Important Heroes in Greek Mythology #1: Perseus Quiz

Answer: Acrisius

Acrisius was the king of Argos and the maternal grandfather of Perseus. Adrastus was the leader of the Seven Against Thebes. Aeacus was the king of Aegina for whom Zeus created the Myrmidons. Aegisthus was the lover of Clytemnestra and slayer of Agamemnon.

Answer: A prophecy said that her son would kill him and he wanted her to remain a virgin forever

When Acrisius consulted an oracle, it told him that he would be killed by his own grandson. Terrified at this prospect, Acrisius locked his daughter Danae in a bronze tower so that no man could ever impregnate her. Unfortunately for him, Zeus desired Danae and was determined to have her. Her turned into golden rain and entered her tower, making her pregnant with Perseus.

Answer: Seriphos

When Acrisius found out the Danae was pregnant, he was still determined that the child would not survive. He could not kill them outright without incensing the Harpies, who punished those who kill family members, so he locked them in a box and threw them into the sea. That way, if they died, it was Poseidon's fault and not his. Zeus, however, protected them and they washed up on the shore of the island of Seriphos. Danae and Perseus were found by a kind fisherman, Dictys, who adopted them.

Answer: He wanted Perseus gone permanently so he could marry Danae

Polydectes, the brother of Dictys and king of Seriphos, desired Perseus's mother Danae. Perseus, however, objected to the marriage, and Polydectes devised a way to get rid of him for good. Knowing that Perseus did not possess many worldly goods, Polydectes requested a wedding present from him; when Perseus asked him what he wanted, Polydectes asked him for the head of Medusa, hoping that Perseus would perish trying to procure it and he could marry Danae without interference.

Answer: Atlas

Although it clashes with the story that Heracles later asked Atlas for the Apples of the Hesperides, Ovid writes that Perseus turned the formidable Titan into stone by showing him the head of Medusa.

Answer: Aegis

The Aegis, although technically the shield of Zeus, was carried by Athena. She let Perseus borrow it so he could slay Medusa, since looking at her directly would have turned him into stone. After he had returned to Seriphos and turned Polydectes into stone, Perseus placed the head of Medusa on the aegis and returned it to Athena.

Answer: Aglaia

Medusa was turned into a Gorgon by Athena because Poseidon raped her in one of her temples. Although her two Gorgon sisters, Stheno and Euryale, were immortal, Medusa herself was not, and Perseus was consequently able to kill her. Aglaia, although not a Gorgon, was one of the Graces.

Answer: Phineus

Phineus had been betrothed to Andromeda before she was tied to a boulder to be devoured by a sea monster. Cepheus offered Perseus her hand in marriage if he saved her life, and Perseus eagerly complied. At their wedding feast, an angry Phineus and some of his supporters attacked Perseus, who was forced to turn them into stone using the head of Medusa.

Answer: Gorgophone

Most accounts say Perseus and Andromeda had quite a few sons, Perses being one of them. Gorgophone, whose name means "slaying of the Gorgon", is one of their two daughters, the other being Autochthe. Cassiopeia was the unfortunate mother of Andromeda and Phaedra was the second wife of Theseus and a princess of Crete.

Answer: Discus

Perseus happened to be competing in funeral games in Thessaly where Acrisius was in attendance. He accidentally threw his discus with too much force, killing Acrisius, who was a spectator there, thus fulfilling the prophesy that Acrisius had tried so hard to avoid.