Cepheus (King)
heroEthiopian king who chained his own daughter Andromeda to a rock to appease Poseidon's sea monster.
The Myth
He chained his own daughter to a rock to be eaten alive — because his wife would not stop bragging. Cepheus was king of Ethiopia (or Joppa) and husband of the vain Cassiopeia. When Poseidon sent a sea monster to punish Cassiopeia's boast, the oracle of Ammon said only Andromeda's sacrifice would stop it. Cepheus, weeping, chained his daughter to the coastal rocks. Perseus arrived and negotiated: he would kill the monster in exchange for Andromeda's hand. Cepheus agreed. But at the wedding, he supported Phineus's attempt to reclaim Andromeda, breaking his word. Perseus turned the attackers to stone. Athena placed Cepheus in the sky near his wife and daughter — the family reunited as stars.
Parents
Belus
Children
Symbols
Fun Fact
The constellation Cepheus sits near Cassiopeia and Andromeda — the entire family drama is mapped in the sky.
Explore Further
Andromeda
heroAndromeda was an Ethiopian princess chained to a sea cliff as sacrifice to a monster — rescued by...
Andromeda (Myth)
heroEthiopian princess chained to a rock as sacrifice to a sea monster, rescued by Perseus, and placed...
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...
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...
Athena (Warrior)
godAthena was the goddess of wisdom, strategic war, and craftsmanship — born fully armoured from...
Athena Promachos
godAn epithet of Athena meaning "the Champion" or "who fights in front," represented by a colossal...
Poseidon
godLord of the seas and brother of Zeus. Poseidon's moods shaped the oceans — calm seas for those who...
Poseidon (Earth-Shaker)
godPoseidon was the god of the sea and earthquakes whose moods determined whether sailors lived or...