KING PROETUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Proetus was a king of Ancient Greece who appeared in the tales of Greek mythology, for Proetus was the King of Tiryns, one of Greece’s most important cities.
Proetus and Acrisius
Proetus was the son of King Abas of Argos born to Abas’ wife Aglaea (or possibly Ocalea); Proetus would have a twin brother named Acrisius.
Proetus and Acrisius were constantly quarrelling, and it was even said that the pair argued whilst still in the womb.
Some say that Proetus became king of Argos after the death of Abas, ruling the kingdom of Argos for 17 years, but the arguments between the brothers continued, and eventually Acrisius overthrew his brother, forcing Proetus into exile.
Alternatively it was Acrisius who succeeded Abas, and forced Proetus into exile to prevent a future threat to his throne.
In a less common tale it was said that it was Proetus who seduced Acrisius’ daughter Danae making her pregnant, causing the last great argument between Proetus and Acrisius, although, of course, the seducer of Danae is more commonly said to be Zeus.
Proetus and Acrisius were constantly quarrelling, and it was even said that the pair argued whilst still in the womb.
Some say that Proetus became king of Argos after the death of Abas, ruling the kingdom of Argos for 17 years, but the arguments between the brothers continued, and eventually Acrisius overthrew his brother, forcing Proetus into exile.
Alternatively it was Acrisius who succeeded Abas, and forced Proetus into exile to prevent a future threat to his throne.
In a less common tale it was said that it was Proetus who seduced Acrisius’ daughter Danae making her pregnant, causing the last great argument between Proetus and Acrisius, although, of course, the seducer of Danae is more commonly said to be Zeus.
Proetus in Exile and his Return
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In any case, Proetus found himself in exile, but Proetus was made welcome in Lycia, in the royal court of Iobates. Iobates took a shine to Proetus, and soon Proetus was marrying the daughter of Iobates, Stheneboea (or Antea).
Iobates would aide his son-in-law in attempting to take the kingdom of Argos from Acrisius, and a Lycian army marched forth. The resulting war was evenly fought, with no side gaining an ascendancy, and eventually a truce was called, and to avoid further bloodshed, the kingdom of Argos was divided into two. |
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Proetus King of Tiryns
Acrisius kept the western regions of Argos, whilst Proetus became ruler of East Argos, and thus Proetus became King of Tiryns.
It was said in antiquity that it was during the rule of King Proetus, that the first generation Cyclopes came to Tiryns, and built the massive defensive walls for the king; although why the Cyclopes should do this for Proetus is not clear.
It was said in antiquity that it was during the rule of King Proetus, that the first generation Cyclopes came to Tiryns, and built the massive defensive walls for the king; although why the Cyclopes should do this for Proetus is not clear.
The Children of Proetus
It was commonly said that Proetus was father to four children with Stheneboea.
The son of Proetus was Megapenthes, who would later succeed his father as King of Tiryns, whilst the three daughters of Proetus were Iphianassa, Iphinoe and Lysippe (although other names given to these three daughters include Calaene, Cyrianassa, Elege and Hipponoe. These daughters of Proetus were collectively known as Proitides.
The son of Proetus was Megapenthes, who would later succeed his father as King of Tiryns, whilst the three daughters of Proetus were Iphianassa, Iphinoe and Lysippe (although other names given to these three daughters include Calaene, Cyrianassa, Elege and Hipponoe. These daughters of Proetus were collectively known as Proitides.
The Madness of the ProitidesA tale is told in Greek mythology about the fate of the Proitides.
When of age, the three daughters of King Proetus were struck down by madness; the madness brought upon them possibly by Hera, when the Proitides claimed they were more beautiful than the goddess, or else the madness was sent by Dionysus when the princesses refused to take part in his rituals. The madness of the Proitides saw Iphianassa, Iphinoe and Lysippe strip off their clothes, and then wander around the kingdom of Proetus mooing like cows. Proetus sought out a cure for his daughters, but the only offer of aide came from the seer Melampus, but Melampus wanted payment of a third of the kingdom of Proetus, and so Proetus refused. The madness that infected Proetus’ daughters though spread to other women of his kingdom, and so King Proetus was forced to return to Melampus, but now Melampus demanded a third of the kingdom for himself, a third for his brother Bias; and now Proetus agreed to Melampus’ terms. |
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The Proitides and the other infected women were driven to a sacred well, possibly in Sicyon or possibly in Arcadia, although it was said that Iphinoe died, accidentally, as the women were herded forward. The remaining daughters of Proetus and the other infected women though, were cured of their madness when they drank of the water of the sacred well.
Subsequently, Melampus and Bias would marry Iphianassa and Lysippe.
Some say that it was not Melampus who cured the daughter of Proetus but the curing came about because King Proetus prayed to the goddess Artemis.
Now whether the subdivision of Proetus’ kingdom occurred is debatable, for later, when Perseus swapped the kingdom of Argos for Tiryns, it was perceived to be a fair exchange; otherwise Tiryns would have been but one-sixth of the original kingdom of Abas, against three-sixths for Argos.
Similarly, there is a more common story told about the subdivision of the Kingdom of Argos during the rule of Anaxagoras, the grandson of Proetus, when Bias and Melampus received a third of the Argos kingdom.
Subsequently, Melampus and Bias would marry Iphianassa and Lysippe.
Some say that it was not Melampus who cured the daughter of Proetus but the curing came about because King Proetus prayed to the goddess Artemis.
Now whether the subdivision of Proetus’ kingdom occurred is debatable, for later, when Perseus swapped the kingdom of Argos for Tiryns, it was perceived to be a fair exchange; otherwise Tiryns would have been but one-sixth of the original kingdom of Abas, against three-sixths for Argos.
Similarly, there is a more common story told about the subdivision of the Kingdom of Argos during the rule of Anaxagoras, the grandson of Proetus, when Bias and Melampus received a third of the Argos kingdom.
Proetus and Bellerophon
Despite all that had gone before, Proetus is still best remembered for appearing in the story of the Greek hero Bellerophon.
When Bellerophon was exiled for the killing of his brother, it was to Tiryns that the Corinthian prince travelled, and there Proetus absolved him of his crime.
Stheneboea though would take a shine to Bellerophon and would attempt to seduce him, but Bellerophon rejected the queen, for he would not sleep with the wife of the king who had absolved him. Stheneboea though took the rejection badly, and she went to Proetus claiming that Bellerophon had attempted to rape her.
Now Proetus could not kill Bellerophon, for the murder of a guest was considered a great crime in Ancient Greece, so instead Proetus sent Bellerophon to Lycia with a letter for King Iobates. Unbeknownst to Bellerophon, Proetus was asking Iobates to kill Bellerophon, for the molestation of Iobates’ daughter.
When Bellerophon was exiled for the killing of his brother, it was to Tiryns that the Corinthian prince travelled, and there Proetus absolved him of his crime.
Stheneboea though would take a shine to Bellerophon and would attempt to seduce him, but Bellerophon rejected the queen, for he would not sleep with the wife of the king who had absolved him. Stheneboea though took the rejection badly, and she went to Proetus claiming that Bellerophon had attempted to rape her.
Now Proetus could not kill Bellerophon, for the murder of a guest was considered a great crime in Ancient Greece, so instead Proetus sent Bellerophon to Lycia with a letter for King Iobates. Unbeknownst to Bellerophon, Proetus was asking Iobates to kill Bellerophon, for the molestation of Iobates’ daughter.
The Death of King Proetus
There is but one story of the death of King Proetus, and one which is not commonly told. This story tells of Perseus using the head of Medusa to turn his grandfather’s brother into stone.
It was generally told though, that Megapenthes was on the throne of Tiryns when Perseus returned to Argos, for Perseus would swap the kingdom of Argos for that of Tiryns.
It was generally told though, that Megapenthes was on the throne of Tiryns when Perseus returned to Argos, for Perseus would swap the kingdom of Argos for that of Tiryns.
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