Acusilaus

Acusilaus of Argos (Ancient Greek: Ἀκουσίλαος Ἀργεῖος) was a Greek logographer who lived in the 6th century BC. He is considered one of the earliest Greek historians and genealogists, predating Herodotus.

Very little is known about his life. He is believed to have been the son of Cabas or Scabras and lived in Argos. Sources generally agree he wrote genealogies, tracing the lineages of gods and heroes, and outlining mythical narratives.

His work, which appears to have been a systematic attempt to organize and rationalize traditional Greek mythology, is now lost, surviving only in fragments quoted by later authors such as Plato, Apollodorus, Clement of Alexandria, and others. These fragments offer insights into the archaic understandings of mythology and provide alternative versions of well-known myths.

Acusilaus differed from Hesiod in his treatment of myths, sometimes offering rationalizations and interpretations that departed from the traditional narratives presented in the Theogony. Some later writers considered him to have drawn his material from bronze tablets found by his father. This claim is generally regarded as implausible and likely a later invention to enhance the perceived authority of his work.

His writings were influential in shaping later genealogical and mythological traditions, and he is considered an important figure in the development of Greek historiography, bridging the gap between purely oral traditions and written historical accounts. He is listed in the Suda, a 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia.