In Greek mythology, King Polydectes was the ruler of the island of Seriphos // Greek mythology consists in part in a large collection of narratives that explain the origins of the world and detail the lives and adventures of a wide variety of gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines. ... Seriphos (or Serifos) (Greek: Σέριφος) is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, located in the western Cyclades, south of Kythnos and northwest of Siphnos. ...

Polydectes fell in love with Danae when she and her son Perseus were saved by his brother Dictys (see: Acrisius). Perseus was very protective of his mother and wouldn't allow Polydectes near Danae and so Polydectes wanted to get rid of him so he could marry her. He thereby hatched a plot. Danae by Gustav Klimt, 1907. ... Perseus with the head of Medusa, by Antonio Canova, completed 1801 (Vatican Museums) Perseus, or Perseos (Greek: Περσεύς, Περσέως), the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty there, was the first of the mythic heroes of Greek mythology whose exploits helped establish the hegemony of Zeus and the Twelve Olympians... Acrisius was a mythical king of Argos, and a son of Abas and Ocalea. ...

Polydectes went under the pretence that he was going to marry Hippodamia, a princess from another land and ordered every man in Seriphos to supply him with suitable gifts. Perseus, however, could not afford an extravagent gift and turned up in the king's court empty handed. Polydectes jeered at the young lad and encouraged the rich nobles to do the same. This caused Perseus to speak up and pledge to get the king anything he desired. Polydectes then announced that he wanted nothing more than the head of the Gorgon, Medusa. Perseus agreed and Polydectes told him that he cannot return to the island without it. Therefore Polydectes, unknowlingly sealed Perseus's fate to have a place in the hall of heroes. A relatively modern image of Medusa painted by Arnold Böcklin In Greek mythology, Medusa (Greek: Μέδουσα), was a monstrous female character whose gaze could turn people to stone. ...

When Perseus returned to Seriphos with the Gorgon's head, he found that, in his absence, his mother was threatened and abused by Polydectes, whom made her work as a palace slave. Perseus was outraged and strode into the throne room where Polydectes and other nobles were convening. Polydectes was surprised that the hero was still alive and refused to believe Perseua had accomplished the deed he was set out to do. Perseus professed that he did slay the Gorgon and as proof, he revealed the severed head. Polydectes and his nobles were then turned to solid stone.