chapter 14

perseus

son of zeus and danae, beheaded medusa, saved and married andromeda

tiryns

bronze age city in argive plain, associated with heracles, south of Mycenae

io

argive princess, beloved of zeus, turned into a cow to be hidden from the wrath of Hera

danaüs

son of belus, brother of aegyptus, father of danaïds, became king of argos

acrisius

father of danaë, imprisoned own daughter to avoid fate, killed accidentally by perseus, ruled argos

polydectes

king seiphus, brother of ditys, persecutor of perseus, wanted danaë

danaïds

daughter of danaüs, killed their husbands (sons of aegyptus) on wedding night, 50 of them

danaë

daughter of acrisius, mother of perseus

gorgons

3 daughters of phorcys and ceto, looks can turn one into stone

medusa

one of the gorgons, mortal, killed by perseus, mother of chrysaor and pegasus

andromeda

daughter of cepheus/cassiopeä, rescued by perseus, married perseus

argive plain

greek place with lots of history and myth associated

graeae

helpful nymphs, sisters of gorgons, have one eye between all, led Perseus toward Medusa

girl’s tragedy

folktale pattern of seclusion and liberation etc.