ACRISIUS (king of Argos)

Married to Eurydice, daughter of Amyclas or Lacedaemon, Acrisius fathered Danae and Evarete.^8,9,3 After asking an oracle how he could obtain male offspring, he learned that his daughter's son would kill him.¹⁰ Fearing this fate, he constructed an underground bronze chamber to protect his daughter Danaë.^10,11,12 When he discovered his daughter had received a lover and born a child, he refused to believe that Zeus was the father.^11,10,2 In his rage, he placed his daughter and infant in a chest and instructed sailors to discard it into the water once far from shore.^10,11,13

The chest carrying the child washed ashore on the island of Seriphus.¹⁰ Meanwhile, Acrisius took up arms against Dionysus, shutting the gates of Argos against the approach of the deity.^14,2 His conflict with his twin brother Proetus was equally violent, as they fought for the throne of Argos.¹ Accounts differ on the outcome: one says Acrisius defeated Proetus and drove him out, while another says the conflict ended in a draw and led to reconciliation.^1,15 During their war, they were the first to invent shields, and Acrisius was armed with a shield during the battle.^1,16,15

Acrisius retired to Larisa on the Peneus after hearing that Perseus was alive and performing great deeds.¹⁷ He traveled to the Pelasgian land after abandoning his kingdom, having taken precautions to avoid the fate predicted for him by the god.^4,18 He regretted insulting the god and failing to acknowledge his grandson, feeling sorrow for his past actions.² However, he could not prevent the divine prophecy concerning his daughter and grandson from coming true.¹⁸

Acrisius died during athletic games held in honor of Teutamides' father.⁴ He was killed instantly when Perseus struck his foot with a quoit while stepping into its path unnoticed.^4,17 This death fulfilled the oracle that Perseus had feared.⁴ Perseus buried Acrisius outside the city walls.⁴ The bronze chamber built by Acrisius was later demolished by Perilaus.¹²