|
Constellation
Perseus - Rescuer of Andromeda
Constellation:
Perseus
Constellation Data
Object name: Perseus
Equatorial: RA: 03h 43m 00s Dec: +41°47'22"(current)
Equatorial 2000: RA: 03h 42m 36s Dec: +41°46'12"
Sky Database: Constellation
Abbreviation: Per
Genitive Form: Persei
Description: Perseus, the Rescuer of Andromeda
Pronunciation: PUHR' syoos
Genitive Pronunciation: PUHR' see eye
One of the best known Greek heroes
Perseus was the son of the Princess Danae.
Danae had been locked away in a dungeon by her father, King Acrisius, to
forestall a prophesy that the king would be killed by his daughter's son.
The god Zeus came to Danae in the form of rain water that fell through the
dungeon window, leaving Danae pregnant. After she gave birth the king
locked Danae and the infant Perseus into a chest and set it out to sea.
After a number of days the chest washed up on the island of Seriphos.
Some years later, the king of Seriphos
Polydectes starting making advances toward Danae. She refused him and the
now fully grown Perseus protected her.
Polydectes ordered Perseus to bring him the
head of Medusa. Anyone one who looks at the evil monster Medusa is immediately
turned to stone. Polydectes was hoping that Perseus would not survive. But
Perseus was well armed thanks to the gods. He carried a bronze shield, a
diamond sword, wore winged sandals that allowed him to fly, and a helmet of
darkness that rendered him invisible. Careful only to look at the reflection of
Medusa in his bronze shield Perseus
decapitated her with his diamond sword. Immediately thereafter the winged
horse Pegasus and the warrior Chrysaor burst from
Medusa's body. Perseus quickly grabbed Medusa's head carefully placing in
a gunny sack and flew off before he could be caught.
On his return to Seriphos, Perseus encountered
Andromeda - The Princess of Ethiopia chained to rock
as a sacrifice to the sea monster Cetus.
Perseus saved
Andromeda by pulling the head of Medusa from the sack and holding it at arms
length in front of Cetus. The sea monster turned to
stone and crumbled into the sea. Perseus and Andromeda
were then married. Upon his return to Seriphos Perseus used Medusa's head to
kill the King Polydectes and his followers. The prophesy that Perseus
would kill his grandfather ultimately came true. At a sporting event that
his grandfather attended, Perseus had thrown a
discus which flew into the crowd hitting his grandfather and killing him.
|
