Cinyras ₁ came to Cyprus and founded Paphos where he reigned prosperously, although he is also remembered as king of Assyria, and as founder of the city of Smyrna, which he named after his daughter. His wealth became proverbial, for he could be name in contexts like this:

"... though he be richer even than Cinyras or Midas, if he be unjust, he is a wretched man and lives a miserable life." (Plato, Laws 660e).

Cinyras ₁'s promise

At the time of the Trojan War, Cinyras ₁ was visited by Menelaus, Odysseus, and the herald Talthybius. Coming to Cyprus, this trio tried to persuade him to join the allies. It was then that Cinyras ₁ made a present of a corselet to be sent to Agamemnon, swearing that he would send fifty ships against Troy. However, he is remembered for having sent only one, which was commanded by the son of Mygdalion (otherwise unknown); the rest he moulded out of earth, launching them into the sea. In this strange manner he fulfilled his promise, which many would consider a mockery, but the reason could be that at the time, Dido's father King Belus ₂ was attacking Cyprus, perhaps forcing Cinyras ₁ to keep all his military resources at home.

Incest, Death, and Oracle

Cinyras ₁ is said to have consorted with his daughter Smyrna (see Adonis), killing himself when he realised what he had done. But concerning his son Adonis (if he was indeed his father, and whoever Adonis' mother was), Cinyras ₁ once received an oracle that read:

"O Cinyras, king of the Cyprians ... the son that is born to you is fairest and most admirable of all men, yet two divinities shall destroy him." (Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 10.457).

For they say that besides Aphrodite, also Dionysus ₂ was in love with him.

Another with identical name: Cinyras ₂ was an ally of Aeneas in Italy, and leader of the Ligurians (Vir.Aen.10.185).