Perseus and Medusa

The Story

Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danaë, but his life began under threat.

Danaë's father, Acrisius, had been warned by prophecy that his daughter's son would one day cause his death. Trying to escape fate, Acrisius confined Danaë, but Zeus reached her and Perseus was born.

Perseus and Danaë were eventually set adrift and came to the island of Seriphos.

There King Polydectes became interested in Danaë and sought to remove Perseus.

He sent the young hero on an apparently impossible mission: bring back the head of Medusa.

Medusa was one of the Gorgons. Unlike her immortal sisters, she was mortal, but anyone who looked directly upon her face would be turned to stone.

Perseus received divine assistance.

Athena guided him, while Hermes provided crucial help and equipment. Through various traditions Perseus acquired winged sandals, a special bag for carrying the Gorgon's head, and the helmet of invisibility associated with Hades.

Rather than looking directly at Medusa, Perseus used the reflection in a polished shield.

He approached while the Gorgons slept and cut off Medusa's head.

From her body emerged Pegasus, the winged horse, and Chrysaor.

Perseus placed the head safely in the special bag and escaped from the pursuing Gorgons.

Medusa's power did not end with her death. Her severed head retained the ability to turn living beings to stone and became a weapon in Perseus' later adventures.

Eventually Perseus gave the head to Athena, who placed it upon her aegis or shield.

The mission that had been intended to destroy Perseus instead established him as one of the great heroes of Greek mythology.