![]() Bodies covered with scales so hard, that no weapon could pierce them.Teeth as long and sharp as the tusks of a wild boar.Penetrating eyes that anyone who looked upon them into stone.The hideous Gorgons had the following features: Of the three, only Medusa could be killed her sisters Euryale and Stheno were immortal. Medusa was one of three monstrous sisters called the Gorgons. Polydectes, knowing very well that this was an impossible feat, was very happy to accept the hero's offering. He thus offered to bring to the king whatever else he desired, even the head of Medusa. Perseus, having not the means to acquire a horse, was in a difficult position. Polydectes demanded that each of his subjects bring a horse as a contribution. Polydectes arranged for a banquet, in which each invited guest must traditionally bring a gift for the intended bride. Danae rejected his offer, and the king, while seeming to accept her denial with grace, never ceased to scheme against her.Īfter a while, Polydectes announced his intention to ask for the hand of Hippodameia, a daughter of king Oenomaus of Pisa, a city in southwestern Greece. While Danae and her son were living in Dictys's home, king Polydectes fell in love with her and proposed to marry her. Dictys cared for Danae and her son for many years, until the hero reached manhood. After rescuing and releasing them, Dictys took the two refugees into his home, claiming that they were distant relatives. The chest that contained the two runaways was caught one day in the net of Dictys. ![]() These two brothers were not at all on good terms with each other. On this island, there lived two brothers: One was Polydectes (meaning "All Receiver"), king of Seriphus and the other was Dictys (meaning "Net Man") who was a poor fisher. When Acrisius found out about the birth of the child, he acted quickly: He placed both Danae and the baby into a large wooden chest and cast it into the Aegean Sea, convicting his daughter and her son to death.įortunately, Zeus guided the chest across the sea to the island of Seriphus. Thus Danae gave birth to a child, whom she called Perseus. The god fell in love with Danae and appeared before her in the form of a gold shower, which poured through the roof of her cell and fell onto her. In an act of desperation, Acrisius tried to prevent the fulfillment of the prophecy, by locking his daughter up in an underground chamber.ĭespite these measures, Danae conceived a child by Zeus. Wanting a son to inherit his kingdom, Acrisius consulted an oracle, but to his disappointment got some bad news: He learned that not only he would he have no sons, but that his daughter's son would kill him. Proetus then became the king of Tiryns, a neighboring city in Argolis -the region surrounding Argos.Īfter many years of marriage to Aganippe, Acrisius had no male heir instead he had an only daughter named Danae. In this battle, Acrisius was the winner and forced his brother into exile. But as soon as they reached manhood, they fought for the throne of Argos. The two brothers were supposed to grow up to rule Argos together. His grandfather, Acrisius, king of Argos, had a twin brother named Proetus. ![]() The story of Perseus actually begins two generations earlier. Little wonder then, that Homer called him "the most renowned of all men".Ĭlick on the following links to go directly to the relevant chapter:įulfillment of the Prophecy Conception, Birth and Youth A beloved king, he not only ruled Tiryns for many years, but founded the neighboring city of Mycenae and fortified Midea as well. A brave and resourceful adventurer, he ranks among the greatest monster-slayers of greek mythology.Ī paragon of fidelity, the hero remained true to Andromeda throughout their marriage. Perseus, the hero who killed the monstrous MedusaĬould there be a hero more virtuous than Perseus? A model of chivalry, he rescued his future bride, Andromeda, from a monster and his mother from a powerful king.
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