accepted willingly by all. But Periphas was so loved by his people that they paid him the honors which belonged to Zeus alone, building temples to Periphas and calling him Zeus Soter ("Saviour"), and Epopsios ("Overlooker of All") and Meilichios ("Gracious"). Being indignant Zeus was determined to strike Periphas with a thunderbolt and consume Periphas and his entire household by fire, but because Periphas had been so faithful, Apollo asked Zeus to spare Periphas, and Zeus agreed. So instead Zeus came down into the house of Periphas, found Periphas in the arms of his wife Phene, and turned Periphas into an eagle. Because Phene begged Zeus to make her a bird also, as a companion for Periphas, Zeus turned her into a vulture. And Zeus made Periphas the king of all birds, placed him as guard over his sacred sceptre, and to Phene, the vulture, he granted that she become a good omen for men in all endeavors.

According to Arthur Bernard Cook, the story of Periphas is part of a tradition whereby an early king posing as Zeus is punished by Zeus, often by being changed into a bird.