Banished from Argos right before he was born (on account of an ominous prophecy), Perseus grew up with a remote island. When he came of age, he was sent to eliminate the Gorgon Medusa, a monster whose gaze turned all who appeared on her to stone.
Right after Perseus experienced beheaded Medusa and put her head into his satchel, he used his winged sandals to promptly fly from the opposite two vengeful Gorgons.[17]
As Andromeda was awaiting her destiny, Perseus happened to move by on his way household from killing the Gorgon Medusa. When he uncovered what was going on—that the beautiful Female bound to the rock was for being sacrificed to Poseidon’s sea monster—Perseus designed Cepheus and Cassiopeia an offer: should they promised him Andromeda’s hand in marriage, he would help save her lifetime.
Medusa, the daughter of The ocean gods Phorcys and Ceto, was by far the most feared in the Gorgons. It absolutely was claimed that anybody who appeared directly at her was right away turned to stone. Medusa was often depicted being a terrifying winged woman with snakes as opposed to hair.
When Perseus set out to kill the Gorgon Medusa, he initial arrived into the lair of your Graeae. There, he stole the sisters’ one eye, rendering them blind so they'd aid him on his quest.
Even though Perseus was participating in athletic games in the city of Larissa, he threw a discus, which struck an previous gentleman while in the viewers and killed him straight away.
The origins on the Graeae are obscure. It had been when imagined they first emerged as sea goddesses (a fitting concept, on condition that their mothers and fathers were being early sea deities).
In ancient art through the fifth century BCE, Medea was generally revealed putting on characteristically Jap garments and carrying her magical potions. From time to time she was represented Driving the chariot of her grandfather Helios. She was a well known topic in vase painting, statuary, and sarcophagi.[three]
As thunder-bearer of Zeus, Pegasus was showered with honors. He also earned the enjoy with the Muses when he created the Hippocrene spring. The nice winged horse was commemorated while in the night time sky because the constellation Pegasus.
When Metis became pregnant, Jupiter, who experienced seized control of the universe by overthrowing his father Saturn, realized of the prophecy foretelling his downfall within the fingers of his have son. Fearing that Metis’ unborn child would satisfy this prophecy, Jupiter swallowed Metis and her youngster entire, just as Saturn experienced swallowed Jupiter’s brothers and sisters.
The Graiae had been three previous Women of all ages who shared a single eye amongst them. Perseus sneaked up over the Graiae and snatched absent their just one eye, which he agreed to provide back only get more info after they told him wherever to find the Hesperides.
Phorcys can occasionally be located in ancient is effective of art, which include vase paintings and mosaics. He was generally revealed as human within the midsection up but Along with the scaly lower body of the fish.
Like most of the children Zeus had by mortal mothers, Perseus’ early a long time ended up tumultuous and disappointed. Before Perseus was born, Acrisius, the king of Argos, was warned that he would sooner or later be killed by his grandson. Acrisius thus imprisoned his only little one, Danae, to stop her from at any time aquiring a son.
But Perseus experienced substantial assistance within the gods, who gave him the applications he would need to struggle Medusa: an adamant sickle, a mirror-polished protect, winged sandals, Hades’ helmet of invisibility, along with a Particular satchel to comprise the Gorgon’s head.
In some traditions, Iphicles had two other youngsters, Nevertheless they were being killed by Heracles throughout the hero’s insanity—a insanity that also drove Heracles to murder his personal small children (and, In line with some sources, his wife Megara in addition).