Mortal king of Pherae in Thessaly, son of Pheres; husband of Alcestis and father of Eumelus. Famed for the justice of his hospitality to Apollo during the god year of servitude, and as the beneficiary of the unique death-day reprieve that the Moirai granted at Apollo intercession — the bargain that drives the self-sacrifice of Alcestis and her rescue by Heracles.