Perseus, the Gorgon Slayer

Perseus with the head of Medusa by Canova, 1804-06 (2)

Few people with even the smallest understanding of Greek mythology would fail to recognize the image of Perseus holding the severed head of Medusa. Considered one of the great heroes of Greek mythology, Perseus's story continues to entertain audiences with every new adaptation. 

His Story

Danae by Gustav Klimt, 1907 (3)

Like many Greek heroes, Perseus's story begins with a problematic conception story. Powell compiles the details of this story from sources by Simonides,  Pindar, and Ovid: King Acrisius receives a warning from the oracle at Delphi that his grandson will someday kill him. Like many other Greek myths, Acrisius foolishly tries to circumvent his fate by locking his daughter, Danae away from men. However, Zeus, well-known for his philandering ways visits Danae as a shower of gold (7), depicted in a very famous painting by Gustav Klimt. As Rogoyska and Bade remark, Klimt's subjects appear "imprisoned by the textiles and ornaments" a feeling evoked by the use of gold (4). Thus, Perseus is born. Acrisius banishes his daughter and her newborn son to drown at sea, but Zeus guides their coffin to a friendly shore where Perseus is raised not knowing his birth story. A local fisherman named Dictys rescues Danae and her son and subsequently raises him (7). 

Continuing with Powell's compilation: once grown, in an attempt to protect his mother from another male ravisher named Polydectes, Perseus rashly promises to secure Medusa's head, a promise the launches Perseus on the most famous part of his story. On his way, Perseus must seek guidance from the Graeae (three hideous hags that share one tooth and one eye) and receives the help of other gods who gift him advantages, like the winged shoes worn by Hermes, a helmet of invisibility owned by Hades, and a polished shield from Athena. These objects provide him with enough advantage that he avoids Medusa's punishing gaze by using her reflection to accomplish the beheading (7). Hesiod's The Shield describes the bag in which Perseus keeps Medusa's head as "silver . . . / . . . fringed with tassels of gold" (10), details which make the bag sound like a fashion accessory. He then uses Medusa's head to rescue Andromeda from being sacrificed to a sea monster, a punishment for her mother Cassiopeia boasting of her own beauty over that of the Nereids. The details of this portion of Perseus's story change depending on the adaptation which has appeared twice in a film titled Clash of the Titans, first in 1981 starring Harry Hamlin as Perseus (check out this original trailer) and then remade in 2010 with Sam Worthington in the lead role. 

Perseus Saves Andromeda by di Cosimo, 1510 (5)

Perseus subsequently marries Andromeda after turning one of her previous suitors, a man named Phineas, to stone with Medusa's gaze. Perseus eventually offers Medusa's head to Athena who promptly uses it to strike fear in her opponents as an emblem on her shield. In some texts, such as Hesiod's The Theogony, the famed horse Pegasus "sprang forth" from the blood dripping from Medusa's cut head (9). Who would think such a beautiful animal would come from such beginnings? It's worth also noting that Medusa's story, like that of Perseus's mother is troubling, as her snake-haired appearance results from being punished for having been raped. For more information on Medusa's story and its cultural legacy, see this article. 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book Series

2022 Reissued Cover, with Art by Victor Ngai (1)

In 2005, Rick Riordan's fantasy series about a character named Percy Jackson began with a book titled, Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief. In this series, Perseus is the son of Poseidon, a different Olympian God from earlier Greek renditions of the tale. The first novel follows Percy and his friends as they try to solve the mystery of Zeus's missing lightening bolt to clear Percy of the crime. The popularity of the first book was followed by four other titles in the series, various illustrated versions of the same titles, and a host of other guidebooks exploring Riordan's depiction of the Olympic Pantheon (1). In 2010, The first novel has been adapted in to a film starring Logan Lerman as Percy, and the star talent of Uma Thurman as Medusa and Sean Bean as Zeus. In 2017, The Lightning Thief musical took the stage in NYC at the Longacre Theatre and now can be seen around the country on high school auditorium stages across the country. This link will take you to the full musical score.  

Other Iterations of Perseus

Perseus Cluster (8)

Like many narratives that have been around for a while, various artists have put their own spin on the characters. Natalie Haynes's novel Stone Blind, published in 2023, offers yet another depiction of Perseus's story. However, in this rendition, Perseus appears less heroic as the novel focuses its attention on reclaiming Medusa's story, applying a more feminist lens and pushing Perseus into the background. If you're looking for a more active way to engage with the story, you might try the "over-the-top hack and slash, rogue-like adventure" game, Perseus: Titan Slayer available on Steam (6). Further searches for Perseus-inspired objects reveal nail polish colors, yarn colors, and knives all names for the Gorgon slayer, perhaps trying to claim a little heroism in their naming. Finally, like many Greek figures, they can also be found in the stars in the form of the Perseus Cluster, a group of galaxies associated with the Perseus constellation (8). Use this link to see a ground-based image from the Hubble telescope. 

Final Thoughts

Like many Greek myths, the story of Perseus has it all: adventure, romance, violence, intrigue, etc. These components continue to inspire new versions for us to enjoy. As modern readers, we get to decide: is it really Perseus's heroism that keeps us coming back for more or are we more compelled by the monstrosity of Medusa's severed head? It's up to you, dear reader.  

Works Cited

1. "Books." ReadRiordan.com, 2017. https://www.readriordan.com/books/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
2. Canova, Antonio.  Perseus with the Head of Medusa [Sculpture], 1804–6. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Photograph by Christina Francis, 21 Jan. 2025. 
3. Klimt, Gustav. Danae [Painting], 1907. https://www.gustav-klimt.com/Danae.jsp. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025. 
4. Rogoyska, Jane, and Patrick Bade, eds. Klimt. Parkstone Press International, 2011. 
5. di Cosimo, Piero. Perseus Saves Andromeda [Painting], 1510-15. Uffizi Museum, Florence, Italy. https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/perseus-frees-andromeda. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025. 
6. General editor. "Perseus: The Titan Slayer." Steam. Valve Corporation, 2025. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2003050/Perseus_Titan_Slayer/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025. 
7. Powell, Barry B. "The Myths of Mycenae and Tiryns." Classical Myth. 2nd Ed. Prentice Hall, 1998. 
8. Bowman, Abigail. "The Massive Perseus Cluster." NASA, 24 Jun. 2014, https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/massive-perseus-cluster/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
9. Hesiod. "The Theogony." Hesiod: Theogony, Works and Days, and Shield. Translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis. Johns Hopkins UP, 1983. 
10. Hesiod, "The Shield." Hesiod: Theogony, Works and Days, and Shield. Translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis. Johns Hopkins UP, 1983.