Perseus
Perseus is a hero of the Argive mythic cycle, son of Danae and Zeus. His chief exploit is the defeat of Medusa Gorgon, achieved with the help of Athena, Hermes and marvellous objects.
Falera with Medusa. Rome. Silver,gold,bronze. 100-225 ADMedusa's head
After the victory Perseus uses Medusa's head as a weapon and sign of divine aid. The story connects him with Andromeda, Atlas and the origin of new heroic lineages.
Additional sources and visual checks
Perseus is tied to Medusa, Andromeda, royal genealogy and the apotropaic force of the Gorgon's head. The gallery deliberately overlaps with Medusa, but explains it as a shared visual corpus of one myth.
For source checks: - Perseus Digital Library - Beazley Archive - LIMC online
Related topics
Falera with Medusa. Rome. Silver,gold,bronze. 100-225 AD
Glass phalera with medusa's head,mid-1st century AD,Sasson Ancient Art Gallery,Jerusalem,Israel.
An Amazon wearing a helmet and carrying a shield with the head of Medusa Gorgon on it. State Historical Museum of Berlin. 510-500 BC
Greek bronze thorax, decorated with a Gorgon's relief. The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, 6th-5th century BCE Interested in Ancient Rome beyond reading? Join Legio X Fretensis or explore our reenactment directions. Reenactment
