In Greek mythology, Phineas was a King of Thrace, son of Agenor who had the gift of prophesy. Zeus, angry that Phineas revealed too much of the plans of the gods, punished him by setting him on an island with a buffett of foot. He could eat none of it, however, because the harpies, vicious, winged women, stole the food out of his hands right before he could eat. This continued until the arrival of Jason and the Argonauts. They sent the winged heroes, the Boreads after the harpies. They succeeded in driving the monsters away but did not kill them, as a request from the goddess of the rainbow, Iris, who promised that Phineas would not be bothered by the harpies again. As thanks, Phineas told the Argonauts how to pass the Symplegades.

Apollodorus. Bibliotheke III, xiv, 8; Ovid. Metamorphoses VI, 424-674.