Pholus
（
Φόλος). A Centaur, son of Silenus and the nymph Melia. In
the performance of his fourth task, which was to bring the Erymanthian boar alive to
Eurystheus,
Heracles (q.v.) took his road through
Pholoë, where he was hospitably entertained by Pholus. The Centaur set before his
guest roast meat, though he himself fared on raw. Heracles asking for wine, his host said he
feared to open the jar, which was the common property of the Centaurs; but, when pressed by
the hero, he consented to unclose it for him. The fragrance of the wine spread over the
mountain, and soon brought all the Centaurs, armed with stones and pine sticks, to the cave of
Pholus. The first who ventured to enter were driven back by Heracles with burning brands: he
hunted the remainder with his arrows to Malea. When Heracles returned to Pholoë from
this pursuit, he found Pholus lying dead along with several others; for, having drawn the
arrow out of the body of one of them, while he was wondering how so small a thing could
destroy such large beings, it dropped out of his hand and stuck in his foot, and he died
immediately (
Apollod. ii.5.4 foll.).
