View source for Perses (brother of Aeetes)

{{short description|Colchian king in Greek mythology}}
{{About|the son of Helios|other uses|Perses (mythology)}}
{{Infobox noble|type
| name              = Perses
| title             = King of [[Colchis]]
| alt               = Perses
| succession        = King of Colchis
| predecessor       = [[Aeëtes]]
| successor         = [[Medus]]
| CoA               =
| more              =
| spouse            = None
| spouse-type       = Wife
| issue             = [[Hecate]] <small>(rare)</small>
| father            = [[Helios]]
| mother            = [[Perse (mythology)|Perse]]
}}
In [[Greek mythology]], '''Perses''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɜːr|s|i|z}}; {{langx|grc|Πέρσης|Pérsēs|destroyer}}) is the brother of [[Aeëtes]], [[Aloeus]], [[Circe]] and [[Pasiphaë]], which makes him a son of [[Helios]], the [[Solar deity|god of the sun]], by [[Perse (mythology)|Perse]], an [[Oceanid]] [[nymph]].<ref>[[Hyginus (Fabulae)|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#0.2 Preface]</ref>
== Etymology ==
His name is derived from the Ancient Greek word ''perthō'' ({{lang|grc|πέρθω}} – "to sack", "to ravage", "to destroy").
== Mythology ==
Perses' brother Aeëtes had been warned by an oracle that great peril would come to him if the [[golden fleece]] was ever removed from [[Colchis]].<ref>[[Diodorus Siculus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica|Historic Library]] ''[https://topostext.org/work/133#4.47.1 4.47.1]</ref> Indeed, after [[Medea]] helped [[Jason]] steal the fleece, Perses usurped the throne of [[Colchis]] from his brother, but was subsequently slain by Medea, his paternal niece, who restored her father to the throne,<ref>Pseudo-Apollodorus, ''[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Bibliotheca]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022%3Atext%3DLibrary%3Abook%3D1%3Achapter%3D9%3Asection%3D28 1.9.28]</ref> as an oracle had once predicted that he would be slain by his own kin.<ref name=":0">[[Hyginus (Fabulae)|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#27 27]</ref>
One tale goes that after Perses seized power, Medea's son by either [[Aegeus]] or Jason,<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D963 1000–2]</ref> [[Medus]], arrived in Colchis and was imprisoned immediately, though under a false identity. Soon after a famine broke out. Medea arrived in Colchis too, claiming to be a priestess of [[Artemis]], and unknowingly, betrayed her son's true identity to Perses. Medea, under the pretext of simply wanting to talk to him, secretly gave Medus a sword, and explained what had happened to his grandfather Aeëtes. Medus then slew Perses.<ref name=":0"/><ref>[[Diodorus Siculus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica|Historic Library]] ''[https://topostext.org/work/133#4.56.1 4.56.1]</ref>
Although distinct from the [[Titans|Titan]] known as [[Perses (Titan)|Perses]], who is known for fathering [[Hecate]], the goddess of witchcraft, [[Diodorus Siculus]] in his ''[[Bibliotheca historica]]'' made this Perses the father of Hecate by an unknown mother; Perses' brother Aeëtes then married Hecate and had Medea and Circe by her.<ref>[[Diodorus Siculus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica|Historic Library]]'' [https://topostext.org/work/133#4.45.1 4.45.2]</ref> Diodorus describes Perses as "exceedingly cruel" and "lawless".
{{S-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Colchis#Rulers|King of Colchis]]
| before = [[Aeetes]]
| after = [[Medus]]
| years =
}}
{{S-end}}
== Genealogy ==
{{chart top|Perses's family tree|}}
{{chart/start|style=font-size:100%;line-height:100%;|align=center}}
{{chart| | | | | | | | | | GAI |.| | | |GAI=[[Gaia]]}}
{{chart| | | | | | |,|-|-|-|'| |!| | | }}
{{chart| | | | | | URA |v|-|-|-|'| | | |URA=[[Uranus (mythology)|Uranus]]}}
{{chart| | |,|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|.| }}
{{chart| | HYP |v| THE | | OCE |v| TET |HYP=[[Hyperion (Titan)|Hyperion]]|THE=[[Theia]]|OCE=[[Oceanus]]|TET=[[Tethys (mythology)|Tethys]]}}
{{chart| | | | |`|-|.| | | |,|-|'| | | }}
{{chart| | | | | | HEL |v| PER | | | | |HEL=[[Helios]]|PER=[[Perse (mythology)|Perse]]}}
{{chart| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|^|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{chart|CIR | |AEE | |PAS | |PES | |ALO | |CIR=[[Circe]]|AEE=[[Aeëtes]]|PAS=[[Pasiphaë]]|PES='''PERSES'''|ALO=[[Aloeus]]}}
{{chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}
== See also ==
{{portal|Mythology|Greece}}
* [[Cassiphone]]
* [[Pelias]]
* [[Hamlet]]
* [[Scar (The Lion King)|Scar]]
== Notes ==
<references />
== References ==
* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''Apollodorus, The Library, with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes''. Cambridge, MA, [[Harvard University Press]]; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. Includes Frazer's notes.
* [[Diodorus Siculus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica|The Library of History]]'' translated by [[Charles Henry Oldfather]]. Twelve volumes. [[Loeb Classical Library]]. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8. [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/home.html Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site]
* Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2''. Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888-1890. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0540 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'', in ''The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White'', Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus, Gaius Julius]], [http://www.theoi.com/Text/HyginusFabulae1.html ''The Myths of Hyginus'']. Edited and translated by Mary A. Grant, Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1960.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perses (Son of Helios)}}
[[Category:Mythological kings of Colchis]]
[[Category:Children of Helios]]
[[Category:Medea]]