Tharrhypas
King of Epirus from 430 BC to 392 BC
About Tharrhypas
Lived 500 BC – 385 BC.
Tharrhypas (Greek: Θαρύπας or Θάρυψ) was a king of the Molossians and the great-great- grandfather of Alexander the Great. He was the father of Alcetas I, and is said to have been the first to introduce southern Greek (namely Attic) cultural traits among Molossians.
Thucydides mentions that Tharrhypas was a minor in 429 BC and that his guardian was Sabylinthus.
During his time, the Molossian tribe emerged from political obscurity and began to play an important role in the political scene of Epirus. Tharrhypas made substantial reforms (legislative, political, etc.), which formed the basis for the modernization of the Molossian state.
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Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Tharrhypas's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Tharrhypas's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Tharrhypas?
King of Epirus from 430 BC to 392 BC
When was Tharrhypas born?
Tharrhypas was born in 500 BC.
When did Tharrhypas die?
Tharrhypas died in 385 BC.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tharrhypas. https://biography.guide/tharrhypas/
MLA: "Tharrhypas." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tharrhypas/.
Chicago: "Tharrhypas." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tharrhypas/.
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