[4]
Perseus hastened with Danae and Andromeda to Argos in order that he might behold Acrisius. But he, learning of this and
dreading the oracle,1 forsook Argos and departed to the Pelasgian land. Now Teutamides, king of Larissa,
was holding athletic games in honor of his dead father, and Perseus came to compete. He
engaged in the pentathlum, but in throwing the quoit he struck Acrisius on the foot and
killed him instantly.2 Perceiving that the oracle was fulfilled, he buried Acrisius
outside the city,3 and being ashamed to
return to Argos to claim the inheritance of him
who had died by his hand, he went to Megapenthes, son of Proetus, at Tiryns and effected an exchange with him, surrendering
Argos into his hands.4 So Megapenthes reigned over the Argives, and Perseus reigned over
Tiryns, after fortifying also Midea and Mycenae.5
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1 That is, the oracle which declared that he would be killed by the son of Danae. See above, Apollod. 2.4.1.
2 Compare Paus. 2.16.2.
3 According to another account, the grave of Acrisius was in the temple of Athena on the acropolis of Larissa. See Clement of Alexandria, Protrept. iii.45, p. 39, ed. Potter.
4 As to this exchange of kingdoms, compare Paus. 2.16.3.
5 As to the fortification or foundation of Mycenae by Perseus, see Paus. 2.15.4, Paus. 2.16.3.
Apollodorus. Apollodorus, The Library, with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. Includes Frazer's notes.
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