Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae, daughter of King Acrisius of Argos. When Danae was old enough to marry, an oracle told Acrisius that his daughter’s son would kill him. Rather than kill her and invite the gods’ anger, Acrisius imprisoned her in a tower. When it began to glow brightly, Acrisius discovered Danae had given birth to a son. Fearful that she was under a god’s protection, he put her and the baby into an oarless, sail-less boat and set them adrift. The next day, Danae and her child landed on the island of Sephiros, ruled by King Polydectes.

The child, Perseus, grew up strong and brave, listening to his mother’s stories about heroes and monsters. He especially enjoyed the story of the Gorgons, three sisters transformed into monsters by Athene. The youngest sister, Medusa, became so terrifying that anyone who looked into her face turned to stone. Perseus’s favorite story, though, was about his father, Zeus. Danae believed Zeus would return to her someday, and for this reason, refused to marry Polydectes.

Polydectes tricked Perseus into making a rash promise to deliver the king Medusa’s head. After praying for help, Perseus received a pair of winged sandals from Hermes, who told Perseus to visit the Gray sisters, three “hags” who shared one tooth and eye among them and quarreled constantly (127).