The Birth of Perseus
The Birth of Perseus
In a Nutshell
Just like the ancient Greeks, folks today are totally obsessed with superheroes. Seriously, like how much bank has Hollywood been making lately off these comic book movies? Batman, X-Men, Ironman, Superman, Spiderman, the Avengers--the list doesn't stop. We just can't get enough of these stories about mega-powerful people, doing mega-awesome things.
Besides having some extraordinary ability, what's one thing all superheroes have in common? If you guessed, "a crazy origin story," then you're thinking what we're thinking. Superman was hurled from his exploding home planet of Krypton, Batman survived his parents' murder to be trained in Tibet, and Iron Man invented a kick-butt suit after almost being blown up by the bad guys.
In "The Birth of Perseus," we can totally see where today's mythmakers got the idea to give all their heroes awesome beginnings. It seems to us that Perseus' personal beginning holds its own against all his modern competition. You have to admit that being born from a shower of gold that's really a god in disguise is pretty darn impressive. Even Tony Stark would have to admit that it's cool.
Shmoop Connections
Explore the ways this myth connects with the world and with other topics on Shmoop
Don't go thinking that Danae is the only mortal lady to fall under the "charms" of Zeus. Just read the poem "Leda and the Swan" by William Butler Yeats if you don't believe us.You've got to check out the many adventures of Perseus' namesake, Percy Jackson, in Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief.
In his Metamorphoses, Ovid gives you the low-down on Perseus' awesome Gorgon-slaying, maiden-rescuing later adventures.