In Greek mythology, Acrisius was a son of Abas and the twin brother of Proteus with whom he quarrelled even in the womb. He was the father of Danae. When Abas died, Acrisius expelled Proteus from his inheritance, but Proteus returned supported by Iobates and Acrisius was compelled to give him Tiryns while he kept Argos. Research Acrisius
Amymone was a daughter of Danaus. She and her sisters were sent to search for water when Poseidon caused a drought in the district of Argos. Whilst searching she threw a spear at a dear, missed it and hit a satyr which pursued her. She called to Poseidon for help. He came, drove off the satyr and produced a perennial spring for her at Lerna, where he met her. Research Amymone
In Greek mythology, Bellerophon was a hero who, having accidentally killed his brother, fled to Proetus, king of Argos, whose wife, Antsea, fell in love with him. Being slighted, she instigated her husband to send him to her father Iobates, king of Lycia, with a letter urging him to put to death the insulter of his daughter. That king, not wishing to do so directly, imposed on him the dangerous task of conquering the Chimaera, which Bellerophon, mounted on Pegasus, a gift from Athena, overpowered. Iobates afterwards gave him his daughter in marriage, and shared his kingdom with him. He attempted to soar to heaven on the winged horsePegasus, but fell to the earth, where he wandered about blind, until he died. Research Bellerophon
In Greek mythology, Danae was daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos. He shut her up in a bronze tower because of a prophecy that her son would kill his grandfather - thinking that held prisoner she might never receive a lover, and never bear a child. Zeus became enamoured of her and descended in a shower of gold. As a result of her union with Zeus she gave birth to the hero Perseus. Research Danae
In Greek mythology, Danaus was a king of Libya and the father of fifty daughters, the 'Danaides'. His brother Aegyptus, who had fifty sons, wanted a mass marriage, but Danaus fled with his daughters to Argos where he became king. Eventually Aegyptus' sons followed and demanded the Danaides. Danaus agreed, but gave each daughter a weapon with which she slew her husband on their wedding night, all except Hypermestra who spared her husband Lynceus. Lynceus killed Danaus and became king of Argos. In the underworld the Danaides were condemned to carry water in sieves for ever. Research Danaus
In Greek mythology Diomedes was a king of the Bistones, who fed his horses on human flesh, and used to throw all strangers who entered his territories to those animals to be devoured. He was killed by Hercules, who carried off the horses.
In Greek mythology Diomedes was one of the heroes at the siege of Troy, the son of Tydeus and Deipyle, and king of Argos, one of the suitors of Helen. After she was carried off Diomedes engaged in the expedition against Troy, in which his courage and the protection of Pallas rendered him one of the most distinguished heroes. He wounded Aphrodite and Ares, and thrice assailed Apollo; and by carrying off the horses of Rhoesus from the enemies' tents, and aiding Ulysses in the removal of Philoctetes from Lenmos, he fulfilled two of the conditions on which alone Troy could be conquered. Finally he was one of the heroes concealed in the wooden horse by whom the capture of Troy was at length accomplished. Different accounts were given of his after-life. He is often called Diomede. Research Diomedes
In Greek mythology, Helios was the god of the sun (the Roman Sol), son of the TitanHyperion and Theia, and brother of Eos and Selene. He was said to dwell with Eos in the ocean behind Colchis, from which he issued in the morning and to which he returned at night. He later began to be identified with Apollo, but the identification was never complete. His worship was widely spread, and he had temples in Corinth, Argos, Troezen and Elis, but particularly in Rhodes, the Colossus of which was a representation of Helios. The island of Trinacria was also sacred to Helios, and here his daughters, Phoetusa and Lampetia, kept his flocks of sheep and oxen. It was customary to offer up white lambs or boars on his altars. The animals sacred to him were horses, wolves, cocks and eagles. Research Helios
In Greek and Roman mythology, Hercules (called by the Greeks Heracles) was the most celebrated hero or semi-divine personage, he was the son of Zeus (Jupiter) by Alcmena, the wife of Amphitryon and was brought up at Thebes, and before he was eight months old he had strangled two snakes sent by the jealous Hera (Juno) to devour him.
In his youth he had several distinguished instructors, among them the CentaurCheiron. Early in life he had, at the command of Zeus, to subject himself for twelve years to the will of Eurystheus, on the understanding that after he had acquitted himself of this duty he should be reckoned in the number of the gods. He, therefore, went to Mycenae, and performed at the bidding of Eurystheus the tasks known as the twelve labours of Hercules. These were
Bring from the infernal regions Cerberus the three headed dog of Hades.
Besides these labours, he also achieved of his own accord others equally celebrated. Thus, he assisted the gods in their wars against the giants, and it was through him alone that Zeus obtained the victory.
Having attempted to plunder the temple at Delphi, he became engaged in conflict with Apollo, and was punished by being sold to Omphale, queen of Lydia, as a slave, who restored him to liberty and married him. Having latterly returned to Greece, he became the husband of Dejanira, who unwittingly brought about his death by giving him a tunic poisoned with the blood of the Centaur Neasus, which she innocently believed would retain for her Hercules' love. The poison took effect whenever the garment was put on, and as the distemper was incurable, Hercules placed himself on a burning pile on the top of Mount OEta, was received up into heaven, and being there reconciled to Hera, received her daughter Hebe in marriage. At the death of Hercules Deianira killed her self also through grief.
In ancient works of art Hercules is generally represented naked, with strong and well-proportioned limbs; he is sometimes covered with the skin of the Nemaean lion, and holds a knotted club in his hand, on which he often leans. The principal ancient statue of him which remains is the Farnese Hercules at Naples, a work of the Athenian Griycon, The myth of Hercules is believed by many writers to represent the course of the sun through the twelve signs of the zodiac. His marriage with Hebe was explained even by the ancients as symbolic of the renewing of the sun's course after its completion. Research Hercules
Abbreviations
Research Acrisius
