Abas (son of Lynceus)
Mythological Greek king of Argos
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In Greek mythology, Abas (/ˈeɪbəs/; Ancient Greek: Ἄβας; gen.: Ἄβαντος, lit. 'guileless' or 'good-hearted') was the twelfth king of Argos. He was the great-grandfather of Perseus, and the founder of the towns Abae and Argos Pelasgikon.
Family
Abas was the son of Lynceus[1] of the royal family of Argos, and Hypermnestra, the last of the Danaides.[2] With his wife Ocalea (or Aglaea, depending on the source), he had twin sons Acrisius (grandfather of Perseus) and Proetus,[3] and one daughter, Idomene.[4] According to Pausanias, Abas had also an illegitimate son named Lyrcus, who gave his name to the city of Lyrcea.[5]
The name Abantiades (/ˌæbænˈtaɪədiːz/; Ancient Greek: Ἀβαντιάδης) generally signified a descendant of this Abas, but was used especially to designate Perseus, the great-grandson of Abas,[6] and Acrisius, a son of Abas.[7] A female descendant of Abas, as Danaë and Atalante, was called Abantias.[8]
Mythology
Abas was a successful conqueror, and was the founder of the city of Abae in northeastern Phocis,[9] home to the legendary oracular temple to Apollo Abaeus, and also of the Pelasgic Argos in Thessaly.[10] When Abas informed his father of the death of Danaus, he was rewarded with the shield of his grandfather, which was sacred to Hera.[11][12] Abas was said to be so fearsome a warrior that even after his death, enemies of his royal household could be put to flight simply by the sight of this shield.[13] He bequeathed his kingdom to Acrisius and Proetus, bidding them to rule alternately, but they quarrelled even while they still shared their mother's womb.
