Proetus
- a king of Tiryns, brother of Acrisius, Ov. M. 5, 238 sq. —Proetĭdes, um, f., = Προιτιδες, his daughters, who being punished with madness by Juno for their pride, imagined themselves to be cows: Proetides implerunt falsis mugitibus agros, Verg. E. 6, 48; Ov. M. 15, 326; Plin. 25, 5, 21, § 47.
(Προῖτος). Son of Abas and Ocale, and twin-brother of Acrisius. In the dispute between the two brothers for the kingdom of Argos Proetus was expelled, whereupon he fled to Iobatos, in Lycia, and married Antea or Stheneboea, the daughter of the latter. With the assistance of Iobates, Proetus was restored to his kingdom, and took Tiryns, which was now fortified by the Cyclopes. Acrisius then shared his kingdom with his brother, surrendering to him Tiryns, Midea, and the coast of Argolis. By his wife, Proetus became the father of three daughters, Lysippé, Iphinoë, and Iphianassa, who are often mentioned under the general name of Proetides. When these daughters arrived at the age of maturity, they were stricken with madness, the cause of which is differently explained. Some say that it was a punishment inflicted upon them by Dionysus, because they had despised his worship; others relate that they were driven mad by Heré, because they presumed to consider themselves more handsome than the goddess, or because they had stolen some of the gold of her statue. The frenzy spread to the other women of Argos; till at length Proetus agreed to divide his kingdom between Melampus and his brother Bias , upon the former promising that he would cure the women of their madness. Melampus then chose the most robust among the young men, gave chase to the mad women, amid shouting and dancing, and drove them as far as Sicyon. During this pursuit, Iphinoë died, but the two other daughters were cured by Melampus by means of purifications, and were then married to Melampus and Bias. The place where the cure was effected upon his daughters is not the same in all traditions, some mentioning the well Anigros, others the fountain Clitor in Arcadia, or Lusi in Arcadia. Besides these daughters, Proetus had a son, Megapenthes. When Bellerophon came to Proetus to be purified of a murder which he had committed, the wife of Proetus fell in love with him; but, as Bellerophon declined her advances, she charged him before Proetus with having made improper proposals to her. Proetus then sent Bellerophon to Iobates in Lycia, with a letter desiring the latter to murder Bellerophon. (See Bellerophon.) According to Ovid (Met. v. 238) Acrisius was expelled from his kingdom by Proetus; and Perseus, the grandson of Acrisius, avenged his grandfather by turning Proetus into stone by means of the head of Medusa. See Perseus.
- Paus. 9.8.4
- king of Argos: Paus. 2.4.2, Paus. 2.12.2, Paus. 2.16.2
- twin son of Abas, expelled by his twin brother Acrisius from Argos: Apollod. 2.1.5
- ancestor of Capaneus and Eteoclus: Paus. 10.10.3
- fights Acrisius for kingdom: Paus. 2.25.7
- goes to lobates in Lycia: Apollod. 2.1.5
- marries Antia or Stheneboea: Apollod. 2.1.5
- returns and reigns over Tiryns: Apollod. 2.2.1
- divides kingdom with his brother Acrisius, taking Heraeum, Midea, Tiryns and coast: Paus. 2.16.2
- builds temple of Apollo: Paus. 2.7.8
- dedicates temple of Hera: Paus. 2.12.2
- walls of Tiryns made by Cyclopes for Proetus: Paus. 2.16.5
- traces of house of Proetus at Tiryns: Paus. 2.16.2
- daughters of Proetus healed of their madness by Melampus: Apollod. 2.2.1, Apollod. 2.2.2, Paus. 2.7.8, Paus. 5.5.10, Paus. 8.18.7ff.
- their chambers: Paus. 2.25.9
- their images: Paus. 2.9.8
- gives his daughters in marriage, with part of the kingdom, to Melampus and Bias: Apollod. 2.2.2
- purifies Bellerophon: Apollod. 2.2.2, Apollod. 2.3.1
- sends Bellerophon to Iobates with a treacherous letter: Apollod. 2.3.1
- said to have seduced Danae: Apollod. 2.4.1
- father of Maera: Paus. 10.30.5