Perseus and Andromeda

Andromeda was the beautiful daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia in the kingdom of Aethiopia. Andromeda bragged of her beauty claiming that she was more beautiful than the Nereids, who were the daughters of the sea god Poseidon. Poseidon was angered by such claims as no mortal could equal the children of the great gods. Maliciously, Poseidon sent Cetus, a sea monster to ravage the kingdom of Cepheus and Cassiopeia. The rulers were told that the only way to soothe the god was to sacrifice their own daughter to the monster. And so, Andromeda was chained to a rock along the coastline. It was here, while Andromeda faced the sea, and her impeding doom, that Perseus first saw her.

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Richard Hook

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Perseus was made a hero because he defeated the gorgon Medusa by chopping off her head. Medusa had hair of snakes and could turn anyone to stone with her stare. Perseus was able to succeed in defeating the gorgon and was returning from this battle, wearing winged sandals and carrying the ugly head in a magical bag. When Perseus flew over the rock to which Andromeda was chained he was intrigued at what he saw. When the hero joined the girl on the rock he fell in love with her beauty and learned of her fate. He vowed to save Andromeda from the sea monster and as Cetus rose out of the water Perseus prepared for battle.

Perseus,...

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There are differing accounts of how Perseus defeated Cetus. Some say he used his sword to stab the monster and others claim he pulled the head of Medusa out of the magical bag and Cetus turned to stone and sank. Either way, Cetus was defeated and Andromeda was freed. Perseus and Andromeda were then married. Later, when Perseus and Andromeda died they were given honoured places among the stars.

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The constellations of Perseus, Andromeda and Cetus can be found most clearly in the winter sky and only in the northern hemisphere. While facing the Southern horizon, first look for the Little Dipper, this is a small ladle just above the Big Dipper. From the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper follow up and to the right. Here you can find Perseus. This cluster of stars resembling the letter Y lying on its side depicts Perseus with a sword in one hand and the head of Medusa in the other.

Andromeda is up and to the left of the brightest star of Perseus. Andromeda is represented as the figure of a woman with her arms outstretched and chained at the wrists. This constellation is like two long spider legs hanging out of the sky.

From Andromeda's left wrist, looking up and slightly to the right , you will reach the tip of Cetus' nose. This is It is one of the largest constellations known and therefore the full constellation can only be seen October to January.

The constant movement of the Earth causes the constellations to change their positions in the sky. As the Earth rotates, the constellations move across the horizon. This effect makes it look as if Cetus is forever chasing Andromeda, but she is always protected by her love, Perseus.

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