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{{short description|Ancient Greek mythological King of Argos}}
'''Acrisius''' (]: {{polytonic|Ἀκρίσιος}}) was a ] king of ], and a son of ] and ]<ref>]. '']'', .</ref> (or ], depending on the author), grandson of ], great-grandson of ]. His twin brother was ], with whom he is said to have quarreled even in the womb of his mother. When Abas died and Acrisius had grown up, he expelled Proetus from his inheritance; but, supported by his father-in-law ], the ]n, Proetus returned, and Acrisius was compelled to share his kingdom with his brother by giving ] to him, while he retained Argos for himself.
In ], '''Acrisius''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|k|r|aɪ|s|i|ə|s}}; ]: Ἀκρίσιος means 'ill-judgment'<ref>{{Cite book|last=]|title=The Greek Myths - The Complete and Definitive Edition|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|year=2017|isbn=9780241983386|pages=Index s.v. Acrisius}}</ref>) was a king of ]. He was the grandfather of the famous Greek demi-god ].


==Acrisius and Perseus== == Family ==
Acrisius was the son of ]<ref>], </ref> and ]<ref>], </ref> (or ], depending on the author), grandson of ], great-grandson of ]. He was the twin brother of ]<ref>Pausanias, </ref> and the half brother of ].<ref>Pausanias, </ref> Acrisius was the husband of ]<ref>] ad ], 4.1091; Apollodorus, </ref> or Aganippe<ref>], ''Fabulae'' </ref> and thus grandfather of the hero ] through her. His other daughter was ], wife of King ] of ] in ].<ref>Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' </ref>
Acrisius's daughter, ], was prophesied to have a son that would kill him, so Acrisius locked her in a bronze tower (or a cave) when she became fertile. ] had intercourse with her in the form of a shower of gold (some accounts say it is her uncle, Proteus, who impregnates her).<ref name="DGRBM">{{Citation
| last = Schmitz
| first = Leonhard
| author-link =
| contribution = Acrisius
| editor-last = Smith
| editor-first = William
| title = ]
| volume = 1
| pages = 14
| publisher =
| place = Boston, MA
| year = 1867
| contribution-url = http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0023.html}}</ref> Danaë became pregnant with ]. Acrisius put the child and Danaë in a chest and threw it in the sea. Zeus asked ] to calm the water; he did and Danaë and Perseus survived, washing up on the island of ]. A fisherman named ], brother of king ], found the pair and took care of them.<ref>], ii. 2. § 1, 4. § 1.</ref><ref>], ii. 16. § 2, 25. § 6, iii. 13. § 6.</ref><ref>]. ''Fabulae'', 63.</ref>


== Mythology ==
] grew up to be a hero, killing ] and rescuing ]. Perseus and Danaë returned to Argos but King Acrisius had gone to ]. When Perseus arrived in Larissa, he participated in some funeral games and accidentally struck Acrisius on his foot with a ], killing him and accomplishing the prophecy.<ref name="DicGRBM">{{Citation
=== Rivalry of twins ===
| last = Schmitz
Acrisius and Proetus were said to have quarrelled even in the womb of their mother and when Abas died and Acrisius had grown up, he expelled Proetus from his inheritance. On his exile, Proetus was supported by his father-in-law ], the ]n, Proetus returned, and Acrisius was compelled to share his kingdom with his brother by giving ] to him, while he retained Argos for himself.
| first = Leonhard
| author-link =
| contribution = Perseus
| editor-last = Smith
| editor-first = William
| title = ]
| volume = 3
| pages = 206
| publisher =
| place = Boston, MA
| year = 1867
| contribution-url = http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2539.html}}</ref>


In one version of the myth, there is no mention of the dispute between the two brothers but they divided the kingdom, Acrisius remained where he was at Argos and Proetus took over the Heraeum, ], Tiryns, and the Argive coast region.<ref>Pausanias, </ref>
==Founder of Delphic amphictyony==
According to the ] on ],<ref>]. '']'', 1087.</ref> Acrisius was the founder of the ]c ]. Strabo believes that this amphictyony existed before the time of Acrisius,<ref>], ix. p. 420.</ref> and that he was only the first who regulated the affairs of the amphictyons, fixed the towns which were to take part in the council, gave to each its vote, and settled the jurisdiction of the amphictyons.<ref>Comp. Libanius, ''Orat.'' vol. iii. 472, ed. Reiske.</ref>


==References== ===Death===
Disappointed by his lack of luck in having a son, Acrisius consults the ] at ], who warns him that he will one day be killed by his daughter’s son. Danaë is childless and to keep her so, he imprisons her in a bronze chamber open to the sky in the courtyard of his palace. ] impregnates her in the form of a golden shower (some accounts say it is her uncle, Proetus, who impregnates her).<ref name="DGRBM">{{Citation |editor-last=Smith |contribution= Acrisius |editor-first=William |title=Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology |volume=1 |pages=14 |place=Boston, MA |year=1867 |url=http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0023.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011191740/http://ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0023.html |archivedate=2007-10-11 }}</ref> Danaë becomes pregnant with Perseus. Acrisius puts the child and Danaë in a chest and throws it into the sea. Zeus asks ] to calm the water; he does and Danaë and Perseus survive, washing up on the island of ]. A fisherman named ], brother of King ], finds the pair and takes care of them.<ref>Apollodorus, & ; Pausanias, , & 3.13.6; Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' </ref>

Perseus grows up to be a hero, killing ] and rescuing ]. Perseus and Danaë return to Argos with Andromeda, but King Acrisius has gone to ]. When Perseus arrives in Larissa, he participates in funeral games and accidentally strikes Acrisius on the head with a ], killing him and fulfilling the prophecy.<ref name="DicGRBM">{{Citation | last = Schmitz | first = Leonhard | contribution = Perseus | editor-last = Smith | editor-first = William | title = ] | volume = 3 | pages = 206 | place = Boston, MA | year = 1867 | contribution-url = http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2539.html | access-date = 2009-09-17 | archive-date = 2012-10-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121012051805/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2539.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Founder of Delphic amphictyony===
According to the ] on ],<ref>], '']'' 1087</ref> Acrisius was the founder of the ]c ]. Strabo believes that this amphictyony existed before the time of Acrisius,<ref>], 9. p. 420</ref> and that he was only the first who regulated the affairs of the amphictyons, fixed the towns which were to take part in the council, gave to each its vote, and settled the jurisdiction of the amphictyons.<ref>Comp. Libanius, ''Orat.'' vol. iii. 472, ed. Reiske.</ref>

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{succession box| title=]| years= | before=] | after=]}}
{{s-end}}

== Argive genealogy chart ==
{{Argive genealogy in Greek mythology}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


==Sources== == References ==
* ], ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. .
*{{SmithDGRBM}}
*], ''Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies.
*], ''The Greek Myths'', Harmondsworth, London, England, Penguin Books, 1960. {{ISBN|978-0143106715}}
*Graves, Robert, ''The Greek Myths: The Complete and Definitive Edition.'' Penguin Books Limited. 2017. {{ISBN|978-0-241-98338-6|024198338X}}
* ], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918.
* Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. .
* ], ''].'' Edition by H.L. Jones. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924.
* Strabo, ''Geographica'' edited by A. Meineke. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877.


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Latest revision as of 21:36, 21 October 2024

Ancient Greek mythological King of Argos

In Greek mythology, Acrisius (/əˈkraɪsiəs/; Ancient Greek: Ἀκρίσιος means 'ill-judgment') was a king of Argos. He was the grandfather of the famous Greek demi-god Perseus.

Family

Acrisius was the son of Abas and Aglaea (or Ocalea, depending on the author), grandson of Lynceus, great-grandson of Danaus. He was the twin brother of Proetus and the half brother of Lyrcus. Acrisius was the husband of Eurydice or Aganippe and thus grandfather of the hero Perseus through her. His other daughter was Evarete, wife of King Oenomaus of Pisa in Elis.

Mythology

Rivalry of twins

Acrisius and Proetus were said to have quarrelled even in the womb of their mother and when Abas died and Acrisius had grown up, he expelled Proetus from his inheritance. On his exile, Proetus was supported by his father-in-law Iobates, the Lycian, Proetus returned, and Acrisius was compelled to share his kingdom with his brother by giving Tiryns to him, while he retained Argos for himself.

In one version of the myth, there is no mention of the dispute between the two brothers but they divided the kingdom, Acrisius remained where he was at Argos and Proetus took over the Heraeum, Mideia, Tiryns, and the Argive coast region.

Death

Disappointed by his lack of luck in having a son, Acrisius consults the Oracle at Delphi, who warns him that he will one day be killed by his daughter’s son. Danaë is childless and to keep her so, he imprisons her in a bronze chamber open to the sky in the courtyard of his palace. Zeus impregnates her in the form of a golden shower (some accounts say it is her uncle, Proetus, who impregnates her). Danaë becomes pregnant with Perseus. Acrisius puts the child and Danaë in a chest and throws it into the sea. Zeus asks Poseidon to calm the water; he does and Danaë and Perseus survive, washing up on the island of Seriphos. A fisherman named Dictys, brother of King Polydectes, finds the pair and takes care of them.

Perseus grows up to be a hero, killing Medusa and rescuing Andromeda. Perseus and Danaë return to Argos with Andromeda, but King Acrisius has gone to Larissa. When Perseus arrives in Larissa, he participates in funeral games and accidentally strikes Acrisius on the head with a discus, killing him and fulfilling the prophecy.

Founder of Delphic amphictyony

According to the Scholiast on Euripides, Acrisius was the founder of the Delphic amphictyony. Strabo believes that this amphictyony existed before the time of Acrisius, and that he was only the first who regulated the affairs of the amphictyons, fixed the towns which were to take part in the council, gave to each its vote, and settled the jurisdiction of the amphictyons.

Regnal titles
Preceded byProetus King of Argos Succeeded byPerseus

Argive genealogy chart

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology
InachusMelia
ZeusIoPhoroneus
EpaphusMemphis
LibyaPoseidon
BelusAchiroëAgenorTelephassa
DanausElephantisAegyptusCadmusCilixEuropaPhoenix
MantineusHypermnestraLynceusHarmoniaZeus
Polydorus
SpartaLacedaemonOcaleaAbasAgaveSarpedonRhadamanthus
Autonoë
EurydiceAcrisiusInoMinos
ZeusDanaëSemeleZeus
PerseusDionysus
Colour key:

  Male
  Female
  Deity

Notes

  1. Graves, Robert (2017). The Greek Myths - The Complete and Definitive Edition. Penguin Books Limited. pp. Index s.v. Acrisius. ISBN 9780241983386.
  2. Pausanias, 2.16.2
  3. Apollodorus, 2.2.1
  4. Pausanias, 2.16.2
  5. Pausanias, 2.25.5
  6. Scholiast ad Apollonius of Rhodes, 4.1091; Apollodorus, 2.2.2
  7. Hyginus, Fabulae 63
  8. Hyginus, Fabulae 84
  9. Pausanias, 2.16.2
  10. Smith, William, ed. (1867), "Acrisius", Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. 1, Boston, MA, p. 14, archived from the original on 2007-10-11{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. Apollodorus, 2.2.1 & 2.4.1; Pausanias, 2.16.2, 2.25.7 & 3.13.6; Hyginus, Fabulae 63
  12. Schmitz, Leonhard (1867), "Perseus", in Smith, William (ed.), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. 3, Boston, MA, p. 206, archived from the original on 2012-10-12, retrieved 2009-09-17{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  13. Euripides, Orestes 1087
  14. Strabo, 9. p. 420
  15. Comp. Libanius, Orat. vol. iii. 472, ed. Reiske.

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Acrisius". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

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