Acoetes

Acoetes in Greek mythology, was (1) the pilot on a Tyrrhemnian ship which landed on Naxos. The ship hands brought a beautiful child to him, which he was requested to take along with him. When he beheld its perfect form, he saw that it was the child of some deity, and would not give his consent to its abduction But the rest forced him to sail away, and the sleeping child remained in the ship. Soon after, it awoke, and, finding itself in strange society, wished to return to Naxos. The sailors made a promise to fulfil this wish, but did not keep it. Suddenly. the ship made a halt, as vine-branches grew out of the water around it. Bacchus appeared riding on a tiger and surrounded by lions. He transformed the abductors, all save Acoetes, into dolphins, who plunged into the sea, and the pilot brought the god back to Naxos. Some time later Acoetes related to his adventure to king Pentheus of Thebes, who had the pilot imprisoned. Bacchus, however, liberated him the doors of the prison flew open of themselves. and Accetes departed unhindered. (2.) The father of Laocoon. (3.) The armor-bearer of king Evander.