Περσευς Perseus was one of the most celebrated heroes of
Περσευς Perseus was one of the most celebrated heroes of Greek mythology.He was the son of the Argive princess Danae who was locked away in a bronze chamber by her father Akrisios who lived in fear of a prophecy that he would one day be killed by her son. The god Zeus, however, infiltrated her prison in the guise of a golden shower and impreganted her. When Akrisios discovered the child, he placed the two in a chest and set them adrift at the sea. They were carried safely to the island of Seriphos where they were offered refuge by the kindly, fisherman Diktys.When Perseus was fully grown, King Polydektes commanded he fetch the head of Medusa. With the help of the gods, Perseus obtained winged sandals, an invisible helm and a magical sword. He then sought out the ancient Graiai and stealing their single eye compelled them to reveal the location of the Gorgones. Perseus approached Medusa as she slept and beheaded her with eyes averted to avoid her petrifying visage.On his journey back to Greece, Perseus came across the Ethiopian princess Andromeda chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea-monster. He slew the beast and brought her with him back to Greece as his bride.Perseus was the ancestor of the royal houses of Mykenai, Elis, Sparta, Messenia, and distant Persia. His most famous descendant was Herakles. -- source link
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