Zeus visited Danae, pouring through her window as a shower of gold, inspiring artists of all future generations. Years later, Hera was heard to observe, "He never did anything like that for me."

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    And so, one morning on the way up the stairs to Danae's chambers her father Acrisios heard the sound he least wanted to hear.Yes, it was the cry of a baby. When he and Eurydice entered, there was his lovely girl holding in her arms a beautiful baby boy. She looked so happy it broke her father's heart.The boy was Perseus.

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    Acrisios knew he had to kill the baby. He couldn't do it in a brutal way. He also knew Danae would never forgive him. Here's what he did. He had the mother and baby placed in a small, leaky boat to be pushed out onto the sea. The boat would sink; they would both drown; and he would not have killed them himself.

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    Danae was crying; little Perseus was screaming; they looked cold and cramped. Acrisios commanded that Danae's feather mattress be placed in the boat so the two victims would at least be comfortable; then the boat was pushed out on to the waves.

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    Before long the boat, laden with its cargo of woman, baby and mattress, filled with water, and sank. The mattress, though, had good buoyancy, and although sodden, floated well enough to keep Danae and Perseus out of the deep.Their cries echoed across the waters and attracted the attention of Dictys, a young fisherman working off the coast of the island of Seriphos.

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    Dictys rescued them, took them to his humble abode on the island, build a fire in the hut to warm them, fed them and fell in love with Danae. He was too shy to tell her.

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     Danae and Perseus lived with Dictys for years. They were surprised to learn that though he was a kind and humble fisherman, his brother Polydectes was king of the island.

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    Polydectes was mean and boastful. He also fancied Danae. This was not reciprocated, but he believed that Danae would be his, if only he could get Perseus out of the way. The boy had grown to be a strong, handsome youth, protective of his mother.

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    Polydectes told his people that he was a suitor for the hand of Hippodaemia, daughter of Oenemaus, a king in the Ellis area, and would have to provide a substantial marriage offering. He demanded that his people contribute to it, and sneered at Perseus as little more that a beggar, "sponging off my brother Dictys."

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     Perseus was angry. He said he would contribute any gift Polydectes asked for; and Polydectes sprang his trap.

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    "Bring me the head of Medusa!"

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    Meduse and her sisters Stheno and Euryale, known as The Gorgons, had been beautiful women, until Poseidon lay with Medusa in the temple of Athena. Athena was outraged at this blasphemy. She could hardly punish her uncle, the powerful Earthshaker, so she vented her anger on Medusa and her sisters.

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   The women's skins became reptilian scales; their shining hair nests of poisonous snakes . Boars' tusks grew from their mouths. Any mortal who looked upon the face of one of the Gorgons instantly turned to stone. Stheno and Euryale were immortal; but the Medusa was not.

 

    Perseus cursed himself as he walked home through the woods. Why had he said such a stupid thing? Polydectes had won. If Perseus found Medusa she would turn him to stone. If he didn't find her, his rash promise before all the people meant he could never return to Seriphos. Polydectes would be free to bully Danae into submitting to him.

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    Perseus stopped abruptly in amazement. In front of him was a shining youth with wings upon his heels, beside a maiden in bronze armour, bearing a shield so highly polished it reflected as clearly as a mirror. The maiden looked at him with clear, grey eyes.

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   "Greetings, brother Perseus," she said.

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    "Brother ? No! Surely you are Immortals?" 

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    "Indeed we are," answered the shining youth. "I am Hermes, and this is Athena. Although you are mortal, you are my brother."

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     "Zeus is your father too."

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      "We're here to help."

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