Acrisius was a mythical king of Argos, and a son of Abas and Ocalea. He quarrelled constantly with his twin brother Proetus, inventing bucklers in the process, and in the end expelled him to Tiryns.

His daughter, Danae, was prophesied to have a son that would kill him, so Acrisius locked her in a bronze tower (or a cave) when she became fertile. Zeus had intercourse with her in the form of a shower of gold. She became pregnant with Perseus. Acrisius put the child and Danae in a chest and threw it in the sea. Zeus asked Poseidon to calm the water; he did and Danae and Perseus survived, washing up on the island Seriphos . A fisherman named Dictys found the pair and took care of them.

Perseus grew up to be a hero and kill Medusa and rescuing Andromeda.

Perseus and Danae returned to Argos but King Acrisius had gone to Larissa. When Perseus arrived in Larissa, he participated in some ongoing funeral games and accidentally threw a discus at Acrisius, killing him.

Ovid IV, 613