Perseus’s family tree begins with his mother Danaë and his divine father Zeus, who conceived him in the form of a shower of gold. He married Andromeda, and together they had at least six sons and one daughter, making him the ancestor of several major Greek dynasties, including the Heracleidae through his grandson Heracles.
Parents: Danaë and Zeus
Perseus’s mother was Danaë, a princess of Argos and the only child of King Acrisius. According to the most common version of the myth, Acrisius received an oracle that his daughter’s son would kill him, so he locked Danaë in a bronze chamber (or underground prison) to keep her childless. Zeus, however, visited her in the form of a shower of gold, and she conceived Perseus. When Acrisius discovered the child, he set mother and son adrift at sea in a wooden chest; they washed ashore on the island of Seriphos, where they were taken in by a fisherman named Dictys. In some later sources, such as the Roman poet Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Zeus’s transformation is described in more detail, but the essential story remains consistent.
Adoptive Family on Seriphos
On Seriphos, Perseus grew up in the household of Dictys, who was the brother of King Polydectes. Dictys acted as a foster father, raising Perseus as his own. Polydectes, however, desired Danaë and wanted to get rid of Perseus. He tricked the young hero into promising to bring him the head of the Gorgon Medusa, a task that was expected to be fatal. After Perseus succeeded, he returned to find that Polydectes had been harassing Danaë and had forced her into hiding. Perseus used the Gorgon’s head to turn Polydectes and his court to stone, then installed Dictys as the new king of Seriphos.
Wife and Children
On his way back from slaying Medusa, Perseus rescued the Ethiopian princess Andromeda from a sea monster (often called Cetus). He married her, and she became the mother of his children. The names and number of their children vary by source, but the most commonly listed are:
- Perses – in Greek tradition, he was left in Ethiopia and became the ancestor of the Persians (according to Herodotus).
- Alcaeus – father of Amphitryon, who was the mortal father of Heracles.
- Sthenelus – father of Eurystheus, the king who imposed the Twelve Labors on Heracles.
- Heleus – a lesser-known son who founded the city of Helos in Laconia.
- Mestor – another son, who married Pelops’s daughter Lysidice.
- Electryon – father of Alcmene, making him the maternal grandfather of Heracles.
- Gorgophone – their only daughter, whose name means “Gorgon-killer,” a reference to her father’s deed. She married Perieres and later Oebalus, becoming the mother of Tyndareus (and thus an ancestor of Helen of Troy and the Dioscuri).
In some versions, Perseus and Andromeda also had a son named Erythras, who was said to have given his name to the Erythraean Sea (the Red Sea), but this is less common.
Grandchildren and the Line of Heracles
The most famous descendant of Perseus is Heracles (Hercules in Roman myth). Heracles’s mother Alcmene was the daughter of Electryon, and his mortal father Amphitryon was the son of Alcaeus. Thus Heracles was both a grandson and a great-grandson of Perseus through different lines. Heracles’s own descendants, the Heracleidae, claimed Perseus as their ancestor, which gave them legitimacy in their later conquest of the Peloponnese (the “Return of the Heracleidae”). Another important descendant was Eurystheus, the son of Sthenelus, who is best known for assigning Heracles his twelve labors. Through Gorgophone’s marriage to Tyndareus, Perseus also became an ancestor of Helen of Troy, Clytemnestra, Castor, and Pollux.
Divine and Mortal Connections
Perseus’s family tree connects him to many major figures in Greek mythology. His divine father Zeus made him a half-brother to other heroes and gods, including Heracles (who was also his descendant), Dionysus, and the Dioscuri. His mortal grandfather Acrisius was a descendant of Danaus, making Perseus a member of the Argive royal house. The family’s story is intertwined with the founding of Mycenae: after accidentally killing Acrisius with a discus (fulfilling the prophecy), Perseus exchanged his kingdom of Argos for Tiryns and founded Mycenae, which became one of the most important cities in Greek legend. Perseus’s descendants ruled Mycenae for generations, including Eurystheus and Atreus (through a different line).
Common Misconceptions
One common confusion is that Perseus and the hero Theseus are related. They are not, except through distant divine ancestry (both are sons of Zeus in some versions, but Theseus’s father is usually Poseidon). Another misconception is that Perseus was the founder of Persia; that claim comes from a later Greek tradition that his son Perses was the eponymous ancestor of the Persians, but this is a Greek interpretation, not a Persian one. Also, some people confuse Perseus with the Titan Prometheus or the god of the underworld Hades (who is sometimes called “Perseus” in Homer, but that is a separate figure). In Greek art, Perseus is often depicted wearing a winged cap and sandals, holding a sickle or a sword, and carrying the head of Medusa, which he used as a weapon even after her death.
Sources and Variations
The earliest surviving account of Perseus’s family is in Hesiod’s Theogony (c. 700 BCE), which mentions his birth and his marriage to Andromeda. The fullest narrative of his adventures comes from the library of Apollodorus (1st–2nd century CE), which lists his children and their descendants. The Greek historian Herodotus (5th century BCE) also mentions Perses as the ancestor of the Persian kings, but this is a Greek mythologizing of a foreign people. The Roman poet Ovid (1st century BCE–CE) tells the story of Perseus and Andromeda in the Metamorphoses, but he does not dwell on the family tree. In all sources, the core family relationships are consistent: Perseus is the son of Zeus and Danaë, husband of Andromeda, and father of the children listed above. The variations appear mainly in the names of minor children and in the details of how the family moved from Argos to Mycenae.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Perseus’s parents?
Perseus’s parents were Zeus, the king of the gods, and Danaë, a mortal princess of Argos. Zeus impregnated Danaë in the form of a golden shower while she was imprisoned by her father Acrisius.
Did Perseus have any siblings?
Perseus was an only child in most accounts. However, since Zeus was his father, he had many half-siblings among the gods and heroes, including Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Dionysus, and Heracles (who was also his descendant).
How many children did Perseus and Andromeda have?
Most sources list six sons (Perses, Alcaeus, Sthenelus, Heleus, Mestor, and Electryon) and one daughter (Gorgophone). Some later texts add an eighth child, Erythras, but this is not universal.
Was Perseus an ancestor of Hercules?
Yes. Heracles was the son of Alcmene (daughter of Electryon, son of Perseus) and Amphitryon (son of Alcaeus, another son of Perseus). Thus Heracles was both a grandson and a great-grandson of Perseus.
Why did Perseus found Mycenae?
After accidentally killing his grandfather Acrisius with a discus, Perseus did not want to rule Argos, the city he had inherited. He exchanged kingdoms with his cousin Megapenthes, taking Tiryns, and then founded Mycenae nearby. The city became his royal seat and the home of his descendants.
Did Perseus have a daughter?
Yes, his daughter was Gorgophone, named in honor of her father’s defeat of Medusa. She married twice and became the mother of Tyndareus, making her the grandmother of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra.
Related
- Moros in Greek Mythology: God of Doom
- Danu in Celtic Mythology: Mother Goddess Explained
- Ops in Roman Mythology: Goddess of Abundance
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