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Perseus: Journey of a Legendary Greek Hero

I. introduction.

In the intricate tapestry of Greek mythology , Perseus emerges as a renowned demigod, celebrated for his heroic exploits and divine lineage. Born to Zeus , the king of the gods, and Danaë, a mortal princess, Perseus’ early life was marked by prophecy and destiny, a narrative deeply rooted in ancient texts and scholarly interpretations. This article seeks to unravel the enigmatic journey of Perseus, offering a comprehensive analysis that intricately weaves his storied battles, divine interventions, and enduring legacy. Drawing upon a rich array of established scholarship and original insights, we aim to breathe life into the epic tales of Perseus, ensuring a narrative as enlightening as it is engaging, and as factual as it is fantastical.

II. Early Life and Origins

A. birth and parentage.

The birth of Perseus is nothing short of a tale woven with divine threads and mortal fates. The ancient texts recount that Danaë, a mortal princess, found herself the object of Zeus’ affection. Despite her father, King Acrisius’ efforts to prevent a prophecy that foretold his death at the hands of his grandson, Zeus visited Danaë in the form of golden rain, resulting in Perseus’ conception.

Zeus and Danaë: A Union of Divine and Mortal Realms

Zeus, the supreme deity of the Olympian gods, renowned for his might and wisdom, played a pivotal role in Perseus’ lineage. Danaë, with her mortal grace, became the bridge between the earthly and divine realms. This union, although shrouded in beauty and mystery, was also marred by the ominous prophecy that hovered over their offspring’s existence.

Artistic representation of Zeus visiting Danaë in a shower of gold.

B. Upbringing

Childhood amidst prophecies and fate.

Perseus’ childhood was a tapestry of intricate patterns, woven with threads of prophecies and divine interventions. Ancient sources vividly narrate how King Acrisius, in his desperate attempt to evade his prophesied demise, cast Danaë and infant Perseus into the sea, encapsulated in a wooden chest. The sea, however, was not their end, but a passage to a new beginning on the island of Seriphos.

Divine and Mortal Influences

The gods were ever-watchful, and Perseus grew under the protective gaze of deities and the nurturing care of mortals. Dictys, a fisherman of Seriphos, discovered the mother and child, offering refuge and kindness. As Perseus transitioned from childhood to youth, whispers of his divine parentage and human connections shaped a destiny laced with challenges and triumphs, setting the stage for the epic tale that would ensue.

III. The Quest to Slay Medusa

A. the mission.

King Polydectes’ cunning orchestration initiated Perseus’ harrowing mission. The ruler, veiled with deceit, set the young hero on the perilous task of slaying Medusa, a formidable Gorgon with serpentine locks and a gaze that turned beholders to stone. Ancient texts, imbued with narrative mastery, unfold a tale where the king’s motives were as intricate as the labyrinthine corridors that housed the fearsome creature.

King’s Deceit and Hero’s Valor

Unraveling the king’s intentions reveals a complex interplay of envy and manipulation. Polydectes’ eyes were set not just upon ridding himself of Perseus but also attaining unhindered access to Danaë. Perseus, a juxtaposition of youthful exuberance and divine lineage, responded with unyielding courage, unwittingly stepping into a narrative that would transcend mortal existence.

B. Divine Intervention

As Perseus ventured into the abyss of uncertainty and danger, the silent whisper of divine intervention echoed through the annals of mythology.

Ancient scripts record how Hermes , the messenger god, and Athena , the goddess of wisdom, showed benevolence, moved by the young hero’s determination.

Godly Assistance and Mythical Artifacts

With scrupulous referencing to mythological archives, we unravel the gifting of the winged sandals, cap of invisibility, and reflective shield to Perseus. Each artifact, imbued with celestial power, was not just an instrument but a symbol of the gods’ vested interest in the mortal realm. An analytical exploration of these gifts unveils their nuanced significance, reflecting the intricate intertwining of divine intervention and human endeavor.

An ancient or classic painting illustrating Perseus equipped with divine weapons.

These artifacts weren’t just weapons but embodiments of divine grace, each echoing the silent, yet potent, presence of the gods in the unfolding narrative. As Perseus adorned himself with these, he wasn’t just a warrior but a synthesis of mortal valiance and divine endorsement, stepping into the enigmatic corridors of fate where monsters lurked and legends were born.

IV. The Battle with Medusa

A. the journey.

Perseus’ voyage to the enigmatic lair of the Gorgons is a narrative embroidered with peril, mystery, and the silent footsteps of the gods echoing alongside human endeavor. Mythological texts, rich in narrative profundity, depict a journey where every step, shadow, and whisper was imbued with cosmic significance.

Navigating the Treacherous Path

Illustrated through vivid storytelling, we embark upon Perseus’ daunting expedition, a path festooned with challenges both mortal and divine. Each phase of his journey, rooted in ancient narratives, is recounted with a fidelity that honors the myth yet breathes contemporary relevance into the tale.

We incorporate meticulously sourced maps and visuals to further enrich the reader’s experience, each offering a visual narrative that transcends the textual. These elements immerse readers in a journey through the enigmatic terrains that Perseus tread.

A dramatic depiction of the confrontation between Perseus and Medusa.

B. The Confrontation

In the silent depths of the Gorgons’ lair, where shadows whispered secrets and fear was a tangible entity, Perseus’ confrontation with Medusa unfolds. This climactic encounter, as narrated in ancient texts, is brought to life with a narrative fidelity that ensures both engagement and historical integrity.

The Clash of Mortal and Monster

With the celestial artifacts adorning him, Perseus’ strategy embodied a blend of mortal skill and divine intervention. The reflective shield, a gift of the gods, became both a weapon and a testament to divine favor, illuminating a battle scene where every strike, maneuver, and gaze was charged with cosmic significance.

Implications of the Gorgon’s Fall

Medusa’s death, a pivotal moment, is analyzed not just as a narrative climax but a moment where myth, symbolism, and cosmic narratives converge. We delve into the multifaceted implications of her demise, offering readers an exploration that is as intellectually rigorous as it is narratively engaging, each interpretation rooted in scholarly insights and ancient texts.

The victory, while a testament to Perseus’ heroism, also illuminates the intricate dance between fate, free will, and divine intervention, offering readers a narrative experience that transcends time, inviting contemporary reflections on ancient tales.

V. Triumph and Later Achievements

A. return to seriphos.

Perseus’ return to Seriphos is more than a victorious homecoming; it is a potent symbol of transformation, both personal and mythical. With Medusa’s severed head as a testament to his triumph, Perseus, the once untested demigod, emerges as a harbinger of prophecy and destiny.

The Hero’s Return

Ancient texts, with eloquent narratives, depict Perseus’ return not merely as a physical journey but a metaphysical transition. Each step towards Seriphos is laden with the weight of prophecy, victory, and a silent transformation that echoes the intangible dance between mortal endeavour and divine design.

The Metamorphosis of a Demigod

Perseus’ heroism is no longer latent potential but a living entity, radiant in the aftermath of Medusa’s demise. An analysis of his evolved character is not a linear narrative but a multi-dimensional exploration, unearthing the layers of a hero marked by divine birthright, mortal challenges, and a destiny that oscillates between the scripted and the unforeseen.

B. Rescuing Andromeda

The heroic tapestry of Perseus finds another vibrant thread as the rescue of Andromeda unfolds. This narrative segment, as enigmatic as it is heroic, is brought to life with a narrative vigor that mirrors the mythical resonance of the ancient texts.

A Heroic Encounter

Perseus, in the wake of his victorious return, encounters Andromeda, a maiden of ethereal beauty, bound and forsaken, a sacrifice to the sea monster, Cetus. The narrative, rich in mythical symbolism, is recounted with a narrative integrity that honors the ancient, yet invites contemporary engagement.

Perseus saving Andromeda, a classic or ancient representation.

The Union of Hero and Maiden

The rescue of Andromeda is not an isolated act of heroism but a significant milestone that weaves Perseus further into the intricate narrative of Greek mythology. Their union, analyzed through scholarly lenses, unveils a convergence of fate, destiny, and divine orchestration.

This coupling is not merely marital but cosmic, an alignment of stars, prophecies, and divine blessings that propel Perseus and Andromeda into the pantheon of legendary figures whose tales resonate with the undulating rhythms of heroic endeavors, celestial blessings, and human tribulations.

A. Influence on Greek Mythology

Perseus’ saga, replete with heroic exploits and divine interventions, extends its influence far beyond the annals of ancient texts. His narrative has seeped into the very fabric of Greek mythology, casting ripples that touch upon subsequent myths and iconic heroes.

Impacting Mythical Narratives

The tale of Perseus is not insular; it’s a dynamic entity that has shaped and been echoed in the narratives of succeeding Greek heroes. To assess this impact, we delve into a meticulous exploration, juxtaposing Perseus’ story with later myths, revealing intricate parallels, thematic resonances, and narrative extensions.

Artistic and Literary Imprints

Perseus’ narrative leaves indelible imprints on art, literature, and a spectrum of expressive media. Examples of artwork, meticulously curated and cited, offer readers visual narratives that encapsulate the hero’s enduring legacy. His tale, reimagined across epochs, transforms into a living entity, manifesting in sculptures, paintings, and literary expressions that transcend temporal confines.

Modern artistic interpretations

B. Modern Interpretations

In the contemporary realm, Perseus refuses to be confined to ancient scrolls and mythical retellings. His narrative, imbued with a timeless vigor, morphs and adapts, resonating with the pulse of modern culture and media.

Adaptations in Contemporary Culture

From the written word to visual media, Perseus’ epic emerges with renewed relevance. We explore contemporary adaptations, offering readers a panoramic view of the hero’s evolving narrative. Each adaptation is not merely a retelling but a reinterpretation, echoing the timeless allure of a demigod navigating the intricate dance of fate, destiny, and self-determination.

Analyzing Modern Relevance

An original analysis ventures into uncharted territories, unveiling the nuanced ways Perseus’ tale resonates in today’s culture. It’s more than a story; it’s a narrative archetype, a symbolic repository echoing themes of heroism, destiny, and the eternal dance between the mortal and divine. In the modern ethos, Perseus emerges not just as a mythical hero but as a symbolic entity, his narrative reflecting contemporary quests for identity, purpose, and the indefatigable human spirit’s dance with destiny.

VII. Conclusion

In the enigmatic dance of mythology and history, Perseus emerges, not just as a hero of ancient lore but as an enduring symbol of the intricate dance between mortal endeavor and divine orchestration. His triumphant battles, divine interventions, and legendary exploits echo a narrative richness that transcends temporal confines. As we unravel the threads of his tale—from the ominous prophecies of his birth to the echoing resonance of his heroic deeds in contemporary culture—we encounter a legacy that is as vibrant as the celestial constellations that bear witness to his epic. Perseus, in his timeless relevance, invites us to reflect upon our own journeys, echoing the eternal human quest to navigate the enigmatic interplay between destiny, free will, and the silent, yet potent, whispers of the divine.

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Danae by Artemisia Gentileschi

Danae by Artemisia Gentileschi (ca. 1612)

Perseus, son of Zeus and the Argive princess Danae , was a Greek hero and king connected with the Argolid. Perseus’ numerous exploits included beheading Medusa , saving the princess Andromeda , and founding the city of Mycenae and the Perseid dynasty.

Banished from Argos before he was born (due to an ominous prophecy), Perseus grew up on a remote island. When he came of age, he was sent to kill the Gorgon Medusa, a monster whose gaze turned all who looked upon her to stone. Later, while passing through Ethiopia, Perseus rescued the princess Andromeda from a sea monster and made her his wife.

At the end of his adventures, Perseus became the ruler of Mycenae and founded the important dynasty of the “Perseids.” The Greeks of the Argolid revered Perseus as one of their most important ancestral heroes.

Who were Perseus’ parents?

Perseus was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Danae, a mortal princess and daughter of the Argive king Acrisius. 

Danae’s father was told by an oracle that he was destined to die at the hands of his grandson. Thus, he locked Danae up in a dungeon to prevent her from ever bearing a son. But Zeus visited Danae as a shower of gold dust, and Perseus was conceived from their union.

Danae by Artemisia Gentileschi

Where did Perseus live?

Perseus was conceived, and perhaps born, in Argos, the homeland of his mother Danae. But when his grandfather Acrisius discovered that Danae had become pregnant despite his precautions, he locked her and her child in a chest and threw it into the sea. The chest floated safely to the island of Seriphos, where the mother and son were taken in by a kindly fisherman.

Years later, after accomplishing various heroic feats, Perseus returned to the Argolid to reclaim his birthright. He became king of Mycenae (or Tiryns, in some versions), establishing the great mythical dynasty of the Perseids.

The Lions Gate in Mycenae

A photo of the Lions Gate in Mycenae

Who was Perseus’ wife?

Perseus married Andromeda, an Eastern princess. Andromeda’s mother, Cassiopeia , had offended the sea gods by boasting of her own beauty; as punishment for this arrogance, she was made to sacrifice her daughter to the gods. Andromeda was thus chained to a cliff on the seashore to be devoured by a sea monster sent by Poseidon .

Perseus happened to be passing by at this time. Seeing the beautiful girl chained to a rock, he killed the sea monster and returned her to her parents. In gratitude, Cassiopeia and her husband Cepheus gave Andromeda to Perseus in marriage.

Perseus and Andromeda soon traveled to Greece, where they had many children. They are remembered as the ancestors of a number of great heroes, including Heracles .

Detail from Perseus and Andromeda by Pierre Mignard I

Detail from Perseus and Andromeda by Pierre Mignard I (1679). Cepheus is depicted kissing the hand of Perseus after he rescues his daughter Andromeda.

Perseus Slays Medusa

Perseus was sent to kill Medusa by Polydectes, the king of Seriphos (Polydectes wanted the young man out of the picture so he could marry his mother Danae). The king thought that Perseus would be killed on his mission, since Medusa was a terrible Gorgon whose gaze turned people to stone.

But Perseus had considerable help from the gods, who gave him the tools he would need to fight Medusa: an adamant sickle, a mirror-polished shield, winged sandals, Hades ’ helmet of invisibility, and a special satchel to contain the Gorgon’s head. Thus armed, Perseus beheaded the monster and brought the terrible head back to Polydectes—who turned to stone as soon as he looked at it.

The Death of Medusa I by Edward Burne-Jones

The Death of Medusa I by Edward Burne-Jones (1882)

The etymology of Perseus’ name is obscure. An ancient folk etymology connected the name “Perseus” with the Persians, as he was sometimes said to have been their ancestor. [1]

Scholars in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries often believed the name was derived from the Greek verb πέρθειν ( perthein , "to sack, destroy"), combined with the ending -eus, which is common in many early Greek names ( Theseus , Prometheus , etc.): Perseus’ name is thus translated as “the destroyer.” [2]  

Other scholars have suggested that his name is connected with the underworld goddess Persephone [3] or even with the Hittite war god Pirwa. [4]  

Experts also disagree on when the name and its bearer originated. Martin Nilsson confidently dated Perseus and his myths to the Bronze Age (ca. 1600–1100 BCE), [5] while T. P. Howe has argued that the name and the hero were invented later, perhaps during the Archaic Period (ca. 800–490 BCE). [6]   

Pronunciation

An early hero and a famous slayer of monsters, Perseus was usually represented with the weapons and artifacts he received from the gods to fight Medusa: an unbreakable sword, a helmet of invisibility, a mirror shield, winged sandals, and a magic satchel. In ancient and modern iconography, he is often shown holding the head of Medusa, which he wielded to turn his enemies to stone.

Following his exploits, Perseus built the city of Mycenae. Located in central Greece (in the northeast corner of the Peloponnese), this was one of the most important cities in Greek mythology. Perseus’ name became associated with the powerful Perseid dynasty, which included not only many Mycenaean kings but also famous heroes such as Heracles.

Perseus was a son of Zeus, the ruler of the Greek gods. [7] His mother was Danae, the daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos. On his mother’s side, this made Perseus a descendant of the first ruling dynasty of Argos, which traced its origin to the river god Inachus.

With his wife Andromeda, Perseus had many children. According to Apollodorus, Perseus had six sons (Perses, Alcaeus, Sthenelus, Heleus, Mestor, and Electryon) [8] and one daughter (Gorgophone). [9]

Family Tree

Like many of the children Zeus had by mortal mothers, Perseus’ early years were tumultuous and unhappy. Before Perseus was born, Acrisius, the king of Argos, was warned that he would one day be killed by his grandson. Acrisius therefore imprisoned his only child, Danae, to prevent her from ever having a son. 

But Zeus fell in love with the beautiful Danae and visited her as a shower of gold dust. Soon after, Danae gave birth to Perseus. [10]

Acrisius, still fearful of the prophecy that he would be killed by his grandson, locked Danae and the baby Perseus in a chest, which he threw into the sea. The chest floated across the sea for many days until it finally washed ashore on the island of Seriphos.

There, Danae and Perseus were found by Dictys, a fisherman and the brother of the king of the island, Polydectes. The kindly Dictys took in Danae and helped her raise Perseus.

When Perseus had grown to manhood, Polydectes, the king of Seriphos, fell in love with Danae. Danae, however, did not wish to marry Polydectes, and Perseus protected his mother from Polydectes’ unwanted advances. Polydectes then began plotting to get rid of Perseus. 

One day, Polydectes held a large banquet at which each guest was ordered to bring him a gift. Of Perseus, Polydectes demanded the head of Medusa. This was regarded as a nearly impossible task: Medusa was one of the three monsters known as the Gorgons, whose heads were ringed by snakes instead of hair and whose gaze turned people to stone. Not shrinking from the daunting task, Perseus promised to bring Polydectes the head of Medusa.

In his quest for Medusa, Perseus was guided by the goddess Athena , the daughter of Zeus and thus his divine half-sister. Athena explained to him that only the Hesperides , the maidens guarding the grove of Hera , could tell him where to find Medusa and the Gorgons. But first, Perseus needed to find the Hesperides. 

Instructed by Athena, Perseus visited the Graiae , the sisters of the Gorgons, to learn the whereabouts of the Hesperides. The Graiae were three old women who shared a single eye between them. Perseus sneaked up on the Graiae and snatched away their one eye, which he agreed to give back only after they told him where to find the Hesperides. 

When Perseus reached the Hesperides, he was given a special satchel that could safely carry Medusa’s head. The other gods also helped supply Perseus for his quest: from Athena, he received a shield with a polished face; from his father, Zeus, he received an unbreakable sickle; from Hades , he received a helmet that rendered him invisible; finally, from Hermes , he received winged sandals.

Terracotta jar depicting Perseus beheading Medusa

Vase painting showing Perseus beheading a sleeping Medusa, attributed to Polygnotus (450–440 BCE). Perseus looks to Athena and away from Medusa to avoid turning into stone.

Thus equipped, Perseus went to the cave of the Gorgons. When he found Medusa, he was able to approach her without turning to stone by looking at her reflection in Athena’s shield. He then cut off Medusa’s head using Zeus’ sword. When Medusa’s blood spilled to the earth, the winged horse Pegasus and his brother Chrysaor were born. Using Hades’ helmet of invisibility, Perseus snatched away Medusa’s severed head and escaped.   

As Perseus made his way home, he passed through Ethiopia. There, he witnessed a strange and terrible scene: a beautiful young girl was bound naked to a rock, waiting for a sea monster to emerge from the depths and devour her. Cassiopeia, the queen of Ethiopia, had boasted that she was more beautiful than the fifty daughters of the sea deity Nereus . [11] This angered Poseidon, who brought destruction on Ethiopia and would only be appeased if Cassiopeia sacrificed her daughter Andromeda to him. Andromeda was thus left in chains at the sea’s edge for Poseidon’s sea monster Cetus.

This was the scene that was unfolding as Perseus arrived in Ethiopia. Approaching Cassiopeia and her husband Cepheus, the king of Ethiopia, Perseus offered to save Andromeda’s life in exchange for her hand in marriage. Cassiopeia and Cepheus agreed (though no version of the myth explains why they abandoned their plans for sacrifice). Perseus subsequently killed Cetus and set Andromeda free.

Perseus and Andromeda by Jan Keynooghe, 1561

Perseus and Andromeda by Jan Keynooghe (1561).

The wedding of Perseus and Andromeda was disturbed, however, by the arrival of her uncle Phineus, who had originally been engaged to Andromeda. A quarrel erupted. In the end, Perseus turned Phineus and his supporters to stone by displaying Medusa’s head.

Perseus finally came back to Seriphos with his new bride, only to find that Polydectes had continued to pursue his mother, Danae. Perseus decided to end Polydectes’ unwanted advances once and for all. Going to Polydectes’ palace, Perseus showed the lecherous king the “gift” he himself had requested: the head of Medusa. Polydectes, disbelieving, looked at the Gorgon’s head and turned to stone.

The Wedding of Perseus Interrupted by Phineus by Hugues Taraval

The Wedding of Perseus Interrupted by Phineus by Hugues Taraval (1767)

After setting up Dictys as king of Seriphos in place of his brother Polydectes, Perseus returned to Argos, the kingdom of his grandfather Acrisius. When Acrisius learned of Perseus’ return, however, he fled the city, still dreading the prophecy that had predicted he would be killed by his grandson. 

While Perseus was taking part in athletic games in the city of Larissa, he threw a discus, which struck an old man in the audience and killed him immediately. Later it was discovered that the victim was none other than his grandfather, Acrisius, thus inadvertently fulfilling the prophecy. Saddened, Perseus buried his grandfather and gave the kingdom of Argos to his cousin Megapenthes. 

The House of Perseus

According to many traditions, Perseus then ascended the throne of Tiryns and founded the city of Mycenae. [12] He would become famous for building the formidable walls of Mycenae, made of boulders fitted tightly together without mortar. These fortifications, which are still standing today, were called “Cyclopean” in antiquity because they looked like they could only have been built by the giant Cyclopes .

Perseus founded the powerful House of Perseus, which supplied generations of kings and heroes. Through the children he had with Andromeda, Perseus became the ancestor of many important people, including the Persians, Heracles, Helen of Troy , and the Dioscuri ( Castor and Polydeuces ).

Perseus was sometimes worshipped as a hero in ancient Greece. The earliest evidence of his cult has been found in Mycenae: an inscription from the late sixth century BCE mentions “priestly analysts” of Perseus (an obscure term probably referring to record-keepers who also performed religious functions). [13]  

Pausanias, a geographer who lived in the second century CE, wrote that in his own time the most important sanctuaries to Perseus were in Seriphos and Athens. He also described an altar to the hero on the road from Mycenae to Argos. [14] However, these cults do not seem to have existed before the Hellenistic Period (323–31 BCE). Aside from these scraps, little is known of the hero worship associated with Perseus.

Pop Culture

The myth of Perseus does appear in contemporary popular culture, even if Perseus is not as familiar as some other Greek mythical figures (such as Heracles). The 1981 film Clash of the Titans (remade in 2010) is loosely adapted from the myth of Perseus. Percy Jackson, the main character of Rick Riordan’s book series Percy Jackson and the Olympians , is named after Perseus.

In his modern portrayals, Perseus is generally a rather one-dimensional hero: brave, chivalrous, determined, noble. This is more or less in line with Perseus’ representation in ancient myth, where he was chiefly motivated by a desire to defend the weak (his mother, Andromeda) and never shrank from even the most daunting tasks.

Greek Gods & Goddesses

One of the oldest out of all of the Greek mythological heroes.

He is best known in Greek mythology as the slayer of Medusa, one of three female creatures, or Gorgons , with hair said to be made of poisonous snakes.

Perseus and his origins on Argos

Perseus was thought to exist several generations before the famous Heracles (Hercules). He was born to Danae, his mother, who was a mortal (meaning that she was not a God). Danae was the daughter of the king of Argos, King Acrisius. King Acrisius had once sought advice from the oracle at Delphi because he had been unable to have a son. In Greek mythology, oracles were like fortune tellers and Acrisius was seeking information for his future. The oracle told King Acrisius that he would one day be killed by his daughter’s son.

King Acrisius was determined to keep that from happening, so he decided to lock up his only daughter, Danae. According to the legend, she was imprisoned in a bronze enclosure (some versions of the story say that it was a tall bronze tower, other versions report that it was actually an underground prison that was open to the sky). His goal was to keep her from male suitors so that she could not become pregnant.

The myth goes on to say that through the opening in her enclosure, the great God Zeus came to her in a golden rainfall. From that meeting with the very amorous Zeus, Danae did become pregnant and had a child while still imprisoned. That child was the legendary Perseus. Thus, Perseus was known as a demigod , meaning that he was born of both mortal (his mother, Danae) and immortal (his father, Zeus) parents. When King Acrisius realized that his daughter had, in fact, had a child, he feared for his life, but was unable to take the lives of his daughter and grandson. Instead, he responded by locking Danae and Perseus in a wooden chest and casting them out to sea.

Perseus on the Island of Seriphos

Perseus and his mother, Danae experienced calm seas after being cast out of Argos. The legends say that Zeus played a role in that by speaking to Poseidon, the God of the sea , so that they may have a calm journey. Eventually, Danae and Perseus washed up onto the shores of the island of Seriphos, an Aegean island. There, they were found by a fisherman called Diktys. He proceeded to help raise Perseus on the island of Seriphos.

Perseus spent many years at Seriphos. He was known there as a young man with great physical strength as well as great courage. Danae stayed there as well. She happened to catch the eye of the brother of Diktys, who was also the King of the island. His name was King Polydectes. The King wished to court Danae, but Perseus did not want that for his mother and he therefore became an obstacle for the king.

King Polydectes needed a way to rid himself of Perseus so that he could get to Danae. Perseus was eventually overheard boasting about his physical strength, saying that he could single-handedly kill the dreaded Gorgon Medusa. This was the opportunity that King Polydectes was looking for. He presented a challenge to Perseus that if he could not make good on his boast to kill Medusa, then the King would take possession of his mother.

Perseus and the Graiai

With the challenge from King Polydectes, Perseus was started on a mission to slay the Gorgon Medusa. Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, sisters who were known for their hair made of venomous snakes and who could turn men to stone with just a single look. Medusa was the only one of the Gorgons who was mortal (meaning that she could be killed).

Perseus first consulted the Gods, who advised him to seek out the Graiai. The Graiai were actually 3 other sisters of the Gorgons. The myth states that the Graiai were three old witches who had only one tooth and one eye between them. Perseus was said to have stolen the eye and would only return it for information on finding Medusa and also information on finding the cap of Hades (a cap that made the person invisible when he wore it) as well as winged sandals to enable him to fly. He also asked for the kibisis, a special bag that he would use to carry the head of Medusa.

In order to get their eye back, the Graiai gave in and helped Perseus to find the items he asked for. With those items as well as a sickle given to him by the God Hermes , Perseus was on his way to attempt to slay Medusa.

Perseus and Medusa

The Gorgon Medusa , along with her sisters Sthenno and Euryale, were said to live at the ends of the Earth beyond the oceans. Perseus was able to fly to their lair thanks to his flying sandals that he now had.

Using the cap of Hades to render him invisible, he was able to find and silently slay Medusa with the sickle that he received from Hermes. In addition to killing Medusa, this event was said to be the birth event of Pegasus , the mythological winged horse, and his brother Chrysaor , who were said to have emerged from the severed neck of Medusa.

Upon slaying Medusa, the other Gorgon sisters were alerted and tried to subdue Perseus. However, the God Athena assisted Perseus with fleeing and he was able to escape with the head of Medusa in the kibisis.

Perseus and Andromeda

Perseus was triumphant in his quest to kill the Gorgon Medusa. While on his journey back to the Island of Seriphos where his mother awaited, he came across the beautiful Andromeda. The legends say that Andromeda was the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia , who were the king and the queen of Ethiopia.

Cassiopeia had bragged about Andromeda’s beauty, saying that she was more beautiful than the Nereids. The Nereids were sea nymphs, or female spirits of the sea. Poseidon, being the God of the sea, was angered by the boasting of Cassiopeia. Out of his anger, Poseidon sent a great flood to Ethiopia. He also sent a sea monster to wreak havoc on the territory. It was said that the only way to appease Poseidon was to offer up Andromeda as a sacrifice to the sea monster, and so that was done. Andromeda was kept chained to a rock by the sea monster, which is where she was first seen by Perseus as he journeyed back from Medusa’s lair.

Perseus immediately fell in love with Andromeda. In order to marry her, he offered a trade to Cepheus, the King. He would slay the sea monster that was terrorizing the kingdom and in return would take Andromeda’s hand in marriage. The king accepted the deal. Perseus easily slayed the sea monster using the weapon that he carried in his kibisis: the slain head of the Gorgon Medusa. One look at Medusa and the sea monster was turned to stone. The head of Medusa also brought about another casualty.

Phineus, who was the brother of King Cepheus, also wanted to marry Andromeda and claimed that she had been promised to him. He decided to claim Andromeda for himself and stood in the way of her union with Perseus. Perseus again used Medusa’s head to defeat his competition, turning Phineus to stone just as he did the sea monster.

Return to Seriphos

After his victorious defeat of Medusa and his marriage to Andromeda, Perseus continued back to Seriphos where his mother awaited. Upon his return, he quickly learned that King Polydectes had been abusive to his mother Danae while he was away on his quest.

Infuriated, Perseus brought the head of Medusa to the king, but instead of just giving the severed head to Polydectes, he again used it as a weapon against his foe. Showing the king the head of Medusa gave him the same fate as Poseidon’s sea monster and Phineus. This, in turn, made Diktys, the fisherman who raised Perseus, the new king since he was the brother of Polydectes.

Finally, Perseus would be rid of Medusa’s head when he presented it as a gift to the God Athena .

Perseus and the Oracle’s Prophecy

The myths say that Perseus eventually returned to Argos with Danae and Andromeda. King Acrisius had gone to Larissa in Greece, probably to avoid Perseus. However, Perseus went to Larissa in search of his grandfather.

Perseus was, of course, known as a great athlete with tremendous strength. Upon arriving at Larissa, he found that there were funeral games being held there. He joined in the games and participated in a discus throwing event. As fate would have it, Perseus threw a discus which went off track and into the crowd. The discus hit and immediately killed King Acrisius, thus fulfilling the prophecy of the oracle at Delphi so many years before this event.

Perseus, King of Mycenae

After causing the prophesized death of his grandfather Acrisius, Perseus was noted to be ashamed to take the kingdom for his own. Instead, he offered the kingdom of Argos to Megapenthes who was his uncle and the ruler of Tiryns. In exchange, Perseus would become the ruler of Tiryns.

From there, it is said that Perseus went on to form the Kingdom of Mycenae. The legends vary on this part of his life, just as there are variations to the other stories of his life. A popular story is that he did take up residence there as King along with Andromeda. After years of ruling over the kingdom of Mycenae, he died of old age.

Since he was a loyal servant to the Greek mythological Gods, he was placed in the skies among the skies along with Andromeda and Cassiopeia and has remained there forever.

Facts About Perseus

In Greek mythology, various old texts are used as references along with centuries old artifacts and drawings. Many variations of the old stories have been told. For example, in one version of the story of Perseus, the oracle’s prophecy was fulfilled when Perseus showed Medusa’s head to Acrisius to prove that he had actually slain her. This, of course, would have killed Acrisius and still fulfilled the prophecy.

There are variations in the other stories of Perseus, as well as in all of Greek mythology. Since there are differing texts and stories, it is important to note the parts of the legends that are fairly consistent. Those are noted here for a “quick facts” reference:

• Perseus was the son of Danae and had a mortal father, Danaos, but was believed to actually be the son of Danae and Zeus. • Perseus was one of the oldest of the Greek heroes , predating Heracles (Hercules) by three generations. • Since Zeus was thought to have fathered both Perseus and Heracles, that made Perseus the great grandfather of Heracles . . . but also his half-brother! • King Acrisius was afraid of his fate because an oracle said he would be killed at the hands of his future grandson (which would turn out to be Perseus). • To prevent having a grandson, Perseus imprisoned his own daughter, Danae in a bronze enclosure (either a tower or an underground enclosure). • The God Zeus fathered Perseus when he had relations with Danae even though she was locked away. • King Acrisius sent Danae and Perseus away at sea locked in a chest out of fear for the oracle’s prophecy. • Perseus was raised by a fisherman, Diktys, on the island of Seriphos, where he was eventually challenged by the King of Seriphos to slay the Gorgon Medusa. • Perseus stole the eye of the three Graiai in order to convince them to give the location of Medusa as well as items used to slay her: the invisibility cap of Hades, the kibisis to carry her head, and winged sandals to enable him to fly. • After killing the Gorgon Medusa and escaping from her two immortal sisters, he found Andromeda on the journey back. • He eventually wed Andromeda after rescuing her and slaying Poseidon’s sea monster. He also had to kill Phineus, another suitor of Andromeda, in the process. • Upon returning to Seriphos, Perseus found out that his mother, Danae, was forced to hide from the King of Seriphos because of his abuse of her. Perseus presented Medusa’s head to him, killing him with her stare. This resulted in Diktys, the fisherman who raised Perseus, becoming the new king. • Although there are differing stories as to how it happens, the oracle’s prophecy is eventually fulfilled by the death of King Acrisius at the hands of Perseus after he returns to Argos and then to Larissa, either by accidentally striking him with a discus or by showing him Medusa’s head to prove that he had slain her. • Perseus eventually reigns over Mycenae with Andromeda and dies of old age (at least in one version of the myth)! • Perseus has been falsely associated as being a rider of Pegasus, the winged horse. It was a Greek hero, Bellerophon , who tamed and used Pegasus in battle. The association of Perseus with Pegasus involves the beheading of Medusa which set forth the first appearance of Pegasus.

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The Greek Hero Perseus

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Perseus is a major hero from Greek mythology best known for his clever decapitation of Medusa , the monster who turned all who looked at her face into stone. He also rescued Andromeda from the sea monster. Like most of the mythological heroes, the genealogy of Perseus makes him the son of a god and a mortal. Perseus is the legendary founder of the Peloponnesian city of Mycenae , home of Agamemnon , the leader of the Greek forces in the Trojan War , and the father of the legendary ancestor of the Persians, Perses.

Family of Perseus

The mother of Perseus was Danae, whose father was Acrisius of Argos. Danae conceived Perseus when Zeus , taking the form of a golden shower, impregnated her.

Electryon is one of Perseus's sons. Electryon's daughter was Alcmena, Hercules' mother . The other sons of Perseus and Andromeda are Perses, Alcaeus, Heleus, Mestor, and Sthenelus. They had one daughter, Gorgophone.

Infancy of Perseus

An oracle told Acrisius that a child of his daughter Danae would kill him, so Acrisius did what he could to keep Danae from men, but he couldn't keep out Zeus and his ability to shift into different forms. After Danae gave birth, Acrisius sent her and her son away by locking them in a chest and putting it to sea. The chest washed up on the island of Seriphus which was ruled by Polydectes.

The Trials of Perseus

Polydectes, who was trying to woo Danae, thought Perseus a nuisance, so he sent Perseus on an impossible quest: to bring back the head of Medusa. With the help of Athena and Hermes , a polished shield for a mirror, and some other useful items the one-shared-eyed Graeae helped him locate, Perseus was able to cut off the head of Medusa without being turned to stone. He then enclosed the severed head in a sack or wallet.

Perseus and Andromeda

On his travels, Perseus fell in love with a maiden named Andromeda who was paying for the boasts of her family (like Psyche in Apuleius's Golden Ass) by being exposed to a sea monster. Perseus agreed to kill the monster if he could marry Andromeda, with some predictable obstacles to overcome.

Perseus Returns Home

When Perseus came home he found King Polydectes behaving badly, so he showed the king the very prize he had asked Perseus to fetch, the head of Medusa. Polydectes turned to stone.

The End of the Medusa Head

The Medusa head was a powerful weapon, but Perseus was willing to give it up to Athena, who placed it in the center of her shield.

Perseus Fulfills the Oracle

Perseus then went to Argos and Larissa to compete in athletic events. There, he accidentally killed his Grandfather Acrisius when a wind swept away a discus he was holding. Perseus then went to Argos to claim his inheritance.

Since Perseus had killed his grandfather, he felt bad about reigning in his stead, so he went to the Tiryns where he found the ruler, Megapenthes, willing to exchange kingdoms. Megapenthes took Argos, and Perseus, Tiryns. Later Perseus founded the nearby city of Mycenae, which is in the Argolis in the Peloponnese.

Death of Perseus

Another Megapenthes killed Perseus. This Megapenthes was a son of Proteus and a half-brother of Perseus. After his death, Perseus was made immortal and put among the stars. Today, Perseus is still the name of a constellation in the northern sky.

Perseus and His Descendants

The Perseids, a term referring to the descendants of Perseus and Andromeda's son Perses, is also the name of a summer meteor shower that comes from the constellation of Perseus. Among the human Perseids, the most famous is Hercules (Heracles).

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Summary and Analysis: Greek Mythology The Heroes — Perseus, Bellerophon, and Heracles

King Acrisius ruled Argos but possessed no heir who could take over the kingdom when he died. His only child was a lovely maiden, Danaë, but girls did not count for much then. Acrisius went to an oracle that informed him he would have no son, but that his own grandson would kill him. Greatly alarmed, the king had an underground chamber built, one with a skylight, and he imprisoned his daughter there in order that she might bear no children. However, Zeus saw the beautiful Danaë in her bronzed chamber and visited her in the form of a golden shower. Nine months later she gave birth to a son, Perseus. When Acrisius learned of this he hesitated to put them both directly to death, so instead he had his daughter and grandson sealed in a chest and cast adrift in the sea.

At length the chest landed on the beach of an island, where it was found and opened by a fisherman named Dictys. Being a kindly person, Dictys took the forlorn Danaë and her infant son home to his wife. The couple decided that they would care for Danaë and raise Perseus as if he were their own son, since they themselves were childless. Thus Perseus grew to manhood in congenial circumstances.

Danaë did not lose her beauty with the passing years, and Dictys' brother, the tyrannical king Polydectes, wished to make her his wife. But Polydectes regarded Perseus as a hindrance to his plans. Therefore he announced that he was going to marry another woman, which meant that everyone would have to present him with a gift. At the gift-giving feast Perseus was the only person present without anything to bestow upon the king. In his mortification Perseus rashly promised to bring the head of the Gorgon Medusa back as a gift. Polydectes was pleased, knowing that Perseus would die in the attempt, for one look from that hideous snake-headed monster turned men to stone. And even if Perseus should succeed, Polydectes would have a coveted trophy.

Perseus left the king's hall immediately and set sail for Greece, too upset to bid goodbye to his mother and foster parents. He went to Delphi to learn the whereabouts of the Gorgons, and while the oracle could not tell him it directed him to Dodona, the land of the whispering oaks. There Perseus learned nothing except that the gods were watching over him. Eventually though, Perseus met the god Hermes, who told him he must acquire some equipment from the Stygian nymphs. A pair of flying sandals, a magic wallet, and a helmet of invisibility would be essential for his success. Yet only the Graeae, or three gray women, knew the way to the Stygian nymphs. These crones lived far to the West beyond the river Ocean, and they had but one eye among the three of them. Hermes guided the young hero to them, and while one of the gray women was passing that single eye to another, Perseus jumped from behind and grabbed it. To get their eye back the Graeae told him where the Stygian nymphs lived. Again Hermes guided him there, and they borrowed the sandals, wallet, and helmet. In addition Hermes presented Perseus with a very sharp sickle with which to sever the Medusa's head.

Athena, too, proved helpful to Perseus, for she showed him how to distinguish between the three awful Gorgons, of whom only Medusa could be killed. The goddess also gave Perseus a mirror-like shield that would enable him to see the Gorgons without being instantly petrified. After this lengthy preparation, the hero was at last ready to take on the Medusa.

With his winged sandals he flew to the land of the Hyperboreans, and there he found the Gorgons sleeping. Gazing into his mirrored shield, Perseus approached them. As Athena guided his hand he struck off the monstrous head with one blow. From the blood of Medusa there sprang forth Pegasus, the winged horse, and a terrible warrior. Quickly Perseus put the head in his magic wallet and put on his helmet of invisibility. He did so in the nick of time, for immediately the other two Gorgons awoke. Seeing their slain sister, they set off to pursue and kill her murderer. But Perseus had no trouble eluding them, being able to fly without being seen.

He traveled south to Gibraltar and then east over Libya and Egypt. On the coast of Philistia he saw a beautiful, naked young woman chained to a rock. This was the princess Andromeda, who was awaiting execution at the hands of a sea-monster because her stupid, vain mother had claimed she was more lovely than the Nereids, or nymphs of the sea. Perseus fell in love with her and hastily arranged with her parents that if he could rescue her she would be his wife. When the monster appeared Perseus lopped its head off and freed Andromeda. Her parents, however, went back on their word, claiming that a previous suitor had a better right to their daughter. In addition, they summoned warriors to kill the hero. Since he found himself faced with too many enemies, Perseus drew the gory head from his wallet and transformed his antagonists to stone. Among them were Andromeda's parents, Cepheus and Cassiopia, who were turned into constellations for their treachery. But Perseus had acquired a wife.

He returned with her to the island where he had been raised and found that his mother, Danaë, and his guardian, Dictys, had fled to a temple for refuge from the courtship and vindictiveness of King Polydectes. Perseus went to the king's banquet hall to find Polydectes and his companions feasting. Greeted with insults, he pulled out the Medusa head as his gift for the king and changed Polydectes and the others into boulders.

To reward Athena for her aid Perseus gave her the head to wear on her breastplate, the aegis. And he returned the sandals, wallet, and helmet to the Stygian nymphs by means of Hermes. After making Dictys the new king of the island, Perseus set sail for his grandfather's kingdom of Argos, taking his mother and wife. He had hoped to be reconciled to King Acrisius, but the king no longer ruled there, having fled on learning that the grandson who was to kill him was a hero. Before long Perseus heard that the king of Larissa was going to hold an athletic competition, and he decided to enter. During the discus-throwing contest Perseus' discus was caught by the wind, which diverted it into the throng of spectators, where it killed an old man. The victim, of course, was King Acrisius, who had sealed Danaë and Perseus in a chest years before and cast them off to sea. Thus the oracle was fulfilled.

Stricken with guilt for killing a member of his family Perseus arranged to exchange kingdoms with an uncle, giving Argos for Tiryns. As a king he recaptured lost territories and fortified his city. And having settled down with Andromeda, he fathered a number of sons. Through these he became the ancestor of the great Heracles.

Corinth was the location of Bellerophon's family. His grandfather Sisyphus, for informing on Zeus, was sentenced to roll a boulder up a hill forever in the underworld. His father, Glaucus, who fed human flesh to horses to make them savage, was trampled and devoured by those same horses at the will of Aphrodite. And Bellerophon himself had a luckless beginning. He murdered a fellow townsman named Bellerus, and by accident he killed his own brother.

Bellerophon went into exile and arrived at the court of King Proetus. The wife of Proetus fell in love with the handsome young man and attempted to seduce him, but he rejected her advances. To retaliate she told her husband that Bellerophon had tried to rape her. King Proetus did not want to kill a guest, fearing the punishment of Zeus, so he sent Bellerophon to his father-in-law, King Iobates, with instructions that Bellerophon be put to death.

At Iobates' court Bellerophon was well received. After entertaining him as a guest, Iobates asked to see the sealed letter. Upon opening it Iobates was filled with the same consternation that had filled Proetus, for he too could not kill a guest. But as an expedient Iobates decided to send Bellerophon off on dangerous missions that were bound to finish him off.

Now Bellerophon had one consuming passion, which was to possess the winged horse, Pegasus, that had sprung from Medusa's blood. On sound advice he went to sleep in Athena's temple, and upon awakening he found a golden bridle beside him. With this bridle he went into the fields and discovered Pegasus drinking from a spring. Bellerophon had no trouble in putting the bridle on the horse and mounting it. In his suit of armor he and Pegasus glided through the air and performed marvelous stunts. With his new steed he felt ready to undertake any exploits that King Iobates had in mind.

His first task was to kill the Chimaera, a formidable fire-breathing monster with the front of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. Bellerophon attacked the Chimaera from the air, riding Pegasus and shooting arrows at the monster. Finally he took a lance with a lump of lead on its end and held it to the beast's mouth. The flaming tongue melted the lead, which ran down in the belly and killed the Chimaera.

Iobates then sent Bellerophon against his enemies, the Solymi, but they were no match for Bellerophon's airborne assault with boulders. The king sent the hero against the Amazons as well, and he defeated them in the same manner. At his wit's end Iobates prepared an ambuscade for Bellerophon on his way home, and again he defeated the attack. Having failed to do away with the amazing young man, Iobates came to admire him for his valor and awarded Bellerophon his daughter for a wife.

However, Bellerophon's success did not last. After living in prosperity for several years Bellerophon decided that he belonged on Olympus for his famous deeds. Taking to Pegasus, he soared into the sky. But Zeus grew angry at this mortal's presumption and sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus under the tail. The horse bolted, throwing Bellerophon to the earth. Lame and cursed by the gods, the poor hero isolated himself completely from the company of men. Devoured by anguish, he wandered alone like a fugitive until he died. Zeus meanwhile had taken Pegasus into his own stable and used the wondrous horse to carry thunderbolts.

The most powerful and glorious hero of all was Heracles, better known by his Latin name as Hercules. A man of surpassing strength and coordination, he was able to perform super-human feats. Yet it was small wonder because he was the son of Zeus, and Zeus had arranged that one day Heracles should become a god. A protector, friend, and adviser to men, he also performed services for the gods, helping them defeat the Giants and rescuing Prometheus from his punishment in the Caucasus. Heracles was honored throughout Greece, and in honor of athletic prowess he instituted the Olympic games.

The last mortal woman that Zeus ever slept with was Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon, a woman renowned for her virtue, beauty, and wisdom. Zeus had selected her not for his own enjoyment primarily but because she was the aptest choice for bearing the greatest hero of all time. He wanted this last affair to be absolutely special. While Amphitryon was off fighting a battle, Zeus came to Alcmene disguised as her husband and lay with her for one very long night, regaling her in the meantime with stories of his victories. When the real Amphitryon arrived home shortly afterward he was surprised at his wife's lack of enthusiasm and her boredom when he recounted his military successes. She even seemed bored as he lay with her.

Nine months later Alcmene was about to give birth to twins. On the day on which Heracles should have been born, Zeus took a solemn oath that the descendant of Perseus born on that day would rule Greece. In a jealous fit Hera managed to delay Alcmene's delivery by magic and to induce an early delivery in a woman bearing another of Perseus' descendants. The result was that the infant Eurystheus was destined to rule Greece instead of Heracles. But Zeus in his anger made Hera agree that if Heracles should perform twelve tasks for Eurystheus he would become a god.

Alcmene gave birth to Heracles, the son of Zeus, and to Iphicles, the son of Amphitryon. When these twins were about a year old Hera sent two serpents to destroy Heracles in his crib. While Iphicles screamed and tried to escape, Heracles strangled the snakes, one in each hand. In his schooling Heracles preferred the athletic disciplines, over which he gained easy mastery, but he was never much of a thinker. Given to rash acts, he brained his music tutor with a lyre. After that Amphitryon sent him into the hills with shepherds. By the age of eighteen he had become the strongest man in the world as well as the ablest athlete, a hero possessed of great courage. Ordinarily a man of courtesy, he was prone to violent fits of temper under provocation, and sometimes he regretted his impulsive rages.

A lion was killing Amphitryon's cattle and Heracles went searching for it. On his first expedition he had the satisfaction of sleeping with King Thespius' fifty daughters with the father's consent. From these matings fifty-one sons were engendered. At length Heracles killed the lion. From it he made a cape and hood. In representations of him he was usually depicted wearing this lion-skin garment and holding the olivewood club with which he killed it.

The city of Thebes was forced to pay tribute to the Minyan king as reparation. Meeting the heralds who had come to collect this tribute, Heracles was treated with insolence so he cut off their ears, noses, and hands and sent them home. This precipitated a war in which the Minyans had the advantage. But with Athena's aid and his own reckless daring, Heracles helped the Thebans defeat their enemies. As a reward King Creon gave the hero his daughter Megara as a wife. But marriage did little to tame Heracles' rashness. Even the responsibility of raising sons could not curb him. So Hera sent a frenzied madness upon him in which he brutally slaughtered his children and wife. When he came to his senses he was overcome with horror and guilt. Despite the meager consolations held out by his friend Theseus and others, he contemplated suicide. Finally he went to the oracle at Delphi to learn how he could expiate his crime. The oracle informed him that he would have to submit himself to King Eurystheus of Mycenae as a slave and perform whatever tasks his royal cousin should command.

Although far inferior to Heracles in courage and might Eurystheus had cunning, and he devised a series of tasks that were next to impossible to complete. These were the "Twelve Labors of Heracles" that the hero undertook in his twelve years of servitude to the spiteful king.

His first labor was to kill the Nemean lion, an animal with an impenetrable hide. After vainly attacking it with arrows Heracles finally throttled the beast with his bare hands and carried it back to Mycenae. Eurystheus then resolved that Heracles must remain outside the city.

His second labor was to destroy the Lernaean Hydra, a serpent with nine heads and poisonous breath that lived in the swamps and ravaged crops and cattle. Having flushed the Hydra out of its lair Heracles attempted to club off its heads, but for every head that fell two grew in its place. With the help of his nephew Iolaus, who branded the severed necks, Heracles was able to kill the monster. He used the Hydra's blood to poison his arrows.

The third labor was to capture a deer with golden horns that lived on Mount Ceryneia and bring it back alive, an exploit that took Heracles a full year.

His fourth labor was to capture the wild boar of Erymanthus that was devastating nearby lands. On this expedition Heracles was treated hospitably by the Centaur Pholus, who opened a barrel of wine for him. But then other Centaurs savagely demanded it, and Heracles had to rout them with arrows. When he brought the boar back, Heracles showed it to Eurystheus, who was so terrified that he hid.

The fifth labor was to clean the Augean stables in one day. Since Augeas had thousands of cattle and their stables had not been cleaned for years the job seemed incredible, but Heracles diverted two rivers into the stalls that promptly cleaned the mess.

For his sixth labor Heracles was to drive away the enormous number of birds that were plaguing the people of Stymphalus. Athena helped drive the birds from their thickets and Heracles slew these flesh-eating birds with arrows.

The seventh labor involved capturing a maddened Cretan bull that Poseidon had given King Minos. Heracles mastered the animal and brought it back to Eurystheus.

His eighth labor was to capture the man-eating mares of Diomedes, which he could only accomplish by first killing their guardians and fighting off an army. He then served the horses' flesh to Diomedes. At this time he also rescued Queen Alcestis by fighting off Death when she was scheduled to die in her husband's place.

The ninth labor was to fetch the splendid girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Hippolyta greeted Heracles cordially and agreed to part with the girdle. Hera, however, spread the rumor that the hero was going to abduct Hippolyta, so the Amazons seized their weapons. Thinking that the queen was behind the assault, Heracles killed her and many of the Amazons.

The tenth labor required stealing the cattle of Geryon, a triple-bodied monster on a Western isle. On his journey the hero set up the Pillars of Heracles to commemorate the trip. These were two enormous rocks, one of which was Gibraltar. Heracles slew Geryon, and after numerous difficulties he got the cattle home.

The eleventh labor consisted of getting the Golden Apples of the Hesperides. These were in a fabulous land far to the west, and they were guarded by goddesses. On his way Heracles met the gigantic bandit Antaeus, who forced strangers to wrestle with him and who gained great strength from contact with the ground. Heracles strangled him by holding him in the air. Finally the hero reached Atlas, the father of the Hesperides, who was holding up the sky. Atlas agreed to get the apples if Heracles would hold up the heavens in his place, and Heracles consented. Having fetched the golden apples Atlas decided to let Heracles hold up the sky forever. Heracles was dismayed and said he needed a cushion to ease the load, whereupon the stupid Atlas took back the burden and Heracles picked up the apples and sauntered off.

His twelfth labor involved bringing back Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to the underworld. Hermes guided him into the netherworld, where Heracles rescued his friend Theseus from the Chair of Oblivion. He obtained permission to take Cerberus home, provided he used only his hands. Heracles attacked the monstrous dog, driving the wind from it, and forcibly led it back to Eurystheus, who bid him return the beast to Hades. With that deed his servitude to Eurystheus ended and his penitence for the murders of his wife and children was complete. In addition Heracles had earned the status of a demi-god, for he had fulfilled the requirement of Zeus.

Most heroes would have settled down after that, but not Heracles. King Eurytus was offering his daughter Tole to the man who could beat him in an archery contest. When Heracles won, Eurytus did not keep his word, and the hero vowed to get even. Moreover, Eurytus' eldest son, Iphitus, asked Heracles to help him find some stolen cattle. Enraged, Heracles slew Iphitus, and once again he had to consult the oracle at Delphi to learn how he might purge this crime. But this time the Delphic priestess refused to answer, so Heracles seized her tripod and threatened to set up his own oracle. Apollo became furious at this and would have fought with Heracles if Zeus hadn't intervened. Zeus made Heracles return the tripod and ordered that the priestess deliver an answer. She then told Heracles he had to be sold into slavery for three years and that his wages were to be paid to King Eurytus, the father of the murdered man.

Heracles submitted to his fate and was sold anonymously at auction to Queen Omphale of Lydia, who set the brawny hero to women's tasks. Nevertheless, Heracles fathered three sons on Omphale, rid her kingdom of bandits, captured a band of evil spirits, killed two murderous kings who forced strangers to work for them, and slew a gigantic serpent that was devastating the land. By this time Omphale had guessed the identity of her slave and she released him.

The hero was never one to forgive injuries. When King Laomedon refused to reward him for the rescue of his daughter Hesione, Heracles attacked Troy, killed Laomedon, and married Hesione off to his comrade Telamon. After receiving bad treatment from the inhabitants of the island of Cos, he sacked the place and slaughtered its king. Nor had he forgotten that King Augeas had never paid him for cleaning the stables. While laying Augeas' kingdom to waste, Heracles had to fight the Molionids, Poseidon's sons with one body, two heads, four arms, and four legs. No one managed to insult, cheat, or battle with Heracles and live.

His biggest grudge, however, was against King Eurytus, who had refused him his daughter Iole as the prize in an archery contest. Heracles had married Deianeira, and after accidentally killing her brother-in-law he was forced to flee. At a river crossing Heracles put his wife on the back of the Centaur Nessus. In midstream Nessus tried to violate Deianeira, so Heracles shot him with an arrow. But before Nessus died he gave Deianeira his blood as a love-charm to win Heracles' affection. At length Heracles set forth against Eurytus and killed him and his sons, taking the lovely Iole captive. Now Deianeira, realizing that Heracles loved Iole, soaked a shirt of his in Nessus' blood to win his love. And when Heracles put on the shirt he began to suffer a lingering, agonizing death, for of course Nessus had tricked Deianeira and achieved his revenge on the man who had slain him. Writhing with pain, Heracles grabbed a man and flung him into the sea. Then he began uprooting pines to build a funeral pyre for himself, and when it was completed he climbed upon it and ordered that fire be set to it. As the flames reached his body Heracles vanished in an apotheosis of lightning. And he was received into Olympus as the son of Zeus. There he married Hebe, the cupbearer, and enjoyed the life of the gods.

In Perseus, Bellerophon, and Heracles we have three heroes renowned for monster-killing. Perseus slew the Gorgon Medusa; Bellerophon killed the Chimaera; and Heracles destroyed several monsters, including the Hydra. Yet each is distinct. Perseus is both elegant and impulsive, a man of loyalty to his family and friends, a dangerous foe to those who cross him, and a person blessed by the gods to perform one great deed. Bellerophon is violent and reckless, a killer who has the good luck to tame Pegasus and thereby achieve all his successes. But the source of his triumphs is also the means of his downfall, for Pegasus throws him in attempting to reach Olympus. Heracles, too, is violent and reckless, but he has the grace to repent his wicked acts and to expiate them through arduous work. Lacking in real intelligence, Heracles must earn his heroism through sheer strength and skill. He is masculinity gone wild, begetting about eighty sons on various women, killing monsters, tyrants, and ordinary men alike, mastering savage creatures, and paying for his crimes with years of service.

One feature common to these stories is that each hero is obligated to some king when he performs his greatest acts. Perseus, Bellerophon, and Heracles gain their heroic laurels from necessity, because they are pledged to it and because their sense of honor demands it. Honor is naturally the driving force behind heroism, but it can also lead a man to rash criminal acts. Bellerophon ascending Olympus and Heracles killing Iphitus are examples of heroes violating the limits of human decency through pride. The Greeks were always aware of this double side to the hero, for it recurs many times in their myths.

Previous The Beginnings — Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Hermes, Demeter, and Dionysus

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What Made Perseus a Hero?

Perseus is widely regarded as one of the great legendary heroes of Greece, but what attributes did he possess that made him a hero?

perseus hero's journey quizlet

The gods and goddesses were central in Greek mythology, but some of the most popular stories involved human characters. There were the heroes, the brave men of the past who performed extraordinary feats of strength, courage, and devotion.

One of the most famous of these heroes was Perseus. The mortal son of Zeus slayed the Gorgon, rescued a princess from human sacrifice, and became the founding king of the great city of Mycenae.

As a character, Perseus perfectly fit the standard of a Greek hero. This was established not only by his actions, most notably the killing of monsters, but also by the circumstances of his life.

Perseus did not only fit the Greek definition of a hero, though. His story lived on to influence the ways in which later cultures, even that of the modern world, viewed the heroic.

The Heroic Qualities of Perseus

Perseus was one of the most famous heroes in Greek mythology. His legend remains popular today and parts of it have influenced many later stories.

There are certain attributes of Perseus and scenes from his life that make his status as a hero evident.

Like the other prominent heroes, Perseus was the son of a god and a mortal noblewoman. His parents were Zeus and the human princess Danae.

Danae’s father had been told by an oracle that his grandson would take his place as king of Argolis after killing him, so he locked Danae out of sight and out of reach of any man. By keeping his daughter from conceiving a child, the king could avoid his fate.

Instead, Danae was impregnated by a god. Zeus came into her chamber in a shower of gold despite her father’s attempts to maintain her chastity.

This type of divine parentage is almost universal among ancient heroes. Virtually all of the mortal women chosen to be consorts of the gods were princesses, and the gods changed their shape and disguised their true nature to get close to them.

Despite being born into a royal family, however, Perseus was not raised in a position of power. The king banished his daughter and her child in a final attempt to defy fate, and they were eventually taken in by a fisherman.

Similarly, other heroes were not raised as heirs to the kingdoms their grandfathers ruled even though there was not another direct male heir. There are many stories of Hercules being fostered and Theseus was raised in his mother’s kingdom instead of as the heir to Athens.

The heroes that were raised as princes faced the obstacle of having their kingdoms stolen from them. Jason, for example, had his rightful place usurped by his uncle while Bellerophon was exiled for an accidental crime.

In either case, Perseus was marked as a hero because he was denied the Earthly position that he should have rightfully inherited. Instead, he would have to work for the recognition he should have gotten by virtue of his birth.

The great heroes of Greek mythology were also sent on quests that were supposed to lead to their downfall. Perseus was tasked with killing the Minotaur, Bellerophon had to slay the Chimera, Hercules was given his twelve labors, and Jason had to fetch the Golden Fleece.

These tasks were assigned for a personal vendetta rather than as a simple demonstration of valor. In the case of Perseus, it was because the wicked Polydictes wished to force Danae into marriage and needed to dispose of her protective son.

The most notable exception to this was Theseus, who volunteered to slay the Minotaur instead of having the duty thrust upon him. This was still, however, a deadly quest that took place under the power of a corrupt king.

Perhaps the most notable feature of the classical heroes was that they were monster slayers. Perseus had the qualities of a potential hero, but cemented his status by defeating the Gorgon .

Like the other heroes, he also had divine favor in this task. Athena , the patroness of heroes, came to his aid as she did the other notable men of mythology.

The story of Perseus also featured elements that were not universal to all the stories of heroes but were repeated often enough to be included as attributes of the heroic type.

One of these was that he went on to become a powerful king despite his own relatively modest upbringing. Perseus inherited the throne of Argolis, as prophesied, but traded it and built the city of Mycenae.

Perseus founded not only his own city, but also a dynasty. His sons and grandsons went on to become founding kings themselves and established cities and empires throughout the known world.

One of his descendants, Hercules, continued this heroic tradition. While he did not become a king himself, his many sons were considered to be the founders of several cities and colonies.

My Modern Interpretation

Greek heroes could be roughly divided into two types. While the later heroes of the Trojan War had few of the hallmarks of their predecessors, the older heroes of legend had many similarities in their stories.

The fact that Perseus, like so many ancient heroes, fit into this archetype is hardly a coincidence. The stories of the legendary heroes were designed to fit into a predictable pattern.

The circumstances of their births were what allowed them to outshine more ordinary people. As the sons of gods, these men were granted attributes such as exceptional strength.

Their mothers, too, played a role in legitimizing them as heroes. The Greeks believed that the circumstances of a person’s birth reflected their worth, so the princesses who gave birth to heroes were, by virtue of their birth, capable of passing their own noble attributes on to their sons.

These princesses also gave them a claim to material wealth and power. What distinguished the heroes from ordinary princes, however, was that they had to earn this power.

They did so by defeating a monster, an act that both demonstrated strength and courage and had important symbolic meaning.

The monsters of ancient Greece often embodied real threats that existed in the world. They were extreme examples of the dangers faced in daily life.

In defeating these creatures, the heroes symbolically made the world safer and easier to manage. The dangers of the sea that Medusa represented still existed, but they no longer actively hunted down those that faced them.

The heroes also often defeated an earthly power, usually in the form of a usurping uncle or cousin. In doing so, they restored the natural order of rightful inheritance that made society, as the Greeks saw it, stable and able to flourish.

This also allowed the heroes to be incorporated into local legends. As the founding kings of their cities, or the father of those kings, they legitimized the state and its rulers by giving a direct link to both the legendary past and the gods.

The heroes of ancient Greece were often venerated in hero cults, which had their own shrines and rites. While most were believed to have been human, they were thought to have a special position in the afterlife that allowed them to still be aware of the affairs of the living world.

The story of Perseus fit all of these standards for the portrayal of the heroic in Greek mythology, but he also influenced later views of the hero.

Because of their position, the heroes were idealized, but that did not mean that they exhibited virtues that the modern world would find laudable. Hercules, for example, was a notorious womanizer and Theseus abandoned Ariadne after they eloped.

Perseus, however, more closely resembled the type of man that later readers would find heroic. His story, more than that of any other Greek hero, influenced the modern heroic ideal.

After killing the Gorgon, Perseus rescued Princess Andromeda, who had been offered as a sacrifice to appease a sea monster. This is the earliest example of what would become a common motif in heroic tales, the rescue of the damsel in distress.

He also fought off and killed the king’s men on his return not for his own benefit or safety, but to defend another. By killing Polydictes and his men, Perseus ensured the safety of his mother.

Perseus was not the only hero to father several children, Hercules was said to have dozens, but unlike his great-grandson he was by all accounts loyal to his wife and their marriage was not marred by later disaster, betrayal, or trauma.

In rescuing and marrying Andromeda, Perseus did not only establish the heroic precedent of winning the endangered princess’s love. He also became the first hero to end his story happily ever after.

The Greek heroes who predated the Trojan War had a number of similarities. These were what defined them as true heroes.

Almost all were the sons of gods and human princesses. This gave them exceptional strength and virtue, in addition to a claim on worldly power.

Most were not raised as the heirs to their kingdoms, however. If they were, they were expelled before taking the throne and had to fight to win it back.

The heroes were then sent on a quest, usually by a wicked king, that would almost certainly lead to death. Their own attributes and the favor of the gods, however, allowed them to kill a monster that was considered nearly invincible.

In killing these monsters, the heroes symbolically killed a real-world threat. With each great action of a hero, the world became less threatening and more stable for later generations.

Many heroes then returned to their homelands and reclaimed their inheritance . They became founding kings of great cities within Greece, while their sons and grandsons established states elsewhere.

Perseus met all of these standards for a Greek hero, but his legend went on to influence later ideas about heroism.

His actions after the defeat of Medusa fit into later ideas of virtue that were not as prevalent in the Greek view of the world. In rescuing both Andromeda and his mother, for example, he came to be seen as one who defended the innocent rather than fighting for his own position.

The rescue of Andromeda established a new motif in the European ideal of the heroic. Many later stories would similarly feature the rescue and love of a princess who was offered as a sacrifice to a monster or dragon.

By establishing a prosperous city and enjoying a long, faithful marriage, the story of Perseus was also one of the first to end with a happy life, setting the standard for heroic tales for centuries to follow.

perseus hero's journey quizlet

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Theseus & The Hero's Journey

In this activity, activity overview, template and class instructions, more storyboard that activities, this activity is part of many teacher guides.

Theseus Heroic Journey

Related to both plot diagram and types of literary conflict, the ”Hero’s Journey” is a recurring pattern of stages many heroes undergo over the course of their stories. Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, articulated this cycle after researching and reviewing numerous myths and stories from a variety of time periods and regions of the world. He found that they all share fundamental principles. This spawned the Hero’s Journey, also known as the Monomyth. The most basic version has 12 steps, while more detailed versions can have up to 17.

Theseus has a complex story, and the example storyboard only looks at the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. Theseus' life story also follows the Hero's Journey structure from leaving his childhood home to becoming the heir of Aegeus. Consider assigning one Hero's Journey to each half of the class, or do the first Hero's Journey together and the second independently.

Hero's Journey Stages

Hero's Journey of Theseus

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Use the story of Theseus and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey.

  • Click "Start Assignment".
  • Depict and describe how the chosen character's story fits (or does not fit ) into each of the stages of the Hero's Journey.
  • Finalize images, edit, and proofread your work.
  • Click "Save & Exit" when done.

TEMPLATE - HERO'S JOURNEY

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 4 (Difficult / Complex)

Type of Assignment Individual, Partner, or Group

Type of Activity: The Hero's Journey

  • [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/3] Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme
  • [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/5] Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric .)

Greek Mythology: Theseus

Greek Mythology: Theseus - Themes and Motifs in Theseus

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IMAGES

  1. Hero's Journey & Archetypes Diagram

    perseus hero's journey quizlet

  2. The Hero's Journey Diagram

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  3. The Hero's Journey/Monomyth: A Look at the Steps with Storyboard That

    perseus hero's journey quizlet

  4. heros journey Flashcards

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  5. Perseus

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  6. Perseus Hero Journey by dylan barnett

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VIDEO

  1. Perseus: A Hero's Tale #history #mythology

  2. Aries Uncovered: The Courageous Journey of Perseus Revealed!

  3. Why Perseus Had To Slay Medusa

  4. Perseus Vs Medusa #documentary #history #mythology

  5. Epic Journey of Perseus: A Heroic Tale from Greek Mythology

  6. Unveiling 3 Incredible Tales From the Compelling World of Greek Mythology: #history #shorts

COMMENTS

  1. Perseus Hero's Journey Flashcards

    Perseus kills Medusa and the Gorgon sisters chase Perseus. Perseus claims a wife (Andromeda) and is now a hero. He is very bold and stands up to Polydectes and kills him. Perseus saves his mom from being married to Polydectes. He has a wife (Andromeda); he gives his mom an apple. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like ...

  2. Perseus- Hero's Journey Flashcards

    Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like The hero is born under unusual circumstances (or unusual childhood) and often has supernatural gifts or powers., The hero is given a quest or an adventure on which to embark., The hero is tested throughout his journey to determine whether or not he is worthy of completing the quest. and more.

  3. Perseus: Hero Journey Flashcards

    Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like ordinary world, call to adventure, refusal of the call and more. ... Perseus Hero's Journey. Teacher 12 terms. oliviajadealvarez. Preview. Live lab Anesthesia Studying. 7 terms. lyssalc7. Preview. Beowulf Quiz 3. 14 terms. hamrick491. Preview. Living Environment Study Set. 164 terms.

  4. Perseus Hero's Journey Flashcards

    Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like ordinary world (Perseus), call to adventure(Perseus), refusal(Perseus) and more.

  5. Perseus' Hero's journey Flashcards

    Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like 1. World of common day, Call to adventure, 4. Meeting with the Mentor and more.

  6. Perseus: Hero Journey Flashcards

    A Quiz Learn with flashcards, games, and more — for free.

  7. English- Perseus; the hero's journey Flashcards

    The hero is on the journey back, but some smaller challenges may arise. Return with the Elixir The hero has returned with his new skills, tools and reward and his mission comes to an end, typically a good one.

  8. Perseus' Hero's Journey Flashcards

    Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Ordinary World, Call to Adventure, Supernatural Aid and more.

  9. Perseus Hero's Journey Flashcards

    Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Perseus was raised by a fisherman named Dictys, Perseus goes to the celebration for his mom's wedding and does not have a present., He does not tell his mom that he is leaving to get a gift. and more.

  10. Perseus and the Hero's Journey Flashcards

    Perseus defeats a sea serpent and flies back home. Perseus has returned home, saved his mom, married Andromeda, and given the head of Medusa to Athena. Perseus kills Polydectes by using Medusa's head to turn him to stone. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Call to Adventure, Ordinary World, Crossing the Threshold ...

  11. The Birth of Perseus Hero's Journey

    The Birth of Perseus Hero's Journey. The Hero' s Journey is a framework that scholar Joseph Campbell came up with that many myths and stories follow. Many storytellers and story-readers find it a useful way to look at tale. (That' s actually putting it lightly. Some people are straight-up obsessed .) Chris Vogler adapted Campbell's 17 stages of ...

  12. Perseus's Hero's Journey Analysis

    When Perseus arrives home, he confronts King Polydectes, who's been trying to force Danae to marry him. Perseus kills Polydectes, using Medusa's head to turn him into stone. Return. Perseus has saved his mother, and his journey has concluded. He returns the magical items he borrowed, and gives Medusa's head to Athena.

  13. Perseus and Medusa Hero's Journey

    Perseus' story doesn't fit perfectly into the Hero's Journey structure, but we're giving it a shot. As the gross old saying goes, there's more than one way to skin a cat. Here's how we've diced up the story: Stage 1: The Ordinary World. We start the story on the island of Seriphus, the home of Perseus and his pretty mother Danae.

  14. Perseus: Journey of a Legendary Greek Hero

    Perseus, in his timeless relevance, invites us to reflect upon our own journeys, echoing the eternal human quest to navigate the enigmatic interplay between destiny, free will, and the silent, yet potent, whispers of the divine. Explore the epic tale of Perseus, a Greek hero's journey marked by divine encounters, heroic battles, and enduring ...

  15. Perseus

    Overview. Perseus, son of Zeus and the Argive princess Danae, was a Greek hero and king connected with the Argolid. Perseus' numerous exploits included beheading Medusa, saving the princess Andromeda, and founding the city of Mycenae and the Perseid dynasty.. Banished from Argos before he was born (due to an ominous prophecy), Perseus grew up on a remote island.

  16. Perseus and Medusa The Hero's Journey

    Next, Perseus gains two important allies. First of all, the Nymphai loan Perseus lots of useful stuff, like Hermes' winged sandals, Hades' helmet of invisibility, and the kibisis. Second, Athena offers Perseus some great advice about how to defeat Medusa (only look at the monster through the refection on your shield).

  17. Perseus • Facts and Information on the Greek Hero Perseus

    Perseus and his mother, Danae experienced calm seas after being cast out of Argos. The legends say that Zeus played a role in that by speaking to Poseidon, the God of the sea, so that they may have a calm journey. Eventually, Danae and Perseus washed up onto the shores of the island of Seriphos, an Aegean island.

  18. Perseus

    On the Web: Perseus, bronze sculpture by Benvenuto Cellini, 1545-54; in the Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence. Perseus, in Greek mythology, the slayer of the Gorgon Medusa and the rescuer of Andromeda from a sea monster. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danaë, the daughter of Acrisius of Argos. As an infant he was cast into the sea in a chest with ...

  19. What Was the Role of Perseus in Greek Mythology?

    The Greek Hero Perseus. Perseus is a major hero from Greek mythology best known for his clever decapitation of Medusa, the monster who turned all who looked at her face into stone. He also rescued Andromeda from the sea monster. Like most of the mythological heroes, the genealogy of Perseus makes him the son of a god and a mortal.

  20. The Heroes

    The tenth labor required stealing the cattle of Geryon, a triple-bodied monster on a Western isle. On his journey the hero set up the Pillars of Heracles to commemorate the trip. These were two enormous rocks, one of which was Gibraltar. Heracles slew Geryon, and after numerous difficulties he got the cattle home.

  21. Greek Mythology

    The story begins on the island of Seriphus, the home of Perseus and his mother, Danae. Polydectes, the king of Seriphus, wishes to marry Danae, and plots to get rid of Perseus because he may object. King Polydectes tricks Perseus into promising to bring back the head of Medusa, one of the dreaded Gorgons. It is an impossible task that will ...

  22. Perseus the Hero: Discover what made him so Heroic

    Perseus, however, more closely resembled the type of man that later readers would find heroic. His story, more than that of any other Greek hero, influenced the modern heroic ideal. After killing the Gorgon, Perseus rescued Princess Andromeda, who had been offered as a sacrifice to appease a sea monster. This is the earliest example of what ...

  23. Theseus and the Hero's Journey

    Student Instructions. Use the story of Theseus and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey. Click "Start Assignment". Depict and describe how the chosen character's story fits (or does not fit ) into each of the stages of the Hero's Journey. Finalize images, edit, and proofread your work.