Perseus

Perseus is a legendary figure in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Danaë and a prince of Argos. According to the myth, Acrisius, Danaë’s father, was warned that he would be killed by his grandson, so he cast Danaë and the infant Perseus into the sea in a chest. They were rescued on the island of Seriphus by Dictys, the brother of the king. When Perseus grew up, the tyrant Polydectes demanded Danaë’s hand in marriage and sent Perseus on a difficult quest to fetch the head of Medusa, one of the Gorgons. Guided by the gods and the Graeae, Perseus received magical aid: a sword from Hermes, a polished shield from Athena, winged sandals, and directions gained after seizing the Graeae’s shared eye. Using the shield as a mirror to avoid Medusa’s gaze, he beheaded the monster and placed her head in a wallet. From Medusa’s neck sprang Pegasus and Chrysaor. Perseus then rescued Andromeda from a sea monster, married her, and returned to Seriphus to confront Polydectes. He used Medusa’s head to petrify his enemies and free his mother. In some versions, while abroad, he inadvertently killed Acrisius with a discus, thereby fulfilling the oracle. Perseus later became king of Argos or Mycenae, and his descendants were said to populate the region.

Perseus is also the name of a northern constellation that depicts the mythic hero. It is bordered by Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Taurus, and Aries, and contains notable objects such as the bright star Algol, the so‑called Demon Star representing Medusa’s head, and the Double Cluster (NGC 869 and 884). The constellation has long been used in astronomical observing and navigation.