In Greek mythology, Oebalus, also spelled Oibalus or Oibalius, (/ˈɛbələs/; Ancient Greek: Οἴβαλος, Oíbalos) was a king of Sparta.

Family

Oibalus was the son of either Cynortas^[1] or Argalus.^[2] He was the second husband of Princess Gorgophone and thus son-in-law of the hero Perseus. With her or by the Naiad Bateia,^[3] Oibalos fathered Tyndareus,^[4][5][6] Icarius and Hippocoon, as well as a daughter, Arene, who married her half-brother Aphareus.^[7][8] The nymph Pirene^[9] and Hyacinth^[10][11] were also called the daughter and son of Oebalius respectively. His grandchildren, the Dioscuri, were usually referred as Oibalids^[12] or Oebalidae.^[13]

Oebalus was often confused with Gorgophone's first husband, Perieres, son of Aeolus. They were separate people, usually unrelated though Oebalus was sometimes said to be Perieres’ son.^[3]