The Constellation
Perseus |
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Mythology and History |
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The Greek Hero. |
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Perseus was the son of Zeus and the mortal Danaë.
Danaë's father was told by an oracle that his grandson would kill
him one day, so he set Danaë and Perseus adrift in a trunk.
They were rescued by a fisherman and went to live on his island.
The king of the island wished to date Danaë and sent Perseus away
to kill the Medusa. |
The Medusa once had been a beautiful
woman with long and glowing hair. So proud was she of her beauty
that she dared compare herself with Athena, the Goddess of War. On
hearing of the woman's bragging, Athena turned Medusa into a hideous monster.
Where her long beautiful hair had once hung were now writhing and hissing
snakes. So hideous was the sight of her that any human or animal
who chanced a gaze upon her was instantly turned to stone.
Perseus was a favorite of Athena and
the wing-footed god, Hermes. Athena lent Perseus her bright shield
and Hermes lent him his winged shoes. So equipped, Perseus set out
and flew over sea and land to where the Medusa lived.
The Medusa was sleeping when Perseus
arrived. Silently he crept toward her, while not looking at her directly.
So bright was Athena's shield that he could clearly see the Medusa's reflection
in it and so he backed toward her and with a mighty back-handed blow cut
off her head. Then with his eyes closed he seized it and stuffed
it into the special sack he had brought along.
It was when Perseus was flow over
the coast of Æthiopia (not present day Ethiopia) that he noticed
Andromeda chained to the rocks by the sea, and not far away he could see
Cetus, the sea-monster as a whale, rapidly nearing her. Down he swept
to the girl's side. "Why are you thus bound?" he asked, overwhelmed
by Andromeda's beauty. Andromeda told him the story of her boastful
mother and the advice the oracle had given her father.
Perseus quickly turned to Cepheus,
King of Æthiopia and said: "I can save your daughter from the sea-monster,
but for my reward I demand Andromeda's hand in marriage, and a kingdom."
Cepheus promised Perseus that he would have what he asked for, whereupon
Perseus unsheathed his sword and leapt into the air to the attack.
One thrust of his sword found a soft spot between the armored scales of
the monster. Wounded, it twisted over on its side. Perseus
then inflicted another deep cut, and another. Blood now colored the
water red and soaked Perseus' winged shoes. Fearful of losing his
ability to fly, he settled on a rock near the shore and waited for the
sea-monster to attack again. As it did, Perseus' sword plunged deeply
into the monster's evil heart.
Joyful beyond words, Cepheus and Cassiopeia
led Perseus and Andromeda to their house, where a great feast and celebration
were prepared. Perseus and Andromeda were married and led a long,
happy life together. There first-born son, Peres, is said to have
given rise to those people who became known as Persians.
Later in life, Perseus was throwing
the discus in an athletic contest when a stray throw struck and killed
a spectator. The unfortunate spectator was Perseus grandfather, and
the prophecy that he would be killed by his grandson was fulfilled.
When Perseus and Andromeda died, they
were given honored places among the stars by the goddess Athena.
Cetus, the sea-monster, was there waiting for them and forever chases Andromeda
around the sky, but Perseus continues to guard her well. Meanwhile
Cepheus and Cassiopeia had died and were likewise given honored places
among the stars by Poseidon. Poseidon saw to it that his beloved
Medusa also was given a place among the stars. To this day she can
be seen as the star Algor, which is the second brightest star forming
Perseus and is located near his waist and beneath his upraised right arm.
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