ACASTUS  , in

Greek legend, the son of Pelias, king of Iolcus in Thessaly (Ovid, Metam. viii . 306; Apollonius Rhodius 224; Pindar, Nemea, iv, 54, V . 26) . He was a great friend of Jason, and took part in the Calydonian boar-hunt and the Argonautic expedition . After his father's death he instituted splendid funeral games in his honour, which were celebrated by artists and poets, such as Stesichorus . His wife Astydameia (called Hippolyte in Horace, Odes, iii . 7 . 17) fell in love with Peleus (q.v.), who had taken refuge at Iolcus, but when her advances were rejected accused him falsely to her husband . Acastus, to avenge his fancied wrongs, left Peleus asleep on Mount Pelion, having first hidden his famous sword . On awaking, Peleus was attacked by the Centaurs, but saved by Cheiron . Having re-covered his sword he returned to Iolcus and slew Acastus and Astydameia . Acastus was represented with his famous horses in the painting of the Argonautic expedition by Micon in the temple of the Dioscuri at Athens .