Andromeda (Myth)
heroEthiopian princess chained to a rock as sacrifice to a sea monster, rescued by Perseus, and placed among the stars.
The Myth
She was chained to a rock because her mother said she was prettier than sea goddesses — and a flying hero on a winged horse saved her seconds before the monster struck. Cassiopeia boasted that Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids. Poseidon sent a sea monster (ketos) to ravage Ethiopia. An oracle demanded Andromeda be sacrificed. Perseus, returning from killing Medusa with Pegasus and the Gorgon's head, saw her chained to the coastal rocks. He killed the ketos (either with his sword or by showing it Medusa's head) and married Andromeda. At their wedding, her former suitor Phineus attacked, and Perseus petrified him. Athena placed Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Perseus, and the ketos (Cetus) in the sky as constellations.
Parents
Children
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Andromeda Galaxy is named after her — the most distant object visible to the naked eye carries the name of a chained princess.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Andromeda
heroAndromeda was an Ethiopian princess chained to a sea cliff as sacrifice to a monster — rescued by...
Cepheus (King)
heroEthiopian king who chained his own daughter Andromeda to a rock to appease Poseidon's sea monster.
Cassiopeia (Queen)
heroCassiopeia was the queen who boasted her beauty exceeded the sea nymphs — provoking Poseidon to...
Perseus
heroThe legendary hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa and rescued Andromeda from a sea monster. Perseus...
Perseus (Hero)
heroPerseus was the demigod son of Zeus and Danaë who slew Medusa, rescued Andromeda, and founded the...
Medusa
creatureA winged Gorgon with serpents for hair whose gaze could turn any living creature to stone. Once...
Nereids
nymphThe fifty Nereids were daughters of Nereus — benevolent spirits of the calm sea who aided sailors...
Perses (Titan)
titanPerses was the Titan of destruction and ravaging — father of Hecate, the great goddess of...
Hesione
heroTrojan princess chained to a rock as sacrifice to a sea monster, rescued by Heracles, then given to...
Phineus (Prophet)
heroA blind Thracian king and prophet punished by Zeus for revealing divine secrets, tormented by...
Phineus the Seer
heroBlind Thracian king and prophet cursed by Zeus to have his food snatched by Harpies until the...
Athena
godGoddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, born fully armored from the head of Zeus. Patron deity of...