Perseus King Acrisius was the son of Abas

Perseus

King Acrisius was the son of Abas and Aglaea. u Had a twin brother named Proetus u Acrisius and Proetus don’t get along. u In some myths, it is said that they fought in their mother’s womb. u After their father’s death, they split the Kingdom. u Proetus became the ruler of Tiryns u Acrisius controlled over Argos u

Danaë u u u u u Acrisius had a beautiful daughter named Danaë. She was the most beautiful of all women in Argos. Acrisius wanted to be a father of a son, so he went to Delphi and asked an oracle (god) The God told him that it wouldn’t happen and that Danaë would have a son that would kill him. He was worried so he locked her in a bronze tower because he couldn’t kill his daughter or else he will be punished. Zeus came down in disguise and Danaë became pregnant. She had a son and named her son Perseus. Danaë kept it a secret and Acrisius found out. She told him that the father was Zeus.

Cont… u u u He put Perseus and Danaë in a chest and threw them into the sea. Zeus watching and so they land safely on the island of Seriphos and was found by a kind fisherman named Dictys and his wife took them in and treated them like they were their own children. Dictys brother, Polydectes, the King of Seriphos, (who was a cruel ruler), wanted to marry Danaë but she didn’t want to and had Perseus protect her. Polydectes had to get rid of Perseus.

The Journey u u u King Polydectes threw a huge party saying he was going to get married and invited Perseus. Everyone bought gifts except for Perseus because he was poor. He told Perseus he wanted the head of Medusa, one of the Gorgons had wings, snaky hair, their bodies were covered with golden scales and are most horrible to mortals. Whenever someone looks at the Gorgons, they would turn into a stone. They live very far away because they were very dangerous and powerful.

Cont… u u u u No one could kill Medusa without help. Two Gods were watching over him, Hermes and Athena. He went to Greece to learn about the Gorgons. People don’t know where the Gorgons lived, even the Gods. Hermes told him that someone (The Gray Sisters/Women) knew how to go to the nymphs of the North. The Gray Sisters, had one eye and was old and lived in a place where it is all dim and had no sunshine. Hermes told Perseus all he had to do is take their eye out and then ask them how to reach to the nymphs of the North or else he wouldn't give it back. He took out their eyes when they weren't looking and they immediately told them where it was.

Cont… u u u u Hermes said he would give him a sword, that can not break from the Gorgons (their scales). Athena gave him a mirror shield that enables him to avoid looking at the Gorgons and their deadly powers. He reaches to the land of the Hyperborean Nymphs. They welcomed them to their feast and gave him gifts: A winged sandals, a magic wallet (it becomes the right size for whatever was to be carried in it), and a cap where you can become invisible. They flew back and to the Terrible Sisters’ island. The Gorgons were asleep when they went there. Athena told him which one was Medusa and that she was the only mortal. (Only she can be killed)

Cont… u u u u He flew over them and sliced Medusa's throat, looking only at his mirror. He put her head in the wallet and wore his cap so her sisters can’t see him. On his way back, he came to Ethiopia and he found a beautiful princess (Andromeda) who was about to be eaten up by a serpent. He fell in love with her and saved her by cutting the serpent’s head. He married Andromeda. He and Andromeda returns home to see Polydectes. He found out that his mother and Dictys were driven out by Polydectes and were forced to hide.

Ending u u u u He turns Polydectes and his servile courtiers into stones before they get a chance to look away. He made Dictys king. They decided to go back to Greece and make peace with Acrisius was driven out of the city. King of Larissa held a althletic contest. Perseus joined the discus-throwing contest and the discus hit Arcisius head and he died. He and Andromeda had a son named Electryon and the grandfather was Hercules. Medusa’s head was given to Athena.

Higher Level Questions u Analyze the significance of Acrisius’s fate. u Compare and Contrast the similarities between Perseus and Odysseus. u Predict what would have happen if Hermes and Athena didn’t help Perseus.