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.