According to the myths, when Gods defeated the Giants, some of the left and some of them sought shelter in the island of Kos. The island took its name from Phoebus o Kinnas, and Kios. According to the legend the King of Carias, Triopas led them to the east side of Kos where they build Tiopo where now is located Agios Phocas. The successor of King Triopas was Meropas who ruled the island, and named it “Meropida” and its residents “Meropes”. The legend claims that Meropes built the first ancient town in the island, and gave its name from the daughter of their King, Astipalea. The successor of Triopas the Third was his son, Eudaimon with successor Euripilos, the husband of Klitias and father of the future king of Kos, Chalkona who built the fountain of Vourina.

Another legend claims that when Hercules completed the twelve harbors he did others that were less important. One of them was the release of Isionis princes, daughter of Laomedonta king of Troy, who was tied to a rock in order to be devoured by a sea monster. Hercules saved the princess but Laomedon failed to pay him. Upset, Hercules destroyed Troy and returned with six ships full of treasures. On the way tho, a storm sank five of the ships while from the sixth ship, only Hercules and some of his men managed to survive and seek refuge in the cape of Gourniatis in Kos.

In the island they met a shepherd named Antagoras that was famous for his strength. The men asked Antagoras for a sheep to eat, and he asked to fight Hercules in return. The fight lasted several hours, and changed into a full-force battle when the people of Kos decided to help Antagoras. Hercules then, hid in the house of a woman from Thrace, wearing her clothes. When Euripilos heard the news, he ordered the arrest of Hercules who resorted into a mountainous area in Pili. The locals helped Hercules to fight off Euripilo. During the battle, Hercules grabbed the daughter of Euripilos, Chalkiopi, whom he married later. From the union of Hercules and Chalkiopi Thessalos was born, who later became the king of Nisiros and Leros, and his sons took part in the Trojan War.