< Acrisius, son of Abas >

1 Origin

Acrisius was born in Argos in 1400 BC.

Acrisius's father was Abas, son of Lynceus. [Apo.2.2.1, Paus.2.16.2]

Acrisius's mother was Aglaia, daughter of Mantineus. [Apo.2.2.1]

2 Family

Acrisius married Aganippe. [Hyginus.63]

Acrisius and Aganippe had a daughter, Danae. [Herod.6.54, Hyginus.63]

Acrisius married Eurydice, daughter of Lacedaemon. [Apo.3.10.3, Paus.3.13.8]

Acrisius and Eurydice had a daughter, Evarete. [Hyginus.84]

Acrisius had a son, Apesantus. [PsPlut.NRM.18]

Acrisius is also thought to have had a son named Philammon. [Paus.9.36.2]

3 Others

3.1 Emigration to Egypt

In 1387 BC, Acrisius was banished from Argos by his twin brother Proetus. [Euseb.Chron.179]

Acrisius fled to Archander, the guardian of his father Abas, who emigrated from Argos to Egypt in 1402 BC. [Herod.2.98, Paus.7.1.6]

3.2 Aganippe, wife of Acrisius

Acrisius married Aganippe in Egypt. [Hyginus.63]

Aganippe is presumed to be the daughter of Archander and Scaea, daughter of Danaus. [Herod.6.54]

3.3 Return to Argos

In 1370 BC, Acrisius returned to Argos 17 years after being driven out and recaptured the city from Proetus. [Euseb.Chron.157]

3.4 Battle with Proetus

In 1368 BC, Proetus occupied Tiryns and fought Acrisius. [Apo.2.2.1, Paus.2.25.7-8]

The battle was inconclusive, and a settlement was reached in which Acrisius was given the dominion of Argos, and Proetus the dominion of Tiryns, Heraeum, Mideia, and the coastal areas of Argolis. [Paus.2.16.2, Pindaros.418]

3.5 Successor of Acrisius

Acrisius had sons, Philammon and Apesantus, who died in accident and battle. [Paus.9.36.2, PsPlut.NRM.18]

In 1349 BC, Acrisius summoned Perseus, son of Danae, to Argos to succeed him from his daughter Danae, whom he had left behind in Egypt.

3.6 Death of Acrisius

Acrisius died in 1339 BC at the age of 61 and was buried in Larissa.

Pausanias and Apollodoros mention Larissa as a town in Thessaly. However, Larissa was the name given to the Acropolis of Argos. [Apo.2.4.4, Paus.2.16.2, FGrH.Nr4.F91, Paus.2.24.1]

Acrisius' tomb was in the temple of Athena on the Acropolis of Argos. [Cleme.Exho.3, Euseb.Pra.2.6]