Perseus was one of the greatest and oldest heroes of Greek mythology. He famously slew the dreaded Gorgon Medusa whose gaze could turn men to stone, an exploit he swiftly followed up with the daring rescue of the princess Andromeda from a monstrous sea-creature sent by Poseidon to terrorize the kingdom of Ethiopia.
Perseus is perhaps the oldest of the Greek heroes with depictions of his beheading of the Gorgon Medusa being amongst the earliest scenes from mythology appearing in art. Even in mythology he is believed to have lived three generations before that other great hero Hercules, who was himself one generation before the Trojan War.
In Perseus’ case, Zeus was thought to be his real father. When Perseus was born, he was sealed up with his mother in a wooden chest and had them thrown into the sea. Zeus did not abandon them, and a quiet word with Poseidon ensured calm seas, so that the chest washed up safely on the shores of the Aegean island of Seriphos and was found by Diktys, a fisherman who took them in and cared for the castaways.
It was here on Seriphos that Perseus peacefully spent his younger years, impressing everyone with his physical prowess and courage. However, as he grew older Perseus became an obstacle to the designs King Polydektes had on Danae, and the king began to look for ways to rid himself of the youth. An opportunity arose when Perseus rashly boasted he could slay the dreaded Gorgon Medusa, whose stare could instantly turn men to stone. Polydektes immediately challenged Perseus to make good on his promise and if he failed, then the king would take possession of his mother Danae.
The task seemed an impossible one, but here Perseus received guidance from the gods. Hermes and Athena counselled him to seek the advice of the three old witches shared one tooth and one eye between them. Perseus stole the eye, promising to return it only if the witches told him certain facts which would help him on his mission.
In some accounts the hero wanted to know the whereabouts of Medusa, in other versions he asks the witches where he could find the nymphs who had the cap of Hades, which made its wearer invisible, and winged sandals or boots so that he might fly. He also wanted a special bag in order to safely keep the severed head of Medusa, whose lethal stare still had power even after death. Naturally, the witches wanted their eye back, so Perseus got what he wanted and in addition, Hermes gave him a special sickle of adamantine to do the deadly deed.
While travelling back home in triumph, the hero was arrested by the sight of the beautiful, yet helpless, princess Andromeda chained to a rock. Andromeda was the princess of Ethiopia. The god Poseidon had been angered by the queen’s bold boast of her beauty, so Poseidon sent first a terrible flood and then a sea-monster (ketos) to terrorize the kingdom. The only way to appease the god and forestall disaster was to sacrifice Andromeda to the coming monster.
Falling in love with Andromeda at first sight, Perseus offered to deal with the monster if he could have the princess’ hand in marriage. The desperate king agreed and by showing the head of Medusa with her still potent stare, Perseus ensured that the sea-monster was turned to stone. He married Adnromeda
Finally arriving back at Seriphos, Perseus learned that King Polydektes had been abusing his mother in his absence. The hero, therefore, presented to Polydektes the head of Medusa as promised but made sure the deadly stare caught the king’s eye and turned him to stone. Perseus then presented the head as a gift to Athena who placed it at the centre of her fearsome aegis.
Adapted by Mrs. Yost from