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Questions tagged [perseus]

For questions about or related to Perseus, the son of Zeus and the mortal Danaë, who beheaded the gorgon Medusa and rescued Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus.

For questions about or related to Perseus, the son of Zeus and the mortal Danaë, who beheaded the gorgon Medusa and rescued Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus.

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Does Medusa's head turn one's clothing to stone together with its wearer?

Medusa and her two triplet Gorgon sisters, Sthenno and Euryale, are monsters from Greek and Roman mythology notorious for their ability to turn whoever looked upon them (or directly into their faces) into stone. Is there any ancient (or even…
Adinkra
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Why does Perseus carry a sickle instead of a sword?

Perseus armed with a sickle has a well established iconography in Greek mythology: From Theoi.com: But why does Perseus carry this "weapon" instead of a proper sword, like it is shown in later depictions? The obvious answer is because the Gods gave…
Rodia
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Are Greek Myths and Heroes Rooted in actual History and People?

I completed reading a book titled "Old Greek Stories" by James Baldwin. It features some well known Ancient Heroes such as Theseus & Perseus. But the way it was told seemed like several nations and locations in that world (Crete/Aegean/Thebes) got…
Vigneswara Prabhu
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Did Hera know that Perseus was Zeus's son?

We often see Hera punishing Zeus's children or the mothers because of her jealousy. But such is not the case with the hero Perseus or her mother. She isn't even mentioned trying to cause any harm to them (that I have thus read). Why is that? What…
Andrew Johnson
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The Atlas Continuity Issue

One of Heracles's twelve labors was to retrieve the golden apples from the Hesperides, the "Daughters of the Evening". The only one who'd know where they are is the titan Atlas, who was condemned to hold the heavens on his shoulders as punishment…
JohnWDailey
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How did Perseus die?

I'd like to know of any myths surrounding Perseus' death (the same Perseus that killed Medusa), but Wikipedia only mentions this line about it: According to Hyginus, Fabulae 244, Megapenthes eventually killed Perseus, to avenge the death of his…
Rodia
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Does the cap of Hades keep one's accessories hidden?

In Greek mythology, Hades' magic cap or helmet renders its wearer invisible. The most famous user of this piece of equipment is Hades' nephew, the hero Perseus, while on his mission to slay the Gorgon Medusa. For the mission, Perseus was outfitted…
Adinkra
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Perseus as son of Poseidon?

It's been a long time since I looked at the Perseus myth, and became confused debating with a child who asserted Perseus was the the son of Poseidon. This led me to read the Percy Jackson series, which also initially confused me because I was sure…
DukeZhou
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Is there any surviving manuscript older than the 1st century CE that mentions the story of Danae being impregnated by Zeus's golden shower?

I know that the story is mentioned in: Pherecydes' Genealogies scholia of Apollonius of Rhodes Sophocles' Antigone Antipater of Thessalonica Gaius Julius Hyginus' Fabulae the Greek Anthology one of Pindar's odes Are there any extant…
capri reds
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