Acacus

Acacus

Lesserwell-documentedAncient Greek (Arcadian local myth and genealogical tradition)Arcadia (Greece)
Origin

Within Arcadian genealogical tradition (as preserved in the cited modern summaries of ancient sources), Acacus is listed as one of the sons of King Lycaon and is named as the founder and king of the town Acacesium in Arcadia. In the Arcadian variant of Hermes' early life, the infant god was reared by king Acacus, an association that produced the surname/epithet Acacesius for Mercury. The account is attested in mythographic summaries and encyclopedic entries that cite classical local traditions (e.g., the Pausanian tradition as echoed in modern references).

Appearance

No ancient physical description or iconography for Acacus is attested in the provided sources. He is described in genealogical and toponymic terms (son of Lycaon; founder-king of Acacesium) rather than by bodily features.

Abilities

The sources record social and civic roles rather than supernatural powers: Acacus is a king and city-founder and is said to have reared the infant Hermes in the Arcadian account. The name Acacesius appears as a surname of Mercury deriving from Acacus. The provided materials do not attribute magical abilities, harmful behavior, or other supernatural capacities to Acacus.

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HHermesAAcacus
related
Related Entities
Hermes
Ancient

Hermes

Hermes is an Olympian god in ancient Greek religion who functions as the herald of the gods, an intermediary between mortal and divine realms, and a psychopomp guiding souls to the afterlife. He is associated with travel, boundaries, commerce, thieves, oratory, and liminality; in Hellenistic contexts he is syncretized with Egyptian Thoth as Hermes Trismegistus.

Community Record

Sources
  1. [1]
    Acacus (mythology) - Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 'Acacus (mythology)'wiki
  2. [2]
    Acacus | Facts, Information, and Mythology. Pantheon.org entry 'Acacus'other
  3. [3]
    Acacesius - Biblical Cyclopedia. Biblical Cyclopedia entry 'Acacesius'other
  4. [4]
    Lycaon 2 - Greek Mythology Link (Maicar). Maicar 'Lycaon 2' genealogical listingother
  5. [5]
    Wikidata: Acacus. Wikidata entry Q481652wiki
  6. [6]
    Tadrart Acacus (archive references; homonym noted). Archive.org 'تادرارت اكاكوس: الفن الصخري و ثقافات الصحراء قبل التاريخ' (noting homonymic geographic usage of the name Acacus)other
  7. [7]
    Central Sahara: A Wet Past (archive image/context; homonymic reference). Archive.org 'Central Sahara: A Wet Past' (contextual material referencing the Tadrart Acacus massif as a homonym)other
  8. [8]
    Paranormal Sites In Libya: Supernatural, Bizarre & Alien Sahara. Temehu site referencing modern uses of the name 'Acacus' for the Libyan mountain range (homonymic, not the Greek figure)other
well-documented