Perseus, son of Zeus and Danai, is one of the most emblematic heroes of Greek mythology, considered a demigod. His father Zeus is the God of Gods and therefore the main one in Greek mythology.
History of Perseus
Princess Danai (or Danae) was a beautiful young woman. His father, Acrisius, King of Argos, consulted an oracle one day who told him that his daughter should not be a mother. According to the oracle, if she had a son he would be a threat and could cause the death of his sovereign.
After the oracle's warning, Acrisio decided to lock her in a very high tower, with the intention that no one would fall in love with her. However, Zeus, upon seeing her in the Tower he falls in love with Danai.
To find her he turned into a golden cloud and went to meet her. After the golden shower she received, she became pregnant with Zeus. From that union was born Perseus.
When Danai's father heard about it, he decided to ask the guards to lock his daughter and Perseus in a chest and cast into the sea. After days adrift, both were found by a fisherman who offered them shelter and food.
Perseus grew up to be a very strong young man. So, King Polydecto decided to send him to face the monster known as Medusa.
Perseus and Medusa
One of Theseus' greatest achievements was when he faced Medusa. She was a snake-haired Gorgon woman. Anyone who looked into her eyes, she had the power to turn them to stone.
To accomplish this feat, he received help from the God Hermes, who lent him his flying sandals. Besides him, the goddess Athena He offered him a sword and a shield.
Without looking into his eyes and with the monster's reflection in his shield, he manages to cut off Medusa's head.
After managing to kill her, Perseus puts his head in a bag and returns to the house. On the return trip, he falls in love with Andromeda, a beautiful woman who was chained in the middle of the sea.
With her he had eight children: Perseides, Perses, Alceu, Helio, Mestor, Sthenelus, Electriao, Gorgophone (his only daughter).
Consequently, Perseus founded the city of Mycenae and ruled Tyrinth.
Curiosity
Even though he didn't hold a grudge against his grandfather, the oracle was right. That's because when Perseus participates in a sporting competition for disc release, without knowing the In the presence of his grandfather, he throws the record so hard and ends up fatally hitting Acrísio, who dies in the hour.
To learn more about other stories from mythology see also the articles:
- Greek mythology
- Greek gods
