Perseus

Perseus rescuing Andromeda from Ketos the sea monster

Perseus was the son of Danae, the grandson of King Akrisios of Argos, and the legendary founder of Mycenae and the Perseid dynasty who was revered by the Greeks as one of the greatest heroes before Herakles.

History

Perseus was born as a result of King Akrisios trying to prevent a prophecy that foretold he would be slain by his own grandson. Akrisios locked Danae, his only child, in a room of bronze, but this did not hinder the god Zeus, who visited Danae in the form of golden rain.

When Perseus was born, Akrisios shut him and his mother in a wooden crate and had them cast into the sea. Instead of dying, the two were saved by the fisherman Diktys. He took them under his wing, raising Perseus. He taught Perseus to fish, hunt, and ride.

A 5th century BCE mural of Perseus slaying Medusa

At some point, Zeus ordered the messenger of gods, Hermes, to give Perseus a shining sickle, and the goddess Athena to give him a mirror-bright shield. Equipped with these Perseus was able to engage and defeat the gorgon Medusa without falling prey to her petrifying gaze. He brought the gorgon's head to Argos, and it was later discovered in a mound of earth near Argos' agora.

Perseus also rescued Andromeda, princess of Ethiopia, whom he subsequently married.

Influence and legacy

5th century BCE

The stories of Perseus' adventures lived long past his own time, as did relics claimed to have belonged to Perseus. In the 5th century BCE there was a crown which was alleged to have been his, as well as a sword. Both of these were eventually found by the Spartan misthios Kassandra during the Peloponnesian War.

In the Temple of Dionysos Kolonatas, in Sparta, Lakonia, a number of the relics linked to Perseus were housed. These included the sickle of Hermes, the Gorgon shield, a fishnet, wooden debris from the crate Perseus and Danae were shut in, and the discus.

1st century BCE

The sword survived well into the 1st century BCE, when it came into the possession of the Medjay Bayek of Siwa.

2010s

In 2010s Clay Kaczmarek included Perseus in a set of puzzles he'd hidden within the Animus for his follower to find. In Clay's puzzles it was suggested that the 'shining sickle' Perseus wielded was actually a Sword of Eden.

Trivia

• The mural depicting Perseus and Medusa in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is based on a painting on a hydria from the 6th century BCE.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed II (painting only)
• Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (Artwork only)