Perseus is one of Jupiter’s sons. He is banished from his city by his grandfather, who doesn’t believe he is the son of the god. Perseus flies around on winged sandals, holding the Medusa’s head. When he encounters people who don’t believe he’s a god, he pulls out Medusa’s head and it turns them to stone. One day, he comes across Andromeda hanging from a cliff above a sea-monster and rescues her. Perseus then marries Andromeda. At the wedding, Andromeda’s former fiancé Phineus challenges Perseus to a fight, and the wedding party devolves into war. Perseus ultimately wins the fight and turns Phineus and his companions to stone with Medusa’s head.
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Perseus Character Timeline in Metamorphoses
The timeline below shows where the character Perseus appears in Metamorphoses. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 4: Perseus (1)
...ruler Acrisius, who denies that Bacchus is Jupiter’s son. Acrisius also denies that his grandson Perseus is Jupiter’s son. Perseus flies around in exile, carrying the head of Medusa—a maiden with...
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Perseus tells Atlas that he is the son of Jupiter. Atlas, remembering a prophecy he once...
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Perseus spends the night in a cave. In the morning, he puts on his winged sandals...
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Perseus flies on his winged sandals to meet the monster. They fight until Perseus, bracing himself...
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In his new kingdom, Perseus builds sacrificial altars to Mercury, Minerva, and Jupiter. He and Andromeda have a regal wedding....
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Book 5: Perseus (2)
While Perseus is telling stories at his wedding feast, a commotion breaks out. A man named Phineus...
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The warrior goddess Minerva arrives to protect and encourage Perseus. Many famous and innocent people die. Perseus kills an elegant youth whose loyal friend tries...
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Losing his courage, Perseus pulls the Medusa head out of his bag. His opponents all attack him in turn...
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Perseus and Andromeda return to Perseus’s native city. There, Perseus defeats his grandfather’s brother who had...
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Book 5: Minerva and the Muses
After supporting Perseus, Minerva goes to visit the Muses—the sisters of the arts. She tells the Muses that...
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