In Greek mythology

Greek mythology

Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...

, King Polydectes was the ruler of the island of Seriphos, son of Magnes

Magnes (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Magnes was a name attributed to two men.*Magnes, son of Zeus and Thyia, daughter of Deucalion, or of Aeolus and Enarete, or of Argus and Perimele, eponym and first king of Magnesia, and brother of Makednos...

 and an unnamed naiad

Naiad

In Greek mythology, the Naiads or Naiades were a type of nymph who presided over fountains, wells, springs, streams, and brooks....

. Polydectes fell in love with Danaë

Danaë

In Greek mythology, Danaë was a daughter of King Acrisius of Argos and Eurydice of Argos. She was the mother of Perseus by Zeus. She was sometimes credited with founding the city of Ardea in Latium....

 when she and her son Perseus

Perseus

Perseus ,Perseos and Perseas are not used in English. the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty of Danaans there, was the first of the mythic heroes of Greek mythology whose exploits in defeating various archaic monsters provided the founding myths of the Twelve Olympians...

 were saved by his brother Dictys

Dictys

Dictys was a name attributed to four men in Greek mythology.* Dictys was a fisherman and brother of King Polydectes of Seriphos, both being the sons of Magnes by a naiad. He discovered Danaë and Perseus inside a chest that had washed up on shore. He immediately fell in love with Danae and wanted to...

 (see: Acrisius

Acrisius

Acrisius was a mythical king of Argos, and a son of Abas and Aglaea , grandson of Lynceus, great-grandson of Danaus. His twin brother was Proetus, with whom he is said to have quarreled even in the womb of his mother...

). Perseus was very protective of his mother and wouldn't allow Polydectes near Danaë

Danaë

In Greek mythology, Danaë was a daughter of King Acrisius of Argos and Eurydice of Argos. She was the mother of Perseus by Zeus. She was sometimes credited with founding the city of Ardea in Latium....

. Therefore, Polydectes wanted to get rid of him so he could marry her. He thereby hatched a plot.

Polydectes went under the pretence that he was going to marry Hippodamia

Hippodamia

Hippodamia was a daughter of King Oenomaus and wife of Pelops with whom her offspring were Thyestes, Atreus, Pittheus, Alcathous, Troezen, Hippalcimus, Copreus, Astydameia, Nicippe, Eurydice and others....

, a princess from another land and ordered every man in Seriphos to supply him with suitable gifts. Perseus, however, could not afford an extravagant gift and turned up in the king's court empty handed. Polydectes jeered at the young lad and encouraged the rich nobles to do the same. This caused Perseus to speak up and pledge to get the king anything he desired. Polydectes then announced that he wanted nothing more than the head of the Gorgon, Medusa

Medusa

In Greek mythology Medusa , " guardian, protectress") was a Gorgon, a chthonic monster, and a daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. The author Hyginus, interposes a generation and gives Medusa another chthonic pair as parents. Gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone...

. Perseus agreed and Polydectes told him that he could not return to the island without it. Therefore Polydectes, unknowingly, sealed Perseus's fate to achieve a place in the Hall of Heroes. Perseus slew Medusa, supposedly avoiding her deadly gaze by using his shield as a mirror.

When Perseus returned to Seriphos with the Gorgon's head, he found that, in his absence, his mother was threatened and abused by Polydectes, who made her work as a palace slave. Perseus was outraged and strode into the throne room where Polydectes and other nobles were convening. Polydectes was surprised that the hero was still alive and refused to believe Perseus had accomplished the deed he was sent out to do. Perseus professed that he did slay the Gorgon named Medusa (the only Gorgon who was mortal), and as proof, he revealed her severed head. When Polydectes and his nobles gazed upon the prize, they were then turned to solid stone.