Frescoes depicting Perseus and Andromeda at the Archaeological Museum of Naples in Italy

Perseus and Andromeda, Pompeii, Casa dei Dioskouros

Fresco - Water-based pigments on coating (128 × 106 cm) 62–79 AD

Fresco of Perseus and Andromeda, Pompeii, House of the Dioskouros, Archaeological Museum of Naples

Perseus and Andromeda After killing and cutting off the head of Medusa, one of the three Gorgons who petrified those they encountered with their gaze, Perseus was flying to Seriphos to give it to the king when he saw Andromeda chained to a rock by the sea.

Andromeda was to be sacrificed to a sea monster to atone for the insolent words of her mother, Cassiopeia.

Perseus freed Andromeda, who was dressed in a magnificent golden gown, after slaying the sea monster with the sword given to him by Hermes, the “harpeis” armed with a fang, which had enabled him to cut off Medusa's head, which hangs from his cloak.

He wears the winged sandals lent to him by the Nymphs, the sandals that enabled him to fly over the world and the land of Andromeda, and to accomplish his feat motivated by his love for her.

Perseus and Andromeda

Perseus, the hero born of a shower of gold

The oracle had told King Acrisius that his daughter, Danaë, would have a son who would kill him.

Immediately locked away by her father, Danaë was nevertheless impregnated by Zeus, who passed through a crack in the roof in the form of a shower of gold, and gave birth to Perseus.

Perseus and his mother were placed in a wooden chest and abandoned to the waves.

They found refuge on the island of Seriphos, until the day the king asked Perseus to bring him the head of the Gorgon.

Perseus and Andromeda, Pompeii, Casa dei Capitelli Colorati

Fresco - Water-based pigments on coating (66 × 62 cm) 45–79 AD

The spouses Andromeda and Perseus are seated at the water's edge on a bench of carved rocks, holding each other tenderly in an embrace.

Andromeda wears a pretty tiara and bracelets on her arms and ankles; she bows her head while Perseus carefully lifts Medusa's head behind him so that she can see her reflection in the water without risking being petrified.

Perseus and Andromeda

Perseus raising the head of Medusa and Andromeda, Pompeii, Casa della Saffo

Fresco - Water-based pigments on coating (57 × 47 cm) 55–79 AD

The couple are seated on a rock above the water.

The whiteness of Andromeda's beautiful body, half-covered by an elegant pink drape, contrasts with the dark musculature of Perseus, who gazes intently at the face of his beloved.

Andromeda leans forward curiously, leaning on the shoulder of Perseus, who lifts the dangerous head of Medusa behind them so that she can see her reflection, thus preventing her from being petrified.

Fresco of Perseus lifting the head of Medusa and Andromeda, Pompeii, Casa della Saffo, Archaeological Museum of Naples

Perseus and Andromeda

Perseus Frees Andromeda, Pompeii, Casa del Principe di Montenegro

Fresco - Water-based pigments on Coating (110.5 × 103 cm) 20–45 AD

Fresco of Perseus freeing Andromeda, Pompeii, Casa del Principe di Montenegro, Archaeological Museum of Naples

Perseus frees Andromeda Perseus defeated the sea monster that was ravaging Ethiopia and was about to devour Andromeda, who had been offered as a sacrificial victim for the offence committed by Queen Cassiopeia, who had dared to claim that she was more beautiful than Poseidon's daughters, the Nereids.

He took Andromeda's arm to help her down from the rock where she was chained, respectfully lowering his eyes before the half-naked body of the young girl.

The sea monster lies at the bottom of the water at the foot of the rocks personified by two witnesses to the scene, who could well be Andromeda's parents, Cassiopeia and Cepheus, who had promised Perseus to give him their daughter in marriage if he succeeded in saving her.

Perseus frees Andromeda

Perseus frees Andromeda, Herculaneum, Palestra

Fresco - Water-based pigments on coating (38 × 38 cm) 45–79 AD

Fresco of Perseus freeing Andromeda, Herculaneum, Palestra, Archaeological Museum of Naples

Perseus frees Andromeda

Perseus and Andromeda, Pompeii