Bulfinch’s Mythology · Character

Perseus

Son of Jupiter who beheads Medusa, turns Atlas to stone with the Gorgon's gaze, and wins Andromeda from a sea monster.

supporting

Also known as the Sea - Monster Perseus

First appearance: XV: The Graeae or Gray-Maids—Perseus—Medusa—Atlas—Andromeda

As a supporting figure in Bulfinch’s Mythology, Perseus is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Slayer of Medusa and turner of Atlas to stone.

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Perseus moves through the Greek myths as a hero of divine parentage and practical nerve, claiming Jupiter as father and the conquest of the Gorgon as his credentials. Denied rest by the giant Atlas, he answers the refusal with the one weapon no strength can resist, and the mountain that bears the stars rises where a king once stood. His adventures give Bulfinch's Age of Fable its template for the hero's arc: impossible errand, borrowed gifts, and a rescue that turns monster into monument.

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See Perseus in XV: The Graeae or Gray-Maids—Perseus—Medusa—Atlas—Andromeda

Character Web

34 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Orlando Epic Characters
Miscellaneous Mythological and Romance Figures
Greek and Trojan Heroes

+29 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional peak of Tristram’s brief reunion with…

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In the story

Perseus appears across 15 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Bulfinch's Mythology
Slayer of Medusa and turner of Atlas to stone.
Stories of Gods and Heroes
Perseus slays Medusa and uses her head to turn Atlas to stone, showcasing his heroic deeds.
XV: The Graeae or Gray-Maids—Perseus—Medusa—Atlas—Andromeda
Hero son of Jupiter and Danaë; slays Medusa, turns Atlas to stone, rescues Andromeda, and defeats Phineus.
Perseus and Medusa
Protagonist who slays Medusa with divine aid.
Perseus and Atlas
The hero who slays Medusa and later turns Atlas to stone using the Gorgon's head.
The Sea-Monster
Slays the sea-monster to rescue Andromeda, using his wings and sword; demands her hand in marriage as his reward.
The Wedding Feast
The hero who defeats Phineus and his followers by using the Gorgon's head to turn them to stone.
Monsters
Mentioned as the slayer of Medusa, from whose blood Pegasus was born.
Pegasus and the Chimaera
Mentioned as the one who cut off Medusa's head, from whose blood Pegasus was born.
Arion—Ibycus—Simonides—Sappho
Infant son of Danaë, set adrift in a chest and later rescued, becoming a famous hero.
Simonides
Mentioned as the infant son of Danaë, rescued from the sea and later a famous hero.
A
Mentioned as the slayer of Medusa and deliverer of Andromeda; his assailants Ampyx and Astyages are turned to stone.
D
Son of Danaë and Jupiter.
P
Son of Jupiter and Danaë, slayer of the Gorgon Medusa, deliverer of Andromeda from a sea-monster.
T
Mentioned in the entry on Thescelus, a foe turned to stone by the sight of the Gorgon's head.

Chapter companion notes

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See Perseus in XV: The Graeae or Gray-Maids—Perseus—Medusa—Atlas—Andromeda

See Perseus in Bulfinch's Mythology