Perseus, ĕi and ĕos (acc., Persea, Ov. M. 4, 610), m., = Περσεύς.
I Son of Jupiter and Danăē , abandoned by his grandfather Acrisius , but rescued and brought up by Polydectes , king of Seriphus. When grown up , he undertook , at the instigation of Polydectes , an expedition against the islands of the Gorgons , and received from Vulcan a sickle-shaped sword , from Mercury winged shoes , and from Minerva a shield and the flying horse Pegasus. Thus armed , he killed and cut off the head of Medusa , whose look turned every thing into stone. On his way back , he , by means of it , turned into stone a sea-monster to which Andromeda , the daughter of Cepheus , was exposed , and married her. Their son Perses became the progenitor of the Persians. After his death , Perseus was placed among the constellations , Ov. M. 4, 609 sq.; Hyg. Fab. 64; 244; id. Astron. 12; Cic. N. D. 2, 44, 112; Prop. 2, 30 (3, 28), 4; 2, 28 (3, 24), 22; Serv. Verg. A. 4, 246.—
B Hence,
1 Per-sēus , a, um, adj., of or belonging to Perseus , Persean , Prop. 3 (4), 22, 8: Perseos alter in Argos scinditur, i. e. where Perseus's grandfather , Acrisius , reigned , Stat. Th. 1, 255: Persei culmina montis, the mountain where Perseus first mounted Pegasus , id. ib. 3, 633: Persea Tarsos, founded by Perseus , Luc. 3, 225: Babylon, id. 6, 449.—
2 Per-sēïus , a, um, Persean : Perseia castra sequi, to fight in his army , Ov. M. 5, 128.—
II The last king of Macedonia , v. Perses, IV.