{{Short description|King of Epirus from 370 BC to 343/2 BC}} {{redirect| Arybbas|the bodyguard of Alexander the Great|Arybbas (somatophylax)}} {{More footnotes|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox royalty | name = Arybbas | predecessor = Alcetas I of Epirus | successor = Alexander I of Epirus | reign = 370 - 343 BC<br>(with Neoptolemus I until 360 BC) | birth_name = | birth_date = <!-- {{birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | birth_place = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth) --> | burial_place = | title = King of Epirus | religion = Ancient Greek religion | spouse = Troas (daughter of Neoptolemus I of Epirus) | issue = Alcetas II of Epirus<br>Aeacides of Epirus | house = Aeacidae | father = Alcetas I | mother = }}

'''Arybbas''' ({{langx|grc|Ἀρύββας<ref>Byforms: Arymbas, Arrybas, Arribas, Aribbas</ref> or Ἀρύβας;<ref>[https://topostext.org/work/240#al.4058 Suda, al.4058]</ref>}} ruled 370&ndash;343/2 BC) was a king of the Molossians.

== Family == Arybbas was a son of Alcetas I, brother of Neoptolemus I and grandfather of Pyrrhus. He married his niece Troas (sister of Olympias).

Arybbas's oldest son was Alcetas II, who reigned as a king of Epirus from 313 BC to 303 BC. It is very probable that the ''Aryptaeus, king of the Molossians'' mentioned by Diodorus 18.11.1, who joined the Hellenic cause during the Lamian War, is Arybbas. Arybbas' second son was Aeacides king of Epirus (ruled 331-316, 313 BC).

== Biography == Upon the death of their father Alcetas I in 370 BCE, Arybbas and his brother Neoptolemus I divided the kingdom of Epirus in two and each ruled their own part, until Neoptolemus died around 360 BCE and Arybbas became king of all of Epirus.

In c. 360 BC, against an Illyrian attack, Arybbas evacuated his non-combatant population to Aetolia and let the Illyrians loot freely. The stratagem was successful, and the Molossians amassed upon the Illyrians and defeated them.<ref>Diodorus Siculus. ''Library''. Book 14.92, 15.2, 16.2. - FrStrat2.5.19</ref> Arybbas ruled Epirus until 343/2 BC, when he was driven into exile by Philip II, who placed Alexander I on the throne.

He was also an Olympic and Pythian victor in tethrippon (chariot race).

== References == {{reflist}} *[http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405112109_chunk_g97814051121096_ss1-163 Arybbas] Who's Who in the Age of Alexander the Great by Waldemar Heckel {{ISBN|978-1-4051-1210-9}} (2005) *[https://books.google.com/books?id=QT6nX5-rbSMC&dq=Arybbas+Olympic&pg=PT41 Arybbas] Sport in the ancient world from A to Z By Mark Golden {{ISBN|0-415-24881-7}} (2004) *[http://epigraphy.packhum.org/inscriptions/oi?ikey=2444&bookid=5&region=1&subregion=71 IG II² 226] Attica ca. 343/2 BC. Heskel, Julia, 'The Political Background of the Arybbas Decree', GRBS 29 (1988)

{{s-start}} {{succession box|title=King of Epirus|before=Alcetas I|after=Alexander I|years=370&ndash;343 BC<br />(with Neoptolemus I until 360 BC)}} {{s-end}} {{Hellenistic rulers}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Arybbas}} Category:Kings of Epirus Category:4th-century BC Greek people Category:4th-century BC monarchs Category:Ancient Olympic competitors Category:Ancient Pythian athletes Category:Ancient Greek chariot racers