Acastus

Acastus is a figure from Greek mythology, primarily known for his role in the story of the Argonauts. He was the son of Pelias, the king of Iolcus, and Antimache. Pelias had been warned by an oracle to beware of a man with a single sandal. Jason, Pelias's nephew, arrived in Iolcus wearing one sandal, prompting Pelias to send him on the quest for the Golden Fleece to get rid of him.

Acastus was one of the Argonauts, joining Jason on his perilous voyage to Colchis. Despite his father's animosity towards Jason, Acastus participated in the expedition. His presence among the Argonauts is notable, as he was a skilled warrior and a prince of a significant Greek kingdom.

After the return of the Argonauts, Acastus's mother, Antimache, recounted to him how his wife, Hippolyte, had accused Jason's lover, Medea, of witchcraft. This led to Hippolyte's banishment. Later, Acastus's wife, Astydameia, fell in love with Peleus, one of the Argonauts. When Peleus rejected her advances, Astydameia, in revenge, told Acastus that Peleus had tried to seduce her. Acastus then led Peleus on a hunt and left him for dead. However, Peleus was rescued by the gods.

In some accounts, Acastus eventually succeeded his father as king of Iolcus. He is also sometimes associated with the founding or patronage of the city of Aegina. The story of Acastus highlights themes of betrayal, revenge, and the complex relationships within the heroic age of Greek myth.