Acrisius
Acrisius was a
mythical king of
Argos, and a son of
Abas and
Ocalea (or
Aglaea, depending on the author). He quarrelled constantly with his twin brother
Proetus, inventing
bucklers in the process, and in the end expelled him to
Tiryns.
His daughter,
Danaƫ, was prophesied to have a son that would kill him, so Acrisius locked her in a bronze tower (or a cave) when she became fertile.
Zeus had intercourse with her in the form of a shower of gold. She became pregnant with
Perseus. Acrisius put the child and Danae in a chest and threw it in the sea. Zeus asked
Poseidon to calm the water; he did and Danae and Perseus survived, washing up on the island of
Seriphos. A fisherman named
Dictys found the pair and took care of them.
Perseus grew up to be a hero, killing
Medusa and rescuing
Andromeda.
Perseus and Danae returned to Argos but King Acrisius had gone to
Larissa. When Perseus arrived in Larissa, he participated in some ongoing funeral games and accidentally threw a discus at Acrisius, striking him in the foot, killing him and accomplishing the prophecy.
Ovid IV, 613