PERSEUS (slayer of Medusa)
Hero · legendary Greek hero and founder of Mycenae, demigod son of Zeus and Danae; famous for beheading the Gorgon Medusa
- Parents
- Zeus, Danaë
- Consorts
- Andromeda
- Children
- Electryon, Sthenelus, Gorgophone, Heleus, Perses, Alcaeus, Mestor, Erythras, Cynurus, Autochthe, Erythra
- Allies
- Hermes
- Foes
- Polydectes
- In the sources
- 84 ancient passages
In Godsunder
At the height of their saga. Heroes begin the campaign weaker and grow with every deed.
- Might12
- Grace12
- Vigour14
- Wits16
- Spirit20
- Swift Sickle Cut. Hermes gave Perseus an adamantine sickle for the task. Apollodorus 2.4.2
- Breast Thrust. Perseus killed Lycabas by thrusting his sword into his breast. Ovid Met. 5.1-242 (4)
- Couch Leap Thrust. Perseus leapt from a couch to attack Phineus with a spear. Ovid Met. 5.1-242 (3)
- Stone Gaze. Perseus displayed the Gorgon's head to turn his enemies into stone statues. Ovid Met. 5.1-242 (8)
Perseus was the son of Danae and Zeus. Diodorus 4.9 +4 Perseus is the son of Zeus and Danae, who was impregnated by a golden shower. Diodorus 3.52 +3 Perseus was the mightiest Greek of his day and is described as a famed hero. Diodorus 3.52 +3
In the myths
Perseus beheaded the Gorgon Medusa while she slept, using a shield to avoid her gaze. Apollodorus 2.4.2 +6 Perseus founded and fortified the city of Mycenae after acquiring the territory. Apollodorus 2.4.4 +3 Perseus fathered Gorgophone. Apollodorus 3.10.3 +1 Perseus persuaded Megapenthes to swap their respective kingdoms, exchanging Argos for Tiryns. Apollodorus 2.4.4 +1 Perseus stole the single eye from the daughters of Phorcus to find the Gorgons. Apollodorus 2.4.2 +1 Athena guided Perseus's hand during the beheading of the Gorgon, and Perseus gave the Gorgon's head to her. Apollodorus 2.4.2 +1 Perseus turned Polydectes and his friends into stone with the Gorgon's head. Apollodorus 2.4.3 +1 Dictys found the infant Perseus and raised him as his own son. Apollodorus 2.4.1 +1 Acrisius placed Perseus and his mother in a chest and cast them into the sea. Apollodorus 2.4.1 +1 Perseus accidentally killed Acrisius by striking him with a quoit. Apollodorus 2.4.4 +1
