Greek Mythology · hero

Perseus

Περσεύς
heroheroismthe slaying of Medusa

Hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa and rescued Andromeda; aided by Athena, Hermes, and the gift of winged sandals.

Perseus and the Graiai (the Gorgon quest) — Bronze Mirror with Perseus and the Graiai
Bronze Mirror with Perseus and the Graiai · Unknown (Etruscan) · ca. 400–350 BCE · The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public domain (Met Open Access)
The account

Who they are

Perseus is the hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa and rescued the maiden Andromeda from the sea-monster Cetus [S4]S4 · Homeric Hymnsc. 700–300 BCEtext[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text. Son of Zeus and the Danaid Danaë, he was sent to fetch Medusa's head by the tyrant Polydectes; aided by Athena (who gave him a mirror-shield), Hermes (who gave him winged sandals and a sickle), and the Naiads, he beheaded Medusa — and from her blood sprang the winged horse Pegasus [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text. He then rescued Andromeda, who was being offered to Cetus, and took her as his wife [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text. Perseus is one of the canonical Greek heroes, and his story is a model of the divinely-aided hero.
Worth knowing
  • Slew Medusa and rescued Andromeda [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
  • Pegasus (the winged horse) sprang from Medusa's blood [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
  • Aided by Athena (mirror-shield) and Hermes (winged sandals, sickle) [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
Relationships (8)

Connections

7 rows · 8 recorded edges — identical notes are grouped

Family & kinship

PARENT_OFZeus — Zeus (with Danaë) is the parent of the hero Perseus.[S5]
PARENT_OFZeus — Zeus (with Danaë) is the parent of Perseus.[S5]
PARENT_OFDanae — Danaë is the (mortal) mother of Perseus.[S5]

Partners

PARTNER_OFAndromeda — Perseus rescued and married Andromeda.[S5]

Conflict & enmity

KILLEDMedusa — Perseus beheaded Medusa.[S5]
FOUGHTMedusa — Perseus slays Medusa; the Gorgoneion is set in the Aegis.[S1]

Artifacts

GIFTEDHelmet of Hades — The helm is given to Perseus to slay Medusa.[[S1]]
Local graph

Their corner of the divine world

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Overlays
FocusPerseusGreek
GREEK · 41variantvariant♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥AegisHelmet of HadesCaduceus of Her…Trident of Pose…Thunderbolt of …Alcmenamortalthe mortal mother of Heracles1 relationsAndromedamortalthe rescued princess2 relationsAphroditedeitylove7 relationsAtlasdeitythe sky (bore)1 relationsChaosprimordialorigin2 relationsDanaemortalthe mortal mother of Perseus1 relationsDemeterdeityharvest6 relationsEchidnamonsterthe monster-mother2 relationsGaiadeityearth6 relationsHadesdeitythe dead7 relationsHeradeitymarriage8 relationsHestiadeityhearth1 relationsLetodeitymotherhood (as mother of Apollo/Artemis)2 relationsMedusamonsterthe Gorgon3 relationsMetisdeitycounsel2 relationsOceanusdeitythe great world-river1 relationsOdysseusherocunning2 relationsPenelopemortalthe faithful wife of Odysseus2 relationsPoseidondeitythe sea6 relationsRheadeitymotherhood2 relationsSemelemortalthe mortal mother of Dionysus1 relationsTethysdeitythe primordial sea1 relationsTyphonmonsterthe great monster7 relationsCerberusmonsterthe guardian of the underworld3 relationsErosdeitylove2 relationsHebedeityyouth2 relationsHephaestusdeityfire6 relationsMaiadeitythe nymph2 relationsUranusprimordialsky6 relationsPersephonedeitythe underworld2 relationsTelemachusmortalthe son of Odysseus2 relationsCronusdeitytime (later association)9 relationsZeusdeitysky29 relationsApollodeitysun (later)4 relationsAresdeitywar (violence, bloodshed)3 relationsArtemisdeitythe hunt3 relationsAthenadeitywisdom4 relationsDionysusdeitywine3 relationsHeraclesherostrength7 relationsHermesdeitymessengers5 relationsPerseusheroheroism8 relations
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Myths featuring Perseus

1 story

Perseus and Medusa

Sent to fetch Medusa's head, Perseus was aided by Athena (mirror-shield) and Hermes (winged sandals, sickle); he beheaded the Gorgon, and Pegasus and Chrysaor sprang from her blood [S1]S1 · Hesiod, Theogonyc. 700 BCEtextOpen source ↗[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.

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Artifacts of Perseus

Objects they wielded, forged, or were bound to

INTERPRETIVE CLASSIFICATION · FULL PROFILE IN THE DIVINE VAULT

Helmet of Hades
Helmet of Hades
A · LegendaryAssociated
Artworks

Depictions

Perseus and the Graiai (the Gorgon quest) — Bronze Mirror with Perseus and the Graiai
Bronze Mirror with Perseus and the Graiai · Unknown (Etruscan) · ca. 400–350 BCE · The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public domain (Met Open Access)
Bronze Mirror with Perseus and the Graiai · ca. 400–350 BCE
A gorgon (Medusa-type) with Herakles and Artemis — Gilded Silver Relief: Woman, Herakles, Artemis, and a Gorgon
Gilded Silver Relief: Woman, Herakles, Artemis, and a Gorgon · Unknown (Ancient Near Eastern / Levantine) · 7th–6th century BCE · The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public domain (Met Open Access)
Gilded Silver Relief: Woman, Herakles, Artemis, and a Gorgon · 7th–6th century BCE
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