#Acrisius

[sarafangirlart]

Danaë in her tower

Sometimes her prison is an underground chamber (which is probably the version y’all are familiar with) but I like the one with the tower bc it ties her to Rapunzel, ever since I’ve realized their commonalities I’ve been thinking about them lol

I like to think Danaë took up several hobbies to pass the time much like Rapunzel, but unlike Rapunzel, she actually remembers her life before her imprisonment and misses her friends, the girls she’s playing with in the fresco are her cousins Nyctaea and Iphianassa.

[aliciavance4228]

King Acrisius: That bastard son of my daughter is a monster! A MONSTER!

Baby Perseus:

[littlesparklight]

Perseus looking almost completely like his mother.

Perseus' colouring being actually not very much like either Zeus or Danae, because the gold rain affected his complexion/colouring. (Though, if you imagine Zeus as blond, he'd share that with his father.) But it's undeniable that he is Danae's son.

(And Zeus', for those who know how to look, but that's not the point.)

Because, you see, Akrisios is supposed to be killed by his grandson. His daughter's son.

And maybe it's merely chance, natural providence, or maybe it's Fate having a laugh, for how hard and cruelly he tried to avoid it, but Perseus looks so very much like his mother. Akrisios will know his death is coming for him when he sees the boy.

(And despite that Perseus surely has some cause to take witting revenge for his mother's treatment, Akrisios dies by accident at his grandson's hand. Makes you wonder how things might have gone if he hadn't locked his daughter up in an isolated prison with only one other person for company.)

[atrumvox]

From Miraculous Birth to the Challenge with Medusa: The Legend of Perseus

Discover how an ancient prophecy forced the king of Argos to take extreme measures to secure his own future!

The story of Perseus is deeply rooted in Greek mythology, woven with dire prophecies and acts of extraordinary courage. King Acrisius of Argos desperately tries to escape his fate by locking his daughter Danae in a tower. Yet Zeus, through a divine ruse, reaches her, leading to the birth of Perseus—an hero destined for great deeds. Follow Perseus as he grows and prepares to face the terrifying Gorgon, Medusa, in a tale where bravery challenges destiny!

[druidicentropy]

Abas

The son of Hypermnestra and Lynceus was King Abas of Argos. His two sons, Acrisius and Proetus, followed him as king after his father's death. Following their father's death, his children ruled in turns until Acrisius banished his brother. They had battled while still in their mother's womb. Acrisius was forced to give Proetus half of the kingdom when he returned with an army, dividing the Argolid in two.

[mythological-art]

Danae Watching the Building of the Brazen Tower

Artist: Edward Burne-Jones (British, 1833–1898)

Date: 1872

Medium: Oil on Panel

Collection: Harvard Art Museum

Description

In the 1870s Burne-Jones and his friend the designer, poet, and socialist William Morris collaborated on illustrations for Morris’s The Earthly Paradise (1868–70). The epic poem, composed of mythological tales from ancient and Nordic sources, served as an inspiration for Burne-Jones throughout his life. The story of Danaë is taken from the chapter “The Doom of King Acrisius.” Fearful of an oracle’s warning that he would die by the hand of his grandson, as yet unborn, the king built a tower “wrought of brass most cunningly” in which to imprison his daughter, Danaë. The god Zeus breached her “living tomb” and impregnated Danaë in a shower of gold; later her son, Perseus, unwittingly slew his grandfather. Here Danaë, already seemingly incarcerated in the narrow courtyard, watches the construction of her prison, her future foreshadowed by the rosebush whose blooms are confined in a cage.

[ellies-rambles]

greatest apologies to every adult at my school for my inability to remember to schedule emails and thus sending emails at ~1 am

[sarafangirlart]

Acrisius turning to Danaë: see? This is a daughter who is loyal to her father, you should learn from her!

"Sisyphus and Salmoneus, sons of Aeolus, hated each other. Sisyphus asked Apollo how he might kill his enemy, meaning his brother, and the answer was given that if he had children from the embrace of Tyro, daughter of his brother Salmoneus, they would avenge him. When Sisyphus followed his advice two sons were born, but their mother slew them when she learned the prophecy." - Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 60

Now that's an effective way of averting prophecy! Why bother with exposing the prophesied child(ren), which is something that always comes back to bite you in the ass, when you can simply do this instead?

[sarafangirlart]

When you are hating on Perseus this is who you are being mean to

[aliciavance4228]

Ovid, Art of Love: "...wear out some long road to discover them. Perseus brought Andromeda from darkest India, and Trojan Paris snatched his girl from..."

Ovid, Metamorphoses: "You [Dionysos] hold in thrall the Orient, even those remotest lands where Ganges waters dusky India." Ovid, Metamorphoses: "[Dionysos] conqueror of India."

If you go by Ovid's version where Dionysus is acknowledged as the conqueror of India and Andromeda is indian then there's a chance thay both Perseus and Andromeda have more reasons to despise him other than the Argos incident.

There's also this passage from Ovid's Metamorphoses:

The fortune of their grandson, Bacchus, gave great comfort to them—as a god adored in conquered India; by Achaia praised in stately temples. — But Acrisius the son of Abas, of the Cadmean race, remained to banish Bacchus from the walls of Argos, and to lift up hostile arms against that deity, who he denied was born to Jove. He would not even grant that Perseus from the loins of Jupiter was got of Danae in the showering gold. So mighty is the hidden power of truth, Acrisius soon lamented that affront to Bacchus, and that ever he refused to own his grandson; for the one achieved high heaven, and the other, (as he bore the viperous monster-head) on sounding wings hovered a conqueror in the fluent air, over sands, Libyan, where the Gorgon-head dropped clots of gore, that, quickening on the ground, became unnumbered serpents; fitting cause to curse with vipers that infested land.

Here it's emphasized the fact that he conquered India before Perseus (and by extension Andromeda) were even born, but what is interesting in this fragment is the implication that Danaë being impregnated by Zeus was Dionysus' punishment towards Acrisius all this time, because he refused to worship him.

On top of that, pretty much any sources which mention Dionysus wanting to spread his cult in Argos usually have Perseus opposing him, except this one. So my personal interpretation/take is that Dionysus punished Acrisius after his affront not by brutally murdering him (*ahem* Pentheus *ahem*), but by asking Zeus to get his daughter pregnant, thus participating into fulfilling that prophecy. He then continued to spread his cult in other places until he found out that Acrisius died and Perseus became king. So he turned back to Argos, being convinced that this time he would easily win against this new ruler.

[my-name-is-apollo]

Why is Hera so hostile to Leto in a manner that she isn't with the other lovers of Zeus? I can't think of any other woman who was targeted so much by Hera. One could say she didn't want Leto to give birth because her children would be a competition to Hera's children, but why bother her even after she had already given birth? Is it because Leto herself is also a threat to Hera?

Sort of I guess?

I don't think Leto would ever be a threat to Hera's role as the queen of the gods but Hera might see her as a competitor for Zeus' affection, even though I think Zeus would not marry someone else and replace Hera.

The twins are definitely a big reason why Hera begrudged Leto - it is outright stated in the Callimachus Hymn to Delos that the reason Hera especially targeted Leto was because she was told that Apollo would be dearer to Zeus than Ares is. Zeus is very proud of Artemis as well. As he himself puts it, he doesn't mind facing Hera's wrath for children like her.

But the continued hatred even after the birth of the twins (like sending Tityus to rape Leto) could have been for different reasons. This wasn't like one of those affairs Zeus would have with mortal women where he'd leave them behind once the child is conceived. Neither could Hera, despite her many attempts, get rid of Leto like she did with the other lovers. Not only did Leto give Zeus children that he loves dearly, she also stayed on Olympus despite Hera's hatred towards her (which isn't directed to any of Zeus' other divine mistresses, btw). It might have also been because Leto herself is dear to Zeus, if the way she's treated on Olympus is any proof. In the Homeric hymn to Apollo, Leto stands next to Zeus - in the Olympian assembly - to welcome their son. Hera is completely absent from the scene, as if Leto had taken her place even if temporarily. Now you could say this is because Apollo himself is such a powerful and glorious son in a way that no other son of Zeus is, so of course Leto would get such an honor (the hymn itself presents it this way).

But here's another instance - in the Iliad, when Hera goes to seduce Zeus, he is obviously very smitten but before getting into the action, he lists some of his lovers (I believe these were his favorite lovers, as a lot of others are not mentioned):

"for never has such desire for goddess or mortal woman so gripped and overwhelmed my heart, not even when I was seized by love for Ixion’s wife, who gave birth to Peirithous the gods’ rival in wisdom; or for Acrisius’ daughter, slim-ankled Danaë, who bore Perseus, greatest of warriors; or for the far-famed daughter of Phoenix, who gave me Minos and godlike Rhadamanthus; or for Semele mother of Dionysus, who brings men joy; or for Alcmene at Thebes, whose son was lion-hearted Heracles; or for Demeter of the lovely tresses; or for glorious Leto; or even for you yourself, as this love and sweet desire for you grips me now.’ (Book 14, trans. A. T. Murray)

Notice how when talking about most of them, he also mentions the children they bore to him but when Demeter and Leto are mentioned, he doesn't bring up their children at all despite them being some of the most accomplished kids of his. What's more, he takes Leto's name just before Hera's. I mean, this is an interpretation but it looks like not only did Zeus love Leto the most out of all his mistresses - giving her a place second to that of his wife, but also his love for her wasn't necessarily only because she gave him two amazing children.

Nonnus does something similar in the Dionysiaca (but this time Zeus is enamored with Persephone instead of Hera) but more notably, when Typhoeus attacks Olympus and Zeus is discouraged, Nike takes the form of Leto to encourage him and it's pretty telling of what Leto meant to Zeus.

One interesting similarity between Hera and Leto is that they both had a giant try to rape them. Porphyrion tried to violate Hera (Zeus inspired him to do this) and Tityus tried to violate Leto (upon Hera's order). Though both of them were killed, only Tityus got an eternal punishment in Tartarus of having his liver/heart eaten out by vultures so Zeus seems to have taken a greater offense at Tityus trying to assault Leto.

Again, I don't think Zeus would ever take anyone other than Hera as his permanent wife - she is irreplaceable to him. There's an entire myth about Hera leaving him and Zeus winning her back. Their relationship is obviously complex and involves all kinds of emotions including love and hate. But Leto is continually dear to him as well and that's something Hera can't do much about.

[doobydoobydoowau]

unless your prophecy says that your son is going to kill you, in which case change nothing about your life, treat them with respect AND FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS DON'T LEAVE THEM ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN FOR A SHEPHERD TO FIND

pspsps to all my mythological hellenic kings out there if an oracle gives you a prophecy that's all like "as long as x happens/doesn't happen nothing will go wrong ever and you'll be fine" RUN away you are not safe

[brujahinaskirt]

For the longest time, I couldn't figure out a pattern behind the strangers Arthur is drawn to -- the ones he likes, approves of, and generally enjoys. He seems to gravitate to wildly different types of people: dandy city boys and rugged mountaineers, perky showgirls and abrasive weirdos, gentle souls and circus "freaks," friendly socialites and social outcasts. At first glance, it appears he's simply drawn to people who are unlike him, perhaps out of a sense of curiosity. But I think it's a little more complex than that...

I think Arthur is drawn to people who flamboyantly and courageously defy the expectations placed upon them by their communities, parents, and social circles, whatever those circles may be.

[meta essay, mild side-quest spoilers below...]

While Arthur (being naturally artistic himself) definitely appreciates artists of every field, and while he definitely has a soft spot for young lovers (projection much…), that's only the tip of the iceberg.

Just look at the shortlist! Albert Mason, the hapless urbane gentleman who decided to strike out and chase his passion for wildlife even if it cost him his life and career. Penelope Braithwaite, the young suffragette who loathed tradition and the bumbling pretty-boy son of her wealthy family's arch-nemesis. Charles Châtenay, a gender-bending social troll of an artist who gleefully infuriates prudes and puritans everywhere he goes. Sally Nash, the perky aspiring "second-best woman lion-tamer" in the world. Acrisius and Proetus, the feuding academician brothers who eagerly partake in increasingly ridiculous tests of idiot daring. Charlotte Balfour, a rich big-city widow who eschews her former high-life to live simply with nothing but a rifle she doesn't know how to use. Algernon Wasp, the hapless dandy obsessed with eccentricities and craftswork few people appreciate (but who apparently makes excellent tea). Jaime Gillis, the aimless kid who knows nothing about himself except that he likes apples and can't bear to live the life his father wants for him. Hamish Sinclair, the one-legged veteran who rides, hunts, and remains self-sufficient despite the difficulty of rough-living with his amputation. Marko Dragic, the frankly unpleasant epitome of shunned mad scientist. Miss Marjorie and her "sons," who fight tooth and nail but somehow find a way to love each other in the face of civilization's rejection, a mirror image of Arthur's own outcast family.

Arthur doesn't just begrudgingly help these particular strangers; for the most part, he really likes these people, writes about and draws them favorably in his journal. Admires them, in a way, as foolish and imperiled as they often are.

While it seems the people he likes have little in common with each other, and often little in common with Arthur, they've all boldly done something Arthur himself is trying to find the courage to one day do...

They don't behave. As big and bad as Arthur is in the world at large, within the confines of his own community, he's extremely well-behaved. He does what's asked of him and plays the role of the big baddie gang lieutenant, which is what his elders tell him to be, even when it's in direct conflict with his wishes and (if honorable) his morals and perhaps even his "natural" personality.

tl;dr: Arthur likes defiers of all kinds, because they prove that defiance can be done. Not just simple defiance of laws, but a deeper, more complete defiance. Defiance of the expectations of family, of the roles dictated to you by those close to you, of responsibility heaped upon you without consent -- and yes, even of Dutch.

[clever-name-change]

Potential Hazbin AU Idea:

Radiostatic but as Orpheus and Eurydice…but not in the way you think.

Typically when I am thinking of AUs, Vox is the one who falls into the role of the devoted (obsessed) lover, bound as he is to follow in Alastor’s footsteps like a lost sheep. But what if the roles were switched?

Orpheus is meant to be a great musician and singer (which I feel ties in with Alastor’s background as a radio host), and by the end of his myth is effectively immortal because nature itself refuses to let him die (which is dreadfully ironic given Alastor’s constant search for more power).

He just fits the character perfectly!!

And imagine how compelling the story would be…to have Vox - Alastor’s star bound not-quite-lover - die (preferably in front of him or in a manner that Alastor finds demeaning/insulting) and to then have Alastor go on a hell-wide rampage in a futile attempt to get him back.

There’s room for some fun stuff with Lucifer/Charlie in this as well - seeing as they would effectively replace Hades and Persephone - which is always an added bonus.

And the finale…Alastor finally manages to secure Vox’s soul. He can bring him back, all he needs to do is trust that the television is following him. All he needs to do is not. look. back.

But he will. Because fundamentally Alastor trusts no one but himself, and that will cost him everything (ie: Vox).

And when Alastor’s paranoia gets the best of him, and he whips around to see Vox - or a visage of him at least, trapped in some nebulous place in the past Alastor swore he’d never see again, his screen not yet lit by the light at the end of the tunnel - that will be the ultimate betrayal.

And when shadows even he can’t control tear Vox away from him - dragging him somewhere Alastor can’t follow - Alastor will finally understand that he has doomed them. He is King Acrisius and his mistrust is his prison, making Vox the unwilling collateral damage.

Idk, they’re kind of silly I guess. Considering writing something like this, is anyone interested?

[changingplumbob]

Ophelia: Oh I can't tell you what I saw

Glenn: Why not

Ophelia: Many reasons. Cheating, self fulfilling prophecies, past bad experiences-

Glenn: Cheating?

Ophelia: Like lottery numbers, I'm obviously not going to tell you those. Drives Drusilla mad but I won't

Glenn: And self fulfilling prophecies?

Ophelia: Acrisius and Perseus?

Glenn: Who?

Ophelia: Does nobody study the classics anymore? Acrisius got a prophecy that his grandson would kill him so he ordered him and his mother thrown into the sea to prevent it

Glenn: The heck?

Ophelia: Perseus of course didn't die, and after a bunch of stuff like sea monsters and Medusa got back to his mothers home where he threw a discus that killed Acrisius thus fulfilling the prophecy

Glenn: I don't follow

Ophelia: In trying to avoid the prophecy he took actions which in fact led to the prophecy being fulfilled. Basically if you think something is going to happen you'll consciously or unconsciously make it happen by doing or not doing things

Glenn: But I'm not wanting a bad prophecy. I want to get over Grayson. I want to find another love

Ophelia: I want that for you to but I'm not going to throw it off track by meddling. Beyond straight prophecy the future is...

Glenn: Is what

Ophelia: I'm not sure your mind can comprehend. It's like I get pieces of a puzzle or threads of a tapestry and they may not make sense alone and I can't always see how they connect to other events

Glenn: But you saw I should go on the BC and you told me

Ophelia: Yeah because I could see I would do that and I could see it led to your best future. Are you sure Grayson was the only nice one there?

Glenn: What do you mean? If you say Brandon-

Ophelia: Oh Carmine told me about him, he was the trouble making contestant no? His future lies on a separate path to you

Glenn: Then who

Ophelia: All I will say is that being on the show connected them to you, even if you don't know it yet

Glenn sighed and got up.

Glenn: I better get this pie to Phoebus. Hey, umm, I'm sorry for being rude

Ophelia: Oh honey I live under the same roof as Drusilla and Carmine. I get rude three times before breakfasts. I'll survive

Glenn: What did you come over here for? The thing you waited for me to finish baking for? You can't see though walls can you

Ophelia: *laughing* No indeed. I did just see when you would be done. Sometimes my foresight gives me big things like love stories and sometimes it gives me clearer little things like when someone will have time to talk

Glenn: So you already know what my answer will be

Ophelia: Of course! But I still need to ask you. If I manage to get my hands on some Valerian root do you think you could plant some in a way that it would grow more? It's getting harder and harder to get and, well, many of us will need it

Glenn: Sure Ophelia. I can do that

Ophelia: Thank you Glenn. I better go home myself so I can catch the flask Carmine is going to drop

Glenn: Was that a joke...

Ophelia: No. She's going to drop one in ninety three seconds

Previous ... Next

[kill-me-with-a-spoon]

At first I though this post would go the way of Perseus and Acrisius incident (ei Acrisius's grandson was propheised to kill him. He tried to avoid it but Perseus ended up killing him on accident in a disc throwing competetion) and expected it to go like:

Odysseus takes Astyanax to Ithaca. As he grow he explains everything to him and bega him to take vengence only on him as Penelope and Telemacus are innocent. It's a bit shaky but Astyanax forgives him and they live together as a happy family.

Several years later Astyanax kills Odysseus, Penelope and Telemacus in a freak javelin throwing accident that also starts a small fire which ends up burning Odysseus's throne

I don't like Astyanax Lives AUs where Astyanax kills Odysseus with his own hands because it feels way too straight forward to me. But you know what would make it better? If he's absolutely crushed by guilt and regret right after.

If he looked into Odysseus' eyes and expected to see fear, anger, hatred. But instead all he sees is acceptance (and maybe understanding) as the man gives him a sad smile. And in that moment Astyanax doesn't see the monster—the saxer of troy—he sees the man. The man that showed him how to do the laces on his sandals, who taught him to read, write and sail, who comforted him when Zeus threw lightning and thunder upon their shores, who would squish his cheeks between in his hands and give a hearty laugh as the boy complained—

"Papaaaa!"

He sees the man who defied the gods' will for him and in that moment realizes that none of it was a lie—Odysseus loved him. His father loved him, his father's blood is on his hands. And all Astyanax can do is fall to his knees, sobbing out apologies as he cradles the man who even though weak and dying brings a hand up to cup his cheek and shush him. Comforting him like he once did when he was but a boy who couldn't even reach his father chest.

"My boy, my son don't cry. It is okay, it will be alright"

But Astyanax sobs only persist, for he knows it will never be alright. Because unlike his father, he was too weak to deny the gods their bloodshed.