This might be a weird question, but the topic has been driving me insane. So, Perseus has been one of ny favourite Greek heroes of all time, but suddenly i've seen many people around the internet saying he's horrible and... Why? Is there any myth I haven't found yet about the guy? Any source? Like, i'm already aware how people know nothing about his deal with Medusa, but suddenly everyone started to say that he was horrible towards his mother and Andromeda too, and i can't find anything explaining something "terrible", at least for what would be considered like that back in the day. What did the dude do that i'm missing? Or people just want to shit on him because it's quirky like they've been doing towards Odysseus for no reason? Παρακαλώ, βοηθήστε 🥲
Γειαα! Hmmm reading the basics again for his life and feats, besides slaying the Medusa (aka not a feminist icon but the type of monster who kills a mother with her child if she sees them near - please no one believe Ovid xD), I didn't see any other "problematic" thing. I might have been missing something as well, so anyone who knows feel free to enlighten us both.
My general guess is that western internet culture sees Medusa as a feminist icon right now because they don't check to see how Ovid treated the Greek myths, and generally because they don't read what the ancient Greek authors said about this monster or how ancient Greeks used her symbol/head to scare others. So, Perseas, who killed this "feminist icon" is the bad guy in their minds.
Might I add, Perseas killed the Medusa to get rid of a cunning and abusive king who wanted to force his mother into marriage with himself. Also, he saved Andromeda and took her as a wife with the wishes of her family. When Andromeda's former fiance chased them, Perseas was like "dude, you did nothing for your "fiance" when they tied her on a rock for a monster to eat her, and now you want her??" Then he returned and saved his mother just before the evil king sacrificed her. I am aware of the patriarchal lenses here so in this context, and even by today's standards to a large degree, the most feminist icon in the story is Perseas 😂 (unless he did something horrible I missed, idk xD)
@purple-amaranthe do you happen to know any problematic things Perseas has done in this detailed memory of yours?
