Perseus (Hero)
heroPerseus was the demigod son of Zeus and Danaë who slew Medusa, rescued Andromeda, and founded the great city of Mycenae.
The Myth
Set adrift in a chest by his grandfather Acrisius, Perseus was raised on Seriphos. King Polydectes sent him to fetch Medusa's head, expecting him to die. With divine gifts — Athena's mirrored shield, Hermes's winged sandals, Hades's cap of invisibility, and an adamantine sickle — he slew Medusa while she slept. He rescued Andromeda, petrified Polydectes, and accidentally killed Acrisius with a discus at funeral games, fulfilling the prophecy. He founded Mycenae and became ancestor of Heracles.
Parents
Zeus and Danaë
Children
Perses, Alcaeus, Electryon, and others
Symbols
Fun Fact
Perseus is one of the few Greek heroes with a genuinely happy ending — he founded a dynasty and was placed among the stars with his wife.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
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Danaë
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Hades
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heroThe greatest hero of Greek mythology, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Famous for his...