Apis of Argos

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Apis of Argos was a king of Argos in Greek mythology. He is described as the son of Phoroneus, with mothers given as Teledice, Cinna, Cerdo, or Perimede (some accounts also name Peitho). He was the brother of Niobe, and in some versions of the myths his brothers are Aegialeus and Europs. As king, he allegedly ruled tyrannically and gave the Peloponnesus the name Apia after himself.

Apis was killed in a conspiracy led by Thelxion, king of Sparta, and Telchis, though some sources say he was killed by Aetolus. Argus Panoptes, a descendant of Niobe, later avenged him by killing Thelxion and Telchis. After his death, Apis was worshiped as a god under the name Serapis. There is also a tradition that Apis gave Argos to his brother and went to Egypt to rule there for many years, reflecting a mix of Egyptian myths with this Greek story. He is sometimes described as one of the earliest lawgivers among the Greeks.