Perseus in Myth
Perseus Part One– Birth to Manhood
Perseus was the
son of Zeus & Danaë. Danaë had been locked up in a tower by her father Acrisius, King of Argos, after hearing a prophesy
indicating her son would cause
his death. Being in a tower didn’t prevent that rascal Zeus from seeing Danaë and her beauty intrigued him. So he had his way with her
by turning into a shower of golden
rain that entered her place of captivity and Perseus was conceived.
Acrisius
was perplexed about this event and didn’t believe Zeus was responsible as his daughter indicated. Fearing to murder the pair due
to godly retribution, he puts them
in an ark and launches them out to sea. They floated near the island of Seriphos still alive and under the protection of Zeus,
where they were discovered by Dictys,
brother of the local king, Polydectes.
Polydectes
raised Perseus to manhood but wished to get rid of him to force Danaë into marriage. They wouldn’t agree, so he decided to try
something devious to circumvent the
impediment of Perseus. Polydectes announced his intention to marry another and asked all, including Perseus, for a horse
each as a betrothal gift. He knew
Perseus didn’t have anything to offer so was working that angle, which quickly
came to fruition. Perseus told
Polydectes that he would contrive to win any gift he may choose. Polydectes accepted this offer and asked him
to fetch the head of the Gorgon
Medusa, a creature with snakes in lieu of hair and so hideous that the sight of her would turn a living creature to stone. Good
riddance Perseus…