Perseus (Gorgon Slayer)
heroThe son of Zeus and Danae who beheaded Medusa, rescued Andromeda, and founded the Perseid dynasty of Mycenae.
The Myth
Perseus was conceived when Zeus visited Danae as a shower of gold in the bronze chamber where her father Acrisius had imprisoned her to thwart a prophecy that her son would kill him. Set adrift in a chest with the infant Perseus, Danae washed ashore on Seriphos, where the fisherman Dictys took them in. When the local tyrant Polydectes desired Danae, he sent Perseus on an impossible quest: bring back the head of Medusa, the Gorgon whose gaze turned men to stone. The gods equipped Perseus: Athena gave him a polished shield, Hermes gave winged sandals and the harpe sword, and the nymphs provided Hades's Cap of Invisibility and a magic kibisis (bag). He found the Gorgons sleeping, approached Medusa using the shield as a mirror, and cut off her head. From her neck sprang Pegasus and Chrysaor. Returning home, he rescued Andromeda from a sea-monster, turned Polydectes to stone, and accidentally killed Acrisius with a discus — fulfilling the prophecy.
Explore Further
Acrisius
heroKing of Argos who imprisoned his daughter Danae and was killed by his grandson Perseus with a...
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...
Dictys
heroFisherman of Seriphos who rescued Danae and infant Perseus from the sea and raised the boy as his...
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...
Polydectes
heroKing of Seriphos who desired Danae and sent Perseus to fetch Medusa's head, expecting the quest to...
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 (Wisdom Warrior)
godThe warrior-goddess born from Zeus's head who embodied strategic intelligence, craft, and the...
Chrysaor
creatureChrysaor was a giant with a golden sword who sprang from Medusa's blood alongside Pegasus — father...
Hades (God)
godHades was the lord of the underworld who received the dead — feared but not evil, wealthy from...