View source for Acrisius

{{Short description|Ancient Greek mythological King of Argos}}
In [[Greek mythology]], '''Acrisius''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|k|r|aɪ|s|i|ə|s}}; {{langx|grc|Ἀκρίσιος}}) was a king of [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]]. He was the grandfather of the famous Greek demi-god [[Perseus]].

== Family ==
Acrisius was the son of [[Abas, son of Lynceus|Abas]]<ref>{{citation|author-link=Pausanias (geographer)|author=Pausanias|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+2.16.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Acrisius|title=2.16.2}}</ref> and [[Aglaia (mythology)|Aglaea]]<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+2.2.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Acrisius 2.2.1]</ref> (or [[Ocalea (mythology)|Ocalea]], depending on the author), grandson of [[Lynceus]], great-grandson of [[Aegyptus]]. He was the twin brother of [[Proetus (king of Argos and Tiryns)|Proetus]]<ref>{{citation|author=Pausanias|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+2.16.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Acrisius|title=2.16.2}}</ref> and the half brother of [[Lyrcus]].<ref>{{citation|author=Pausanias|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+2.25.5&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Abas|title=2.25.5}}</ref> Acrisius was the husband of [[Eurydice of Argos|Eurydice]]<ref>[[Scholiast]] ad [[Apollonius of Rhodes]], 4.1091; Apollodorus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+2.2.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Acrisius 2.2.2]</ref> or Aganippe<ref>{{citation|author-link=Gaius Julius Hyginus|author=Hyginus|url=https://topostext.org/work/206#63|title=Fabulae 63}}</ref> and thus grandfather of the hero [[Perseus]] through their daughter [[Danae]]. His other daughter was [[Evarete]], wife of King [[Oenomaus]] of [[Pisa, Greece|Pisa]] in [[Ancient Elis|Elis]].<ref>{{citation|author=Hyginus|url=https://topostext.org/work/206#84|title=Fabulae 84}}</ref>

== 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 [[Lycia]]n, 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 (Thrace)|Heraeum]], [[Midea (Argolid)|Mideia]], Tiryns, and the Argive coast region.<ref>Pausanias, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+2.16.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Acrisius 2.16.2]</ref>

===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).<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=usurped  |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 [[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.<ref>Apollodorus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+2.2.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Acrisius 2.2.1] & [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+2.4.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Acrisius 2.4.1];  Pausanias, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+2.16.5&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Proetus 2.16.2], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+2.25.7&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Acrisius 2.25.7] & 3.13.6; Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#63 63]</ref>

Perseus grows up to be a hero, killing [[Medusa]] and rescuing [[Andromeda (mythology)|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.<ref name="DicGRBM">{{Citation  | last = Schmitz  | first = Leonhard  | contribution = Perseus  | editor-last = Smith  | editor-first = William  | title = [[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology]]  | 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 [[Scholiast]] on [[Euripides]],<ref>[[Euripides]], ''[[Orestes (play)|Orestes]]'' 1087</ref> Acrisius was the founder of the [[Delphi]]c [[Amphictyonic League|amphictyony]]. Strabo believes that this amphictyony existed before the time of Acrisius,<ref>[[Strabo]], 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=[[King of Argos]]| years= | before=[[Proetus]] | after=[[Perseus]]}}
{{s-end}}

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

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''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. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
*[[Gaius Julius Hyginus]], ''Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/206 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
* [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''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. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+1.1.1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
* Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Strabo]], ''[[Geographica|The Geography of Strabo]].'' Edition by H.L. Jones. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D6%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
* Strabo, ''Geographica'' edited by A. Meineke. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0197 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.]

{{SmithDGRBM|title= Acrisius}}

{{Subject bar |portal=Ancient Greece|portal2=Myths}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Princes in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Abantiades (mythology)]]
[[Category:Kings of Argos]]
[[Category:Mythological Argives]]
[[Category:Male literary villains]]