ANDROMEDA (ethiopian princess in Greek mythology)

Calamity struck the realm when Andromeda was exposed as prey to a sea monster to end the suffering of the land.^3,6 King Cepheus was compelled by the Ethiopians to bind his daughter to a rock, a rocky outcrop on the coast of Ethiopia.^3,5 Ammon unjustly ordered Andromeda to be punished because of her mother's speech.⁷ Phineus, Cepheus's brother, had been betrothed to Andromeda before the arrival of Perseus, the son of Danae and Zeus.³

Perseus promised to kill the monster in exchange for Andromeda's hand, and he slew the beast to release her from her bonds.^3,8,9 He took her as his reward for this great achievement without any dowry, and the couple was celebrated with perfumed fires and musical instruments.¹⁰ Hymenaeus and Eros waved torches before the newlyweds as they united in marriage.^10,11 Some writers incorrectly place these adventures at Joppa, where the bones of the monster were later brought and displayed in Rome.^12,13,14,6

Their sons included Electryon, Perses, Alcaeus, Sthenelus, Heleus, and Mestor, while their daughter was named Gorgophone.^8,1,15 Perses was left behind with Cepheus before Perseus came to Greece, and the family lived in the territory of Cepheus.^8,15 The story indicates that Ethiopia ruled over Syria and extended its control to the shores of the Mediterranean during the reign of King Cepheus.¹⁶

Fate had determined that she would be rescued from her impending doom and find a favorable marriage instead of the death she had expected.⁵ She was destined to marry Perseus in the palace of Cepheus and was to be taken home to Argos after her marriage.⁵ In the sky, she remains bound by bonds for all time, cowering as the South wind drives against her position.^4,9 Her hands are uplifted and outspread eternally, situated beneath the constellations of the Ram and the Pair of Fishes.^4,9,17