Odysseas staring at the sea, part of a helmet 425-400 BC

According to legend, Pharis was the founder of the ancient city of Pharai. He was the son of Hermes and Phylodameia. Pharis’ daughter was Telegone, who married Alpheius and gave birth to Ortilochos, whom Homer described in the Iliad as a “king of many men”.

At the palace of Ortilochos in Pharai, the renowned archer from Messinian Oechalia, Iphitos, met the young Odysseas in order to settle their differences with an exchange of gifts. The hostility between them had arisen when the Messinians stole 300 sheep along with their shepherds from Ithaca (Odyssey). At that reconciliation, which had been arranged by Ortilochos, Iphitos gave Odysseas a famous bow that had belonged to his father, Eurytos, while Odysseas gave him a sword and spear in return. It was with the bow he received from Iphitos that Odysseas later killed Penelope’s suitors.

Machaon binds up the wound of Menelaos (ancient seal)

Diokles, the ruler of Pharai and eastern Messine, was the son of Ortilochos, while Nestor ruled western Messinia. According to Homer, Pharai was one of the seven cities Agamemnon offered to Achilles to assuage his anger.

Diokles had two sons, Ortilochos and Krethon, who as youths took part in the Trojan War when they met their deaths. Odysseas’ son, Telemachus, and Nestor’s son, Peisistratus, found refuge at Diokles’ palace on their way from Pylos to Sparta and on their return journey. Diokles’ daughter, Antikleia, married Asclepius’ son, Machaon. Her sons, Nicomachus and Gorgasus, who were also famous as healers, succeeded Diokles.

Machaon's Mycenaean tomb, 1250 BC. It lies next to Koumoundouros tower