Acrisius

Greek mythology

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July 23, 2026

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Acrisius was a king of Argos in Greek mythology, grandfather to the hero Perseus. A prophecy foretold that Acrisius would be killed by his grandson. To prevent this, he cast his infant daughter Danaë and the baby Perseus into the sea in a chest.1

Perseus survived and grew up on the island of Seriphus. Later, in a tragic fulfillment of the prophecy, Perseus accidentally killed Acrisius with a discus, thus ending his grandfather's life. Another myth mentions Proetus, Acrisius's twin brother, who was king of Argos and Tiryns. In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Proetus is turned to stone upon seeing Medusa's head wielded by Perseus.12

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Perseus
… and Danaë, the daughter of Acrisius of Argos. As an infant he was cast into the sea in a chest with his mother by Acrisius, to whom it had been prophesied that he would be killed by his grandson. After Perseus had grown up on the island of Seriphus, where…
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… and Danaë, the daughter of Acrisius of Argos. As an infant he was cast into the sea in a chest with his mother by Acrisius, to whom it had been prophesied that he would be killed by his grandson. After Perseus had grown up on the island of Seriphus, where…
Read More