Miscellaneous Myths: Perseus

He's brave! He's strong! He's primarily remembered for being the only Greek hero to actually get a happy ending! That's right, it's everyone's favorite namesake of a YA protagonist, Perseus! Known for precisely one adventure, Perseus also carries the distinction of being the only Greek hero without an obnoxious character flaw - none of Hercules's rages, Jason or Theseus's wifely abandonment, or Orpheus's complete inability to keep his sh*t together for five consecutive minutes.

Note: Apparently Andromeda was actually ethiopian. I didn't know this when I was drawing her, so… my bad D:

Hey, here's a fun fact - I actually quite liked the Percy Jackson books. I thought they were a little corny at times, but I'll be damned if Riordan doesn't write a compelling first-person narrative. However, I can't bring myself to enjoy the Roman series. Something about it just feels like a pale imitation of the Percy Jackson series's former glory.

[brianpraul]

Imagine doing all that stuff to your daughter and her child to avoid the prophecy only to have said child yeet a frisbee into you by accident

[stoneman]

"...the fishermen who saved him becomes king."
Me: What?
Fishermen: What?

[kmflan]

note that perseus is one of the few greek heroes who actually lives happily ever after.

[matthewlui]

The prophecy: exists
Expectation: Betrayal and bloodshed
Reality: Discus to the head, really just an accident

[eon]

Athena really likes protecting her younger siblings, doesn’t she? I’ve noticed that whenever Zeus makes a new kid, Athena will usually step in to help the kid and protect them from whatever could endanger them (usually Hera). It’s kind of adorable to see Athena go “big sister” mode to guide and assist her siblings in their time of need.

[ΚικηΑντιπατη]

Kroisus: My son threw a discus at my head
Hyacinthus: That's rough, buddy.

[WolfDB]

1:50
Behold, the beginning of this series's longest running gag:
"Hey kid, you like proving yourself?"

"DO I!?" :D

[Bacillus]

Fun fact, in the original Greek myths Medusa was always a Gorgon, hence why she had Gorgon sisters. The transformation of Medusa by Athena was an invention of the Roman poet Ovid.

[yourpaledd]

Zeus: I fear no man,

Zeus: But that thing.

Child support: exists

Zeus: It scares me.

[DanteYewToob]

I always wondered why Medusa never just found a nice cute blind boy and settled down... like. Everyone deserves love, I'm sure there's a handsom Mr Magoo out there somewhere who doesn't mind a girl who hisses and rattles in her sleep... and maybe her hair bites when you kiss... and also she can't go into town without turning town square into a sculpture garden... but still! Medusa deserves love too! Blind, well stocked with antivenom, and doesn't mind doing all the shopping type of love! How nice.

[megmccaffrey]

Damn, that discus must be the best weapon out there. First Apollo’s favourite boyfriend and now Perseus’ grandfather.

[ShadowLady]

I really want one of these stories to have a person be told a prophecy like “Your son/daughter will kill you and take over your kingdom” and be like “Oh my! An Ambitious child you say? Gotta make sure they got what it takes to kill me AND rule a kingdom! Oh, and also bulk up myself! I want to make sure it’s EPIC! Thanks Seer!”

It’d be the best subversion EVER!!!

Edit: I BET BEOWOLF WOULD BE THE PERFECT HERO TO DO THIS SUBVERSION!!!

[hallikwin]

I cannot stress how underrated this channel is

[popalupa]

To answer your question about why he didn't just kill her. To the Ancient Greeks, killing a member of your family is a cardinal sin and will doom you to Tartarus (a place you definitely don't want to go). There are work arounds to this, such as starving them or putting them in a chest and throwing them in the ocean. Although, these work arounds bring up another question, why doesn't a guard kill her?

Whenever I would ask my mythology teacher these things, she would respond with something like "Shh, magic."

[marcobisi]

"this will be a long-ish series"
*five years later
"so that's why Loki is nordic Jesus, any questions?"

[acatreassuresyouthateveryt]

the oracle : "Don't look at me, I never said his death would be epic"

[BrooklynJackBlue]

I love Andromeda's expression as she watches the spiced up final conflict between Perseus and the monster. It's a perfect "You know, I thought this day couldn't get weirder, AND YET..." expression.

[pathaorion]

"Zeus, who had never meet a mortal woman he didn't want to make sweet, sweet Eros to" I have a favorite quote about greek mythology

[itsanna]

I wonder how many Greek women cheated on their husbands and blamed Zeus for it.

[DavidbarZeus]

An interesting note about Medusa: it was Ovid who first portrayed Medusa as a mortal who was cursed by Athena (or as he called her, Minerva.) The Greeks would tell you that Medusa was born a monster just like the other Gorgons were. The Gorgons had other famous siblings including: Echidna the Mother of Monsters, Ladon the 100-headed dragon that guarded the tree with the golden apples, the Graea or Grey Sisters-three ancient women who had one eye and one tooth between them, and according to some, the Hesperides or Evening Nymphs who helped Ladon guard the tree.

On a side note, Perseus killing Acrisius with a discuss is one of two ways the prophecy was fulfilled. For the other way, Acrisius was one of Polydectes' guests for his wedding to Danae, so Perseus turned HIM to stone as well!