Polydectes

Polydectes, also transliterated Polydektes, is a figure in Greek mythology known as the king of Seriphus and the brother of Dictys. His name derives from Greek, often interpreted as “giver of many.” In the Perseus myth cycle he is best known for his role as the would‑be suitor of Danaë and as the instigator of Perseus’s quest to obtain the head of Medusa as a bridal gift.

According to sources such as Apollodorus and Hyginus, Polydectes pressed his suit toward Danaë and used Perseus’s absence to press his claim. He publicly commanded Perseus to bring him the head of the Gorgon Medusa, ostensibly as a wedding gift. With the help of Hermes and Athena, Perseus set out, slew Medusa, and beheaded her. He returned with the head concealed, and at Polydectes’s banquet he revealed it, turning Polydectes and his followers to stone. In the aftermath, Dictys, who had protected Danaë and Perseus, was established as ruler of Seriphus.

Variations exist in older texts regarding the details of Polydectes’s death, but the core motif is his destruction by the petrifying power of Medusa’s head. The episode serves to illustrate themes such as greed, abuse of power, and the dangers faced by those who threaten the heroes or the innocent. Polydectes’s story is a component of the larger Perseus myth, which includes Perseus’s further exploits, such as the rescue of Andromeda.