perseus and andromeda story

One day, the vain queen had bragged that her daughter Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids, the sea nymphs. To help him, god Hermes gave him a curved sword and a pair of winged sandals (other versions of the myth say that Hermes did not give Perseus a pair of winged sandals but a white winged horse) while Athena gave him a mirror of polished bronze and a cap from Hades that could make invisible anyone who would wear it. Polydectes thought that the presence of Perseus was an obstacle for Danae and that is why she didn’t wish to get married. Netherlands, early 16th century. He also gave his great trophy, the head of Medousa, to goddess Athena. Gorgon Medousa was a terrible monster with snakes in her head and she could turn into stone everyone that looked her face. Do you like The hero had no choice but to react. He turned the sea monster to stone by showing it Medusa’s head and afterward married Andromeda. Andromeda was the daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia from Aethiopia. Click here for story of Perseus and Medusa. Cassiope offended the Nereids by boasting that Andromeda was more beautiful than they, so in revenge Poseidon sent a sea monster to devastate Cepheus’ kingdom. © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Greeka. After the death of Acrisius, the Kingdom of Argos naturally passed on to Perseus, who thought himself unworthy of it, since he had caused his grandfather's death, even by accident. How Did Uranus get its Name as Per Greek Mythology? The old prophecy had come true, no matter how Acrisius tried to avoid it. During the ensuing quarrel, Perseus turned Phineus into a stone by showing him the head of the Gorgon Medousa. Poor Polydectes soon joined the list of stone statues, thanks to the skillful use of the head of Medousa. After that, he went to the shore. He noticed that the algae absorbed the poison from the snakes on the head and turned into stone. Cepheus said that Phineus should have done something when Andromeda was tied to the rock, instead of just disappearing and coming back when everything was solved. [4] The white body of Andromeda is depicted in pure and untouched innocence, indicating an unfair sacrifice for a divine punishment that was not directed towards her, but her mother. [5] The painting is in the collection of National Museums Liverpool at the Walker Art Gallery. When Poseidon heard of Queen Cassiopeia’s boast that Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids, he became very angry. Her parents and their servants were standing nearby and crying. Click here for the first part of the story of Perseus. (At least that was Ovid's scientific explanation for coral, in his Metamorphoses). Perseus took Andromeda to her father Cepheus and asked for her hand in marriage. Powered by Solo Build It. Perseus immediately fell in love with the lovely maiden and promptly killed Cetus the beast, who had been licking his lips at the prospect of having a delicious meal. This is because King Cepheus obeyed Poseidon. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danaë, the daughter of Acrisius of Argos. To do that, he enlisted help from the sea itself. When Perseus came upon Andromeda while she was chained, he decided to rescue her. He consequently left Argos and founded Mycenae as his capital, becoming the ancestor of the Perseids, including Heracles. He challenged Perseus to dare a difficult task, to kill the fearsome Gorgon Medusa and bring back her head. As soon as the servants left, Perseus rescued Andromeda, using his magic sickle to cut the chains. In the end they had many children together, the Perseides: sons Perses, Alcaeus, Sthenelus, Heleus, Mestor, Electryon, and one daughter, Gorgophone. He protested that it was not fair for Perseus to marry her. Perseus shows the authenticity of his character when he rescues the helpless Andromeda from the Cetus and the attachment to the rock. He chained his daughter so that she couldn’t flee, and so that she could be sacrificed in order to save the land. On his way home, Perseus came upon Andromeda, a beautiful woman embedded into a rock on the shore. Where to eat? He begged the hero to spare his life and leave all this behind them, as they didn't fight because of hatred, but because of a woman (sure, always blame the woman!) Omissions? Indeed, the sea calmed down and after a few days, Danae and his new-born son landed on the island of Serifos. Aided by Hermes and Athena, Perseus pressed the Graiae, sisters of the Gorgons, into helping him by seizing the one eye and one tooth that the sisters shared and not returning them until they provided him with winged sandals (which enabled him to fly), the cap of Hades (which conferred invisibility), a curved sword, or sickle, to decapitate Medusa, and a bag in which to conceal the head. In Greek mythology, Andromeda is the daughter of the king of Aethiopia, Cepheus, and his wife Cassiopeia. Perseus and Phineus argued at the wedding, but Perseus held up the head of the defeated Medusa and Phineus was turned to stone. Andromeda’s mother, Cassiopeia, had claimed to be more beautiful than the sea nymphs, or Nereids; so Poseidon had punished Ethiopia by flooding it and plaguing it with a sea monster. The story starts when the Oracle of Delphi warns Acrisius, King of Argos, that his own grandson would kill him. He is best known as the slayer of the Gorgon Medusa, a fearsome monster, and as the rescuer of the Ethiopian princess Andromeda. Written by GreekBoston.com in Greek Mythology This is their story: Queen Cassiopeia was known for being more than just King Cepheus’ wife – she was known for her beauty, as well. Perseus and Andromeda is an oil painting by Lord Frederic Leighton. After Perseus had grown up on the island of Seriphus, where the chest had grounded, King Polydectes of Seriphus, who desired Danaë, tricked Perseus into promising to obtain the head of Medusa, the only mortal among the Gorgons. Fearing that this prophecy would come true, he locks his only daughter, Danae, into an underground bronze chamber, to keep her away from all men. He was the son of mighty Zeus and mortal Danae. As he was flying over Africa in his return home, Perseus encountered Atlas the Titan, a mythical giant, who challenged him. An oracle told the king that the only way to get rid of the sea monster was to surrender his virgin daughter Andromeda to the sea monster; so he did, much as happened in the Roman story of Cupid and Psyche. In contrast to the basis of a classical tale, Leighton used a Gothic style for the artwork. All his enemies were turned into marble statues - and one of his men, too, because he didn't look away in time. What Was Zeus and Hera’s Relationship Like. Cetus’ task was to wreak havoc in his pursuit and to not stop until the city was in shambles. With these divine aids, Perseus started his long journey to the cave of Medousa, somewhere in Africa. There Dictys, a fisherman and brother of the island's king, found them and took them to his home, where they would be safe. He is shooting an arrow from the air, that hits the sea monster, who turns his head upwards, towards the hero. This infuriated Andromeda's uncle Phineus, to whom the maiden was already promised. not on view. But he couldn't do as he feared he would cause the anger of Zeus. [6], In Greek mythology, the kingdom of Ethiopia was ruled by the beautiful but vain queen, Cassiopeia, who claimed that her beauty was superior to that of the sea nymphs. Download and Share. He then took the form of a golden rain to get into the bronze chamber and seduce Danae. Andromeda, in Greek mythology, beautiful daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiope of Joppa in Palestine (called Ethiopia) and wife of Perseus. However, she was also known for her vanity – she often praised her own beauty and once she gave birth to Andromeda, she praised her daughter’s beauty as well. He was the son of mighty Zeus and mortal Danae. The desperate king Cephus appealed Zeus, who suggested the sacrifice of Andromeda as the only way to appease the wrathful Poseidon. What is the Story of Jason and the Golden Fleece? He then returned to Seriphus and rescued his mother by turning Polydectes and his supporters to stone at the sight of Medusa’s head. [7][8][9], Andromeda was chained to a rock at the edge of the sea as an offering to the monster. He managed to hurt Cetus with his crooked sword, but the wings on the sandals were wet because the monster was spouting water. Cepheus and Cassiopeia quickly agreed, because they saw the monster approaching. That's why when plants from the see come into contact with the air, they transform into coral. He instantly fell in love with Andromeda and told her parents that he wanted to save her and make her his wife. Top Greek islands & Mainland Destinations, Most popular Greek islands & mainland destinations. The painting is in the collection of National Museums Liverpool at the Walker Art Gallery. The whole family finally decided to leave Seriphos and return to Argos, keeping it a secret from King Acrisius. Events, however, didn’t go as Poseidon had planned. Amphrite, the eldest of the Nereids, was also Poseidon’s wife, so he felt especially protective of the sea nymphs. But the story is not finished yet! All this had happened because Cassiopeia had boasted that both her and her daughter were more beautiful than the Nereids. Where to stay? Perseus fell in love immediately. Perseus was a hero who is said to have founded Mycenae and who eventually bested the monster, Medusa. ...” in English if you're in doubt about the correctness of the answers or there's no answer, then try to use the smart search and find answers to the similar questions. Do not hesitate to ask the community! Perseus Uses Medusa’s Head as a Weapon. It looked as if Poseidon would get his wish. Perseus and Andromeda returned to Seriphos. What Polydectes had not known was that Perseus was beloved by the gods. The chief characters in the Perseus legend, Perseus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, and the sea monster (Cetus), all figure in the night sky as constellations. Perseus was captivated by her beauty and decided to rescue her. Poseidon explained to the people that the only way to stop Cetus was to sacrfice Andromeda to him. Previous myth: Myth of Icarus | Next myth: Orpheus and Eurydice. Just then, the giant sea serpent reared its ugly head and reached for Andromeda. Perseus, in Greek mythology, the slayer of the Gorgon Medusa and the rescuer of Andromeda from a sea monster. In order to avoid looking Medousa directly to her face and thereby being turned into a stone, Perseus approached Medousa looking at her reflection in the mirror and cut off her head with the sword of Hermes. Andromeda was the daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia from Aethiopia. The couple fell in love, but the Princess was already betrothed to Phineus.

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