Perseus

Greek demigod, son of Zeus and Danae. Slayer of Medusa (using the polished shield as mirror and the harpe sickle-sword), rescuer of Andromeda from the sea-monster Cetus, founder of Mycenae and Mideia. Mortal great-grandfather of Heracles via the line Perseus → Electryon → Alcmene + Zeus → Heracles, making the Heraclid kingship legitimately Perseid by descent. Catasterized post-mortem as the constellation Perseus, with Andromeda, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, and Cetus completing the Aethiopian episode in the northern sky.

Parentage

• paternal: Zeus
• maternal: Danae

Children

• Alcaeus
• Electryon
• Sthenelus

Domains

• monster slaying
• royal foundation
• winged flight
• kingship

Powers

• Behead the Gorgon Medusa while she sleeps
• Slay the sea-monster Cetus to free Andromeda
• Petrify enemies with the Gorgon's head

Epithets

• Περσεὺς Γοργοφόνος greek · Perseùs Gorgophónos'Gorgon-slayer' — Perseus's standing byname from his killing of MedusaPindar, Pythian 12.11-12 (primary); Hesiod, Shield 224-237 (secondary)
• Γοργοφόνος Ancient Greek · Gorgophonos · epithetslayer of the GorgonPindar, Pythian 12.11-18 (primary)

Relations

• spouse: AndromedaApollod. 2.4.3; Ov. Met. 4.663-803 (primary)
• ally: AthenaApollod. 2.4.2 (gives the polished shield); Ov. Met. 4.799-803 (places Medusa's head on her aegis) (primary)
• ally: HermesApollod. 2.4.2 (lends the harpe and winged sandals) (primary); Hesiod, Theogony 938–939 (primary)
• enemy: Polydectes (king of Seriphos) · GreekPolydectes king of Seriphos demanded Medusa's head as a wedding gift, intending to send Perseus to die. Perseus turned him to stone with the head on his return.Apollod. 2.4.3; Pind. Pyth. 12 (primary)
• father of: SthenelusApollodorus 2.4.5 (primary)

Sources

• existence: Hom. Il. 14.319-320; Hes. Sh. 216-237; Apollod. 2.4.1-5; Pind. Pyth. 12; Hdt. 2.91 (Egyptian-Greek Perseus tradition); Ov. Met. 4.604-5.249; Paus. 2.15-2.18 (primary)
• parentage: Hom. Il. 14.319-320; Apollod. 2.4.1 (primary)