Before the establishment of a democracy, the Ancient Greek city-state of Argos was ruled by kings. Most of them are probably mythical or only semi-historical. This list is based on that largely given by Eusebius of Caesarea.
An alternative version supplied by Tatian of the original 17 consecutive kings of Argos includes Apis and Argios between Argos and Triopas.
Inachid Dynasty
Inachos, the supposed son of Oceanos and Tethys, is affirmed to have been the founder of this kingdom. He married his sister Melissa, by whom he had two sons, Phoroneus and Aegialeus: he is supposed to be the father of Io, and therefore the Greeks are sometimes called "Inachoi" after him (see also the names of the Greeks).
Argos named the kingdom after himself.
- Criasos or Pirasos or Peranthos. Son of Argos.
- Phorbas. Son of either Argos or Criasos.
- Triopas. Son of Phorbas.
- Jasos. According to different sources, he was son of either Phoroneus, Argos Pelasgos, Argos Panoptes, or Triopas.
- Agenor. Son of Triopas.
- Crotopos. Son of Agenor.
- Sthenelos.
- Pelasgos Gelanor. He gave Danaus his kingdom in response to an oracle or omen.
Danaid Dynasty
- Danaos. Son of Belus, a mythical king of Egypt. Danaus had fifty daughters, the Danaides.
- Lynceus. Son of Aigyptos. Killed Danaus and married Danaus's daughter Hypermnestra.
Lynceus means "lynx-eyed".
Heraclid Dynasty
- Temenus. Son of Aristomachos. Ancestor of the royal Macedonian dynasty, the Temenids.
- Pheidon I. Son of Temenus.
- Deiphontes. Son-in-law of Temenos.
- Cisos or Ceisos. Temenos had left his kingdom to his son in law Deiphontes even though he had natural sons of his own. In consequence of this, Deiphontes was slain by the stratagems of the sons of Temenos, the eldest of whom, Cisos, became king.
- Medon. Son of Ceisos.
- Maron. Son of Ceisos.[1]
- Thestros(also known as thestios). Son of Maron.[1]
- Akoos(or Acous)[1] or Merops. Sons of Thestros.
- Aristodamidas(or Aristodamis). Son of Akoos or Merops.[1][2]
- Eratos(Eratus).[3]
- Pheidon II. Son of Aristodamidas.
- Damocratidas(dated by G.Huxley at around 600 B.C[4]). [5][6]
- unknown
- Leokedes (also known as Lacidaus,[7] or Lacidamos in some Italian versions or Lacedas). Son of Pheidon.[8]
- Meltas. Son of Lacidamos.
After the death of Temenos, the royal prerogative began to decrease. To Cisos succeeded Lacidamos, who had little else than the title of king. His son Meltas, impatient of such restraint, endeavored, when it was too late, to restore it to its ancient dignity; but the people were by that time so powerful that, as soon as they discovered his plan, they ended the royal power, converted the government to a democracy, and condemned Meltas to death.[7]
After Meltas, the kingship survived into historical times but rarely had any political power, one exception being the tyrant king Pheidon.
Non-Heraclid Dynasty
This is the king after the heraaclids fell out.