Parents: Zeus and Danaë

Birth: Perseus was born after Zeus visited his mother Danaë as a shower of golden light. Her father King Acrisius, terrified by a prophecy that his grandson would kill him, locked Danaë and baby Perseus in a wooden chest and cast them into the sea. They washed ashore on the island of Seriphos, where they were rescued by a fisherman.

Story: Perseus was sent on what was meant to be a suicide mission — to bring back the head of Medusa, a Gorgon whose gaze turned anyone to stone. With gifts from the gods — Athena's polished shield, Hermes's winged sandals, and Hades's helm of invisibility — Perseus found Medusa and cut off her head while looking only at her reflection. On his way home, he spotted the princess Andromeda chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. Perseus used Medusa's head to turn the monster to stone and saved Andromeda, whom he later married.

The Quest for Medusa: Before facing Medusa, Perseus had to find her — and she lived at the edge of the world. First, he visited the Graeae, three old women who shared a single eye and a single tooth among them. Perseus snatched their eye and refused to return it until they told him where to find the Nymphs of the North, who gave him three magical gifts: Hades's helm of invisibility, a pair of winged sandals, and a magical bag that could safely contain Medusa's head. Armed with these gifts plus Athena's polished shield and Hermes's curved sword, Perseus flew to the Gorgons' lair and found them sleeping. Using the shield as a mirror to avoid her deadly gaze, he cut off Medusa's head in a single strike. From her neck sprang Pegasus, the winged horse, and Chrysaor, a golden warrior.

The Rescue of Andromeda: On his flight home, Perseus spotted a beautiful woman chained to a cliff by the sea. This was Andromeda, a princess whose mother Cassiopeia had boasted she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs. Poseidon had sent a sea monster to destroy their kingdom, and the oracle said only sacrificing Andromeda would stop it. Perseus struck a deal with her parents — he would save her in exchange for her hand in marriage. When the monster rose from the waves, Perseus pulled Medusa's head from his bag and turned the creature to stone. He freed Andromeda and married her, and they went on to found a great dynasty together.

Symbol: Medusa's head, winged sandals, polished shield.

Represents: Heroic bravery, cunning, and the triumph of good over monsters.