Perseus: Difference between revisions
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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.<ref name="ACOd">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref> | 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.<ref name="ACOd">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref> | ||
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.<ref name=" | 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 on the island of [[Seriphos]]. He taught Perseus to fish, hunt, and ride.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[A Treasury of Legends]]</ref> | ||
The island was ruled by Diktys' brother, [[Polydektes]]. He wanted to marry Danae, but Perseus was opposed to this. In response, Polydektes ordered Perseus to slay the [[gorgon]] [[Medusa]], and bring her head to him.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends" /> | |||
[[File:Phokis-Pronaia-PerseusMedusa.jpg|thumb|left|150px|A 5th century BCE mural of Perseus slaying Medusa]] | [[File:Phokis-Pronaia-PerseusMedusa.jpg|thumb|left|150px|A 5th century BCE mural of Perseus slaying Medusa]] | ||
To aid Perseus in this quest, Zeus ordered the messenger of gods [[Hermes Trismegistus|Hermes]] to give Perseus a [[Perseus' Sword of Eden|shining sickle]],<ref name="Glyph 5">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph 5: "Instruments of Power"]]</ref> as well as winged sandals, and the goddess [[Athena]] to give him a mirror-bright shield. Equipped with these Perseus was able to engage and defeat the gorgon without falling prey to her petrifying gaze. Following her death, the [[Pegasos]] sprung forth, and he accompanied Perseus on his way home.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends" /> | |||
During their journey, they came upon the maiden [[Andromeda]], a princess of {{Wiki|Ethiopia|Aithopia}} chained to the cliffs as a sacrifice to the sea monster [[Ketos]]. Perseus saved the maiden, and married her.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends" /> | |||
Perseus returned to Seriphos and showed King Polydektes the gorgon's head, turning the king into stone. Afterwards, he traveled [[Argos]], where he participated in [[Olympic Games]]. He hurled the discus, which flew so that it struck the spectating King Akrisios, fulfilling the Oracle's prophecy.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends" /> | |||
Perseus | At some point, Perseus buried the [[Buried Head of Medusa|head]] of Medusa, and it was later discovered in a mound of earth near Argos' agora.<ref name="ACOd" /> | ||
==Influence and legacy== | ==Influence and legacy== | ||
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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 [[Perseus Crown|crown]] which was alleged to have been his, as well as a [[Harpe of Perseus|sword]]. Both of these were eventually found by the [[Sparta]]n [[Mercenary|''misthios'']] [[Kassandra]] during the [[Peloponnesian War]].<ref name="ACOd" /> | 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 [[Perseus Crown|crown]] which was alleged to have been his, as well as a [[Harpe of Perseus|sword]]. Both of these were eventually found by the [[Sparta]]n [[Mercenary|''misthios'']] [[Kassandra]] during the [[Peloponnesian War]].<ref name="ACOd" /> | ||
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.<ref name=" | 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. Kassandra was also tasked by [[Damia]] to tell the tale to her children [[Danae (Spartan)|Danae]] and [[Kristos]].<ref name="A Treasury of Legends" /> | ||
===1st century BCE=== | ===1st century BCE=== | ||
Revision as of 16:17, 23 February 2019
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.[1]
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 on the island of Seriphos. He taught Perseus to fish, hunt, and ride.[2]
The island was ruled by Diktys' brother, Polydektes. He wanted to marry Danae, but Perseus was opposed to this. In response, Polydektes ordered Perseus to slay the gorgon Medusa, and bring her head to him.[2]
To aid Perseus in this quest, Zeus ordered the messenger of gods Hermes to give Perseus a shining sickle,[3] as well as winged sandals, and the goddess Athena to give him a mirror-bright shield. Equipped with these Perseus was able to engage and defeat the gorgon without falling prey to her petrifying gaze. Following her death, the Pegasos sprung forth, and he accompanied Perseus on his way home.[2]
During their journey, they came upon the maiden Andromeda, a princess of Aithopia chained to the cliffs as a sacrifice to the sea monster Ketos. Perseus saved the maiden, and married her.[2]
Perseus returned to Seriphos and showed King Polydektes the gorgon's head, turning the king into stone. Afterwards, he traveled Argos, where he participated in Olympic Games. He hurled the discus, which flew so that it struck the spectating King Akrisios, fulfilling the Oracle's prophecy.[2]
At some point, Perseus buried the head of Medusa, and it was later discovered in a mound of earth near Argos' agora.[1]
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.[1]
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. Kassandra was also tasked by Damia to tell the tale to her children Danae and Kristos.[2]
1st century BCE
The sword survived well into the 1st century BCE, when it came into the possession of the Medjay Bayek of Siwa.[4]
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.[3]
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)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – A Treasury of Legends
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed II – Glyph 5: "Instruments of Power"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins