Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danaë, the beautiful daughter of the king of Argos. An oracle, or fortune-teller, warned the king that Perseus would one day kill him. Fearing the prophecy would come true, the king built a large wooden chest and locked Danaë and young Perseus inside. He then cast them into the sea. Danaë and Perseus held each other tightly as the sea battered the chest, tossing it aimlessly across the dark night and into the gray dawn. When daylight came, Danaë felt a large wave pick up the chest and carry it to land. They were safe from the sea, but still unable to break from their prison.

A fisherman who was brother to the king of the new land rescued Perseus and Danaë that day. Over time, the king, who was a cruel and ruthless man, fell in love with Danaë. Perseus by now had grown older and was very protective of his mother. The king devised a plan to send Perseus away on an impossible quest. He challenged Perseus to bring him the head of the Gorgon Medusa—the snake-haired woman whose very gaze turned men to stone.

The god of travel and speed, Hermes, and the goddess of wisdom, Athena, both watched over Perseus and helped to guide him on his quest. Perseus had to first find the Graiæ, three gray, ancient women, sisters to Medusa, who had only one eye and one tooth to share between themselves. Perseus hid and waited until the eye was passed among the sisters, and then he quickly snatched it up, promising to return it only after they agreed to help him in his quest. Their voices cracked and rattled anxiously—they wanted their eye back! They quickly told Perseus how he could acquire the three gifts crucial to making his quest successful. The gifts were a pair of winged sandals that would allow him to fly, a satchel in which to carry Medusa’s head, and a cap that would make him invisible.