< Perseus, son of Pilumnus >

1 Origin

Perseus was born in Chemmis, Nile Delta, Egypt, in 1360 BC. [Herod.2.91]

Perseus' father was Pilumnus. [Dic: Daunus]

Perseus' mother was Danae, daughter of Acrisius. [Herod.7.61, Pliny.3.56, Strabo.10.5.10]

2 Family

Perseus married Andromeda, daughter of Cepheus. [Apo.2.4.3, Herod.7.61]

Perseus and Andromeda had a son, Perses. [Apo.2.4.5, Herod.7.61, Pliny.7.201]

Perseus and Andromeda had a son, Sthenelus. [Euseb.177]

Perseus and Andromeda had a son, Electryon. [Hyginus.244]

Perseus and Andromeda had a son, Alcaeus. [Apo.2.4.5]

Perseus and Andromeda had a son, Cynurus. [Pauss.3.2.2]

Perseus and Andromeda had a son, Mestor. [Apo.2.4.5]

Perseus and Andromeda had a son, Helius (or Heleus). [Apo.2.4.7, Pauss.3.20.6]

Perseus and Andromeda had a daughter, Gorgophone. [Apo.2.4.5, Pauss.3.1.4]

Perseus and Andromeda had a daughter, Autochthe. [TzeAdLyco.494]

3 Others

3.1 Migration to Argos

In 1349 BC, Perseus emigrated from Egypt to Argos to succeed his grandfather Acrisius. [Estimated from Plut.Mor.106a]

3.2 Exile to Seriphus

In 1343 BC, Perseus killed his grandfather's brother Proetus and fled to the island of Seriphus.

There, Perseus was protected by Dictys and his wife Clymene. [Apo.2.4.1, Hyginus.63, 244]

3.3 Expedition to Lycaonia

Tarhuntaradu, king of Arzawa, who ruled the region centered on Lydia, invaded deep into Hittite territory and occupied Tuwanuwa (Tyana), about 240 km south of Hattusa. [wiki: Tarhuntaradu]

At the same time, Perseus was on an expedition to Iconium (Konya) in Lycaonia in the southern part of the Anatolia peninsula. [MalaChro.2.36, Suda.mu.406]

Iconium was about 185 km west of Tuwanuwa, which Tarhuntaradu had occupied.

Perseus had just come of age at this time, and it is believed that he participated in the expedition of Tarhuntaradu, king of Arzawa, with the army of Ahhiyawa.

In the temple of the citadel of Mycenae, which Perseus founded, a scarab of Tiye, wife of Amenhotep III, was placed. [wiki: Mycenae]

It is believed that the scarab was a gift from Amenhotep III, with whom Tarhuntaradu was on friendly terms, and that Tarhuntaradu gave it to Perseus, who then placed it in the temple.

3.4 Marriage with Andromeda

Afterwards, Perseus migrated to Cepheus, son of Belus, who lived in Ethiopia. [Apo.2.4.3, Herod.7.61]

Belus' father was Archander, the son of Achaeus, who moved from Argos to Egypt and founded Archandropolis in the Nile Delta. [See Belus, son of Archander]

Perseus' father was Pilumnus, the son of Metanastes, the son of Archander. [See Pilumnus]

In other words, Perseus moved to Ethiopia relying on his father's cousin Cepheus.

In 1335 BC, Perseus married Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus, who was his second cousin. [Apo.2.4.3, Herod.7.61]

3.5 Friendship with Tantalus

Ethiopia, where Perseus lived, was located near the mouth of the Aesepus River in the northwest of the Anatolia Peninsula. [Estimated from Strabo.13.1.11]

The area around Mount Ida near Ethiopia was the territory of Tantalus, the father of Pelops. [Strabo.13.1.11, Strabo.12.8.21]

There was a friendship between Perseus and Tantalus.

This is evidenced by the fact that Perseus' four sons later married the daughters of Pelops, the son of Tantalus.

3.6 Return to Peloponnesus

In 1332 BC, Perseus returned to Peloponnesus, leaving his eldest son Perses in Ethiopia as the successor of Cepheus. [Apo.2.4.5]

Earlier, Acrisius had died and Megapenthes, the son of Proetus, who lived in Tiryns, had seized Argos. [Paus.2.16.2, inferred from Apo.2.4.4]

Perseus occupied Tiryns together with the Achaeans, who had been driven out of Argos. [Inferred from Apo.2.4.4]

3.7 Founding of Mycenae

In 1330 BC, Perseus founded Mycenae and surrounded it with strong walls. [Paus.2.15.4, Paus.7.25.6]

Mycenae is said to have been built on Mount Argium, and Argion, founded by Argus, son of Agenor, was in ruins. [PsPlut.NRM.18]

3.8 Death of Perseus

In 1310 BC, Perseus was killed by Megapenthes, son of Proetus of Argos. [Hyginus.244]

This was in revenge for Perseus' murder of Megapenthes' father Proetus.

After this, Megapenthes killed Lynceus of Abae, and Megapenthes was killed by Abas, son of Lynceus. [Hyginus.244]

This was a power struggle between the descendants of Danaus who lived in Argos, Mycenae, and Abae.