Perseus, in Greek myth, was a demigod. This means that he
was half divine and half mortal. Perseus was the son of Zeus and his mother was
a mortal, Danae. Danae’s father was King Acrisius, the ruler of Argos. King Acrisius
wanted a son to be the heir to his throne, so he went to the oracle to find out
if he would have a son. The oracle told him of prophesy that told King Acrisius
that he would not have a son, but his daughter would. He is also told that his
grandson would kill him. Because of prophesy, King Acrisius imprisons Danae in
a bronze chamber. Zeus visited her as a golden shower and impregnates her with
her son, Perseus. After Danae gives birth to Perseus, Acrisius had his daughter
and his grandson put in a chest and sent out to sea. King Acrisius thought he
could drown them. In Greek mythology, it was believed that if someone didn’t
directly kill someone else that it was perfectly legal. The way King Acrisius
disposed of his family would have been viewed as okay. Zeus, showing compassion for Danae and his
son, takes care of his family as they are put in a chest and makes sure that
they don’t drown, like King Acrisius wanted them to.
Perseus and Danae eventually were washed onto shore and were
rescued by Dictys. Dictys is the brother of the King of Seriphus, Polydectes.
Dictys takes care of both of them until Perseus grows up. King Polydectes then
wanted to marry Danae, but she didn’t want to. When people are giving
Polydectes gifts, Perseus doesn’t have anything, but arrogantly and kiddingly
he says that he’ll get the head of Medusa as a gift.
Medusa was once a beautiful blonde girl and she was also
arrogant like Perseus.
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