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Reimagination of Medusa’s myth where Perseus was born blind, Medusa’s a cutie and Andromeda is ethnically accurate~

details under the cut! >:D

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The Myth of Andromeda: Modern Stories

In terms of inspiring retelling or adaptations, the myth of Andromeda and Perseus does not have the same influence that Heracles or Arthurian legends have had. The most notable work in recent years have been the Clash of the Titans movies from 1981 and 2010, with the second being a remake of the first movie rather than of the myth itself. But there have been other recent imaginings of the myth, both published in a traditional sense and ideas that have been shared online. 

In a lot of these retellings, it’s common for people to give more focus on Andromeda, whether this involves exploring the complexity of her feelings or giving her a bigger role in the story. Some poems imagine Andromeda’s feelings while chained to a rock, while others place her in a more modern context. She has even been imagined as a warrior princess, such as in this story in this episode of Mythic Warriors:

But despite the growing complexity that Andromeda has been treated with, she still appears to be imagined as a European princess, as I have previously discussed. Of course, this is not always the case. More artists have begun drawing Andromeda in a more historically accurate manner. A great example can be found in the art shared on tumblr, such as erinye’s reimaging of Perseus and Andromeda, and on Deviantart. I hope that as time moves forward, more people continue to explore the myth of Perseus and Andromeda in more complex ways, exploring themes often ignored in the story, such as differences in cultural identities or what it means to be a women in different societies, as different countries in the Classical world had different standards, much like how modern countries differ from each other culturally. 

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BERLIN (by Noemi duVallon)

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The Myth of Andromeda: On Perseus

Out of the various Greek heroes, I always found Perseus to be an interesting example for several different reasons. Though he is a demigod and prince by birth, neither of these parts of his identity seem to factor in to who he is as a person until later on in his life. In fact, his upbringing was quite humble when compared to other heroes, who were able to grow up as princes (of course, Perseus was not the alone in the category of princes who did not grow up as a prince should, but he is significant in being a demigod who grew up this way). He also does not appear to marked by one remarkable trait in the way that other heroes were - he is not known for his strength, speed, or intelligence in the way that Hercules, Achilles, and Odysseus were, respectively. His reason for going on his quest to slay Medusa is even rather simple in comparison to several others. He is not after glory or fame, nor is he trying to end some horrible evil that plagues a kingdom. He embarks on his quest in order to save his mother from a tyrant. And so, from the start of his story, Perseus is already marked as a figure who is arguably more human than some of his other contemporaries.

Perseus might have accomplished extraordinary feats, but his own methods of doing so were not so out of the ordinary. Aside from the magic weapons and tools he was given by the gods, Perseus is able to accomplish many of the things he does through deception and careful thinking. Rather than charging Medusa head-on, he relies on seeing her through a reflection, which meant that his movements needed to be pretty calculated for him to succeed. Similarly, when getting information from the Graeae sisters, he uses their own eye against them to get information, rather than relying on brute force. Even when he defeats Polydectus, and in some versions, the sea monster Cetus, he relies on the use of Medusa’s head to do the work for him, saving both time and energy and keeping himself from unnecessary harm. In some ways, Perseus actually resembles the completely human heroes of myth more than other demigods. 

Perseus’ distinction from other heroes also ties back into his motivation for going on his quest. The fact that Perseus is so dedicated to helping his mother shows that he is an individual motivated by personal loyalty. This traits seems to be emphasized throughout different iterations of character. Even Percy Jackson, who is not technically a modern version of Perseus (as Perseus is a distinct figure in the universe who is referenced in universe and even serves as Percy’s namesake), but could be argued to be a modern reimagining of Perseus, is marked by a personal loyalty from the first book, and to his mother no less. When Perseus faces Polydectus after slaying Medusa, he even announces his intention to kill Polydectus by warning “friends of Perseus” to protect themselves. 

A lot can be said of various other traits attributed to Perseus, such as how his actions might suggest a reckless nature to his character, but throughout the various versions of Perseus, I think it is significant that Perseus is always marked as a rather human figure. Even in the most recent version of Clash of the Titans, as well as its sequel, Perseus’ main conflict is against the gods. And when offered the chance to be a god, both this version of Perseus and Percy Jackson reject the offer, with the latter even requesting the gods to acknowledge their children, thus helping his feel demigods. 

Perhaps it was the qualities that distinguished Perseus from other heroes that allowed him to have a happy ending, when so many other Greek heroes did not receive one. 

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The Myth of Andromeda: On Andromeda

There is a lot to say as far as how Andromeda herself has been depicted. Whether she serves as the victim or heroine of a particular story, she seems to be marked by two qualities: her beauty and the fact that she is the unwitting victim of the gods’ schemes. 

 In the majority of the stories she is featured in, Andromeda is primarily the victim of some deity’s wrath – typically sea nymphs, though sometimes Poseidon himself or even Zeus has some desire to punish her. If Andromeda is given a choice as to whether or not she chooses to sacrifice herself shows how the writer chooses to depict her. Sometimes, Andromeda’s victimhood is emphasized; others, a sense of nobility is given to her. In either case, she is someone whom might feel pity for, but not really someone who would receive ridicule for her circumstances.  

 As the main focus on Andromeda is during her imprisonment, this is typically when the audience sees the most of her character. She is often depicted as screaming or crying as the monster approaches, though it is interesting that in more pictures or or in the film adaptations, she does appear to scream in the face of the monster. Whether or not artists chose to not depict her screaming as a reflection of Andromeda’s character is probably dependent on the individual artists, but I do find it to be an interesting choice. By emphasizing a lack of a visible emotional response, a certain depth of character becomes apparent for Andromeda. To not cower in the face of a horrible monster, as one probably would, probably takes great strength and bravery, traits one would not normally associate with Andromeda. 

But even Andromeda crying in this moment can reveal different qualities to her character depending on the story. Is it the threat of death that causes her to cry, or the fact that she is seen in such a vulnerable and exposed position when Perseus comes to rescue her? Does she value living or modesty more? This can change between different translations and adaptations of the myth, but it is common for different authors to make one choice in the matter.

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The Myth of Andromeda: Mapping the Universe

An interesting aspect of the myth of Andromeda and Perseus escapes the typical settings for Greek mythology. While there were quite a few myths that explored the world beyond Greece (most notably, The Odyssey and The Iliad), many myths tended to stay within the Mediterranean world, mainly exploring locations within the boundaries of the Mediterranean Sea itself. One notable exception is when characters traveled to the Underworld, as that was thought to be beyond the Mediterranean world. While the myth of Perseus adheres to this standard initially, Perseus and Andromeda take readers beyond the confines of this region. 

As Andromeda is from the Kingdom of Æthiopia, the story moves from it’s initial starting point in the Mediterranean to a point beyond this world, as Æthiopia is associated with Southern Egypt and Northern Sudan. Moving further away from Greece was significant in mythology, as the potential for new creatures or different interactions between characters beyond what was familiar grew. Though Ovid does not place much focus on Andromeda’s homeland, the conditions of her kingdom have been explored in later versions of the myth, such as in the nineteenth century poem “Andromeda,” by Charles Kingsley. Though the depiction of this kingdom and the people within it is far from flattering, it is interesting that Andromeda is usually situated in Africa when Perseus first meets her, though this is not always the case. Placing Andromeda outside of Greece allows for the opportunity to break certain traditions, such as the binding nature of engagements and even the proper way in which arranged marriages were formed. 

But the story of Perseus and Andromeda also moves beyond the human realm, in a sense. In Harry Turtledove’s “Myth Manners' Guide to Greek Missology #1: Andromeda and Perseus,” Andromeda travels to Mount Olympus on the orders of Zeus to retrieve her mission. Similarly, the heavens serve as an important location for Andromeda and Perseus at the end of Euripides’ play, as the characters from the myth are placed among the stars as constellations. This particularly location is unique, because even though the scene probably does not take place in space, anything related to space was rare in Greek myths, especially outside of creation myths. Andromeda as an astronomical object is particularly interesting, as it is not just the name of a constellation with a corresponding myth, but the name of a galaxy that has inspired stories of its own, from a video game series to a collection of feminist poems bearing the name Andromeda. 

The different locations associated with the story of Andromeda and Perseus allows for more chances to explore different ideas and topics, especially in retellings of the myth. Though some versions of the story, such as the Clash of the Titans films, have changed various locations in the story, such as the country that Andromeda is from no longer being Æthiopia, each version of this myth that I’ve come across so far has managed to travel between a few central locations that allowed the flow of the story to change as Perseus’ adventures continued. 

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I don’t think I’ve seen anyone depict Andromeda befriending the monster, but honestly, I really like the revision of the story. 

Inktober day 12 - Andromeda

Today I followed @lyfeillustration s Galaxy Girls promptlist and I am not the biggest fan of girl is threatened by a monster, but befriending the monster? Yes, please. 

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The Myth of Andromeda: The Universe Explored

The story of Andromeda, like other myths and fairy tales, is one full of magical elements, archetypal characters, quests, and obstacles. As I mentioned in a previous post, the story of Andromeda is a part of a series of stories. In Ovid’s version of the tale, it serves as the middle of Perseus’ story, who is one of the most important heroes in Greek mythology. 

Before Andromeda comes into the story, Perseus and his mother, Danae, were forced away from their kingdom after Perseus’ grandfather, Acrisius, learned from a prophecy that he would be killed by his grandson. Despite Acrisius’ plan to kill Danae and Perseus, the two survive and arrive on the island of Serifos. Though the two initially take refuge with a fisherman, they eventually meet the king of the island, Polydectes, who serves as the catalyst for Perseus’ quest. 

Polydectes, who wants to woe Danae, conceives a plan to get rid of Perseus by ordering him to bring him the head of Medusa, a gorgon with the power to turn people to stone. Perseus leaves Serifos and begins traveling south in search of her. While on his journey, he encounters mythological figures such as the Graeae (three sisters with ties to the Gorgons), the Hesperides (nymphs), and the goddess and god Athena and Hermes, who all help him defeat Medusa. 

After the defeat of Medusa, it is then that Perseus meets Andromeda. Andromeda has her own encounters with mythological creatures, both directly and indirectly, as she is sacrificed to the sea monster Cetus as a result of the god of the sea, Poseidon, and nymphs who were insulted by her mother, Cassiopeia. Before the monster can consume Andromeda, she is saved by Perseus, and the two wed. Before they can return to Serifos, however, Perseus is forced to fight her previous fiancé, Phineus. 

Once on Serifos, Perseus defeats Polydectes by turning him to stone with the head of Medusa, ending the main story of Perseus. Eventually, Perseus does fulfill the prophecy of killing his grandfather once his family returns to Argos. Andromeda and Perseus go on to have nine children (though this number varies from myth to myth), serving as the ancestors for the biggest Greek hero of all: Heracles. In Euripides’ version of the story, the couple are placed in the sky at the end of their long and happy lives together. 

Unlike many Greek heroes, Perseus and Andromeda do not suffer horrible fates for their actions. As both were initially victims in their story who did not commit any actions that would merit revenge in the standards of the Greeks (with the possible exception of Medusa’s death, if her death results in the birth of her son), there is no real reason why they should suffer at the end of their story, like so many heroes before and after them. 

In some ways, they more closely resemble the protagonists of other stories, with Andromeda serving as a prototype for the virtuous princess who is wrongfully punished but is eventually saved and seemingly lives a happy life at the end of her story. Perseus, as has been touched on, is the hero who manages to defeat the monster (or monsters in his case, both human and supernatural) and save the princess with the aid of magical helpers. Cassiopeia serves the role of the “evil” mother by causing her daughter to suffer because of her vain personality, though unlike in later stories, Cassiopeia does not intend for Andromeda to suffer. 

That is not to say that their are no elements of the story that resemble greek mythology. One of the most interesting components of the story is the roles that the gods play. Throughout mythology, the gods serve as both benevolent and vindictive figures in their interactions with humans, and that is no different for the characters present throughout this story. Because Perseus is the son of Zeus, who himself indirectly causes the suffering Danae and Perseus initially go through, he is given aid by both Hermes and Athena to ensure that he is able to defeat Medusa. But Medusa herself is someone who has suffered because of the gods, as she was (in some versions) initially a human maiden who was turned into a gorgon by Athena herself after the girl was raped in Athena’s temple by Poseidon. Andromeda too suffers because of Poseidon, as he is the one who conjures up the monster that attacks her kingdom until she is eventually forced to become a sacrifice. Both Andromeda and Medusa are victims of the gods, but the main difference for them is that one was immediately punished unjustly, while the other was able to be saved before she could be punished. The helpful and petty nature of the gods is something that is seen throughout Greek mythology, and it’s interesting that the stories of Perseus and Andromeda explore both of these natures. 

The other main similarity is the composition of the story. Many Greek myths begin with the protagonists facing some sort of dilemma, and that is the case for both Perseus and Andromeda. Though the choices they are faced with are not the most morally questionable ones that heroes in Greek mythology face, the issue of Medusa’s death and Andromeda’s marriage can be questioned to some extent. especially if Medusa were to be portrayed as a sympathetic character. 

There is also the common themes of justice, punishment, and revenge that appear in both this particular myth and other myths as a whole. Though things ultimately work out in both Andromeda and Perseus’ favors, the issue of punishment is interesting in how it’s delivered. Aside from Andromeda and Medusa, there is also the punishment of Phineus and, in Euripides’ version, Cassiopeia. Phineus is killed for disrupting the marriage of Perseus and Andromeda, despite his previous engagement to her. Though we are not meant to feel pity for Phineus, he is, in a way justified in his reaction. As for Cassiopeia, when Andromeda and Perseus are casted in the sky, she and her husband are also placed in the sky. Because of one boast that she made, however, she is forced to hang upside-down, tied to her throne for all eternity. The punishments that Phineus and Cassiopeia suffer - death and eternal mockery - are extreme their actions in the story, even if they serve as antagonistic figures. They are also characteristic of the types of suffering that many humans suffer throughout various myths. 

The stories of Andromeda and Perseus are interesting in how they adhere to and subvert Greek myths. Perhaps one of the reasons why the myths of Perseus and even Andromeda are revisited when others aren’t is because of the way that these stories deviate from the rest of myths, allowing the two to have happy endings when so many other Greek heroes have bittersweet endings, at best. 

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when asked about their love lives, the women of greek mythology responded thus //

this is by far my most popular poem and i realized i never posted anything more than the initial run. it grew into a bit of a beast, so here’s the edited rest of it.

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The Myth of Andromeda: A Star is Born

The story of Andromeda, at least in its original format, is just one part of a larger series of myths. Though the setting is known, neither the time period of when her story was created, nor the time period that it takes place in are known (though based on details beyond the story itself, this is rather early in comparison to other well-known myths). It stands to reason that like most myths, the story of Andromeda was probably performed orally, and one of the oldest accounts of Andromeda comes from Euripides’ fifth century BC play Andromeda. As the majority of this play has been lost, however, it is Ovid’s account of the story that is perhaps the most well-known version. 

 In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, “Perseus and Andromeda” is the second and middle story in a set of myths about Perseus’s life and accomplishments. After defeating Medusa to appease Polydectes, Perseus happened to stumble upon Andromeda as he was flying above the shores of Ethiopia. Andromeda, who was chained to a rock just beyond the shore, stood out to Perseus because of her beauty. When he first approached her, she initially remained silent out of embarrassment. Eventually, she revealed that it was because of her mother that she was being sacrificed to Cetus, the creature that had wreaked havoc on her country. Perseus then makes a deal with her father, King Cephus, to defeat the monster in exchange for her hand, and slays the sea monster before freeing Andromeda. 

Though this is where “Perseus and Andromeda” ends, their story does not end there. As a result of Perseus slaying Cetus, Perseus and Andromeda get married in her kingdom, only for her uncle and former fiancé, Phineus, to fight Perseus during the ceremony. Once again, Perseus prevails against Phineus, and the couple is able to travel back to his mother to save her from Polydectes before going to Argos and starting their own family. 

While “Perseus and Andromeda” focuses more on Perseus rather than focusing on the two equally, I think it’s interesting that Euripides had devoted an entire play to Andromeda. Not much is known about this play, but at the end of the play, Athena turns Perseus and Andromeda into the constellations that we know them as today, and other important figures from Andromeda’s story, including her mother, father, Cetus, and even Pegasus, the creature born from the slaying of Medusa, are also constellations. 

Since these early accounts of Andromeda’s stories, multiple plays, poems, and even short stories center around her tale. These adaptations and retellings mostly remain the same, with some minor details changing or additional characters being added to the story.  A few works, primarily more modern retellings, have changed the story or focus considerably, moving away from the damsel-in-distress model presented in the original to a more feminist account of the story. In, a way, however, even these changes seem to live up to the spirit of the myth, which is one that moves away from the status quo and instead allows new dynamics to come into play. 

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Modern Mythology | Andromeda

Andromeda was a princess of Ethiopia who was offered as a sacrifice to a sea monster sent by Poseidon after her mother boosted she was more beautiful than the Nereids. However, Perseus, as he passed by, noticed her and immediately fell in love. He rescued Andromeda and then married her. Following her death, her image was placed in the sky as a constellation.

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This is really pretty! I love how you represent Andromeda - a lot of artistic portrayals of her bother me due to how often she’s white-washed. 

✨Andromeda✨

Since I’m South African I figured I’d do a little something different for Mandela Day (albeit a little late). “In Greek mythology, Andromeda was the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, king and queen of the African kingdom of Aethiopia.” This signifies the strength and beauty of Africa, just what Nelson Mandela envisioned.

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The Myth of Andromeda: A tale for the stars

A princess, a constellation, a galaxy. All of these answer the question, “What is Andromeda?” And it only begins to scratch the surface of my interest in this mythological figure. 

While my main entryway into the world of mythology was through the Percy Jackson series, it was certainly not my first. I’ve always been fascinated by myths every since I first heard the story of Icarus as a child. But one myth in particular that always stood out to me was the myth of Andromeda and Perseus. This myth does not end in tragedy, the way so many do. Not only is Andromeda saved from being sacrificed, but she is also saved from an arranged marriage, and actually goes on to live a happy life with Perseus. Being a young romantic who has always been enthralled by Disney movies, it was no shock to me that I ended up enjoying this story. 

But my interest goes further than the events of the myth. It is Andromeda herself that shines brightest for me, and drives my continued interest in her story. Living in a culture where African stories and people are often neglected and ignored, it means so much to me that a character like Andromeda - a Nubian princess - plays a role in one of the most prominent myths from Ancient Greek, and even has a myth dedicated to her story. Andromeda is not just saved by Perseus - she ends up accompanying him on his journeys after they get married. The only other woman I can think of in mythology who both married the hero and accompanied him on his journeys is Medea. Unlike Medea, Andromeda is neither neglected by Perseus nor resorts to killing her children. In all accounts, she’s portrayed in a positive light, and the fact that she’s of African heritage is so significant to me. 

If there’s one thing that troubles me with Andromeda, however, it’s the way she is often portrayed . The fact that she is Nubian, or an Ethiop as Ovid’s account reports, seems to be lost in so many artistic representations of the princess. 

How is it that this:

is the ideal for how Andromeda is portrayed in art? Why is Andromeda’s story, both in its original form and in modern adaptations, defined by markers of Greek culture and void of any references to Nubian society? What does the portrayal of Andromeda in an adaptation of her story reveal about how she is seen to others?

This semester, I hope to explore not only the different stories both within and inspired by the initial set of myths related to Andromeda, but also the way in which this character changes over time, in both how she is depicted physically and emotionally. I also plan to explore the roles that she plays, and how they vary from story to story, if they do vary. Finally, I hope to have a better understanding of the reach of this character, and her myth in general. 

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