Polydectes- Greek FigureMortal"King of Seriphos"

The King and the Castaways

Polydectes ruled the small island of Seriphos, where his brother Dictys lived as a fisherman. When Dictys hauled ashore a wooden chest containing Danaë and her infant son Perseus, cast into the sea by King Acrisius of Argos, Polydectes welcomed the mother and child into his kingdom. As Perseus grew to manhood, however, the king's hospitality curdled into desire for Danaë. She refused his advances, and according to Apollodorus, took refuge at the altars of the gods while Perseus protected her. Polydectes, unable to force his will while her son remained on the island, devised a scheme to remove him. He announced that he intended to court Hippodamia, daughter of Oenomaus, and demanded wedding gifts of horses from his subjects. Perseus, who possessed no horses, rashly promised to bring anything the king desired. Polydectes named his price: the head of the Gorgon Medusa, a creature whose gaze turned men to stone. He expected the young man to perish in the attempt.

The Stone Court

Perseus, aided by Athena and Hermes, accomplished what Polydectes had counted on killing him. He returned to Seriphos bearing Medusa's severed head in a leather bag. He found that during his absence Polydectes had intensified his pursuit of Danaë, who had been forced to seek sanctuary at an altar with Dictys sheltering her. Perseus went directly to the king's hall, where Polydectes sat feasting with his companions. When the king mocked his return, Perseus drew forth the Gorgon's head and turned Polydectes and his entire court to stone. Dictys, the fisherman who had first saved Danaë from the sea, became king of Seriphos. The stone figures of Polydectes and his courtiers remained visible on the island for generations.