All About the Ancient Greek Hero: Perseus

by Jaden Tse from 4F

Have you ever heard of the Greek hero Perseus? Well, probably not.

Here's the full story, broken down and simplified for you to enjoy!

The Birth of Perseus

A long time ago, there was a king called Acrisius. He had only one child, a daughter named Danaë. The king wanted a son, but the Oracle of Delphi told him that Danaë’s son would one day kill him. Afraid, Acrisius locked Danaë in a room so she could never have children, but the god Zeus visited Danaë in the form of golden mist, and she gave birth to a baby boy named Perseus. Acrisius was angry but knew that the gods would punish him if he killed his own family, so he put Danaë and Perseus in a wooden box, sending them out to sea. Seeing this, Zeus told the sea god, Poseidon, to grant them safe passage so they landed safely on an island called Seriphos, where a kind fisherman named Dictys took care of them.

Perseus Makes an Impossible Promise

Perseus grew up strong and brave. One day, the king of Seriphos, Polydectes, asked everyone to bring him a gift. Perseus proudly swore on the river Styx that he could bring the head of Medusa, a monster with snakes for hair who could turn people to stone. When everyone, Perseus included, arrived with gift horses, Polydectes reminded Perseus of his promise and sent him on the dangerous mission. The gods helped Perseus: Hermes gave him flying sandals, a Harpe sword and an illegal copy of Hades’ helmet of darkness to become invisible, and Athena gave him a reflective shield to see Medusa’s reflection safely.

Perseus Defeats Medusa

Following Athena's guidance, Perseus found the Grey Sisters (the Graeae), who were three old witches that shared a single eye and a single tooth. As the witches passed their eye from one to another, Perseus snatched it from them, holding it in return for the Gorgons' location. The Grey Sisters informed Perseus that the Gorgons lived on the Island of Sarpedon. Perseus then gave the Grey Sisters their eye back and proceeded to the island.

Perseus found Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa (the Gorgons) lying sleeping in a cave. He used Athena’s shield to look at Medusa’s reflection instead of her face. Guided by the gods, Perseus cut off Medusa’s head. From her golden blood came Pegasus, the immortal flying horse, and Chrysaor, the Golden Warrior. Perseus escaped using the invisible helmet.

Perseus Rescues Andromeda

On the way back to Seriphos, Perseus stopped in the kingdom of Aethiopia. This kingdom was ruled by King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia, having boasted that her daughter Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids, drew the attention of Poseidon, who sent a sea serpent, Cetus, which was feared by many Greek colonies. A local priest announced that no relief would be found until the king sacrificed his daughter, Andromeda, to the monster, and so she was fastened to a rock on the shore. Wearing the winged sandals given to him by Hermes, Perseus reached Andromeda and used Medusa's head to petrify Cetus (in other versions, Perseus used the harpé to behead the monster). By rescuing Andromeda, Perseus claimed her in marriage.

Perseus Returns to Argos

Back on Seriphos, Perseus showed Medusa’s head to King Polydectes, who didn’t believe him. When Perseus revealed the head, everyone who looked at it turned into stone.

Later, Perseus returned to Argos, where his grandfather Acrisius had once ruled. Acrisius ran away, and Perseus became king with Andromeda as his queen.

Perseus Fulfils the Prophecy

Perseus killed his grandfather, Acrisius, accidentally with a discus (a heavy, frisbee-like throwing disc) during funeral games in Larissa, fulfilling the prophecy that he would kill him. The discus, thrown by Perseus, sailed off course, hitting the spectator Acrisius on the head and killing him instantly.

That is the end.