Keep Up With Global Black News

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox.

Avatar photo
BY Francis Akhalbey, 12:42pm September 03, 2018,

The interesting love tale of Ethiopian Princess Andromeda and Greek demi-god Perseus

Avatar photo
by Francis Akhalbey, 12:42pm September 03, 2018,
Paintings of Andromeda -- Left painting by Joachim Wtewael/ Right painting by Frederic Leighton

If you are very familiar with Greek mythology, then you must definitely have heard of Princess Andromeda. According to legend, she was born to Aethiopian (Ethiopian) King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia.

Andromeda’s love tale with Perseus, son of the all-powerful Zeus is very intriguing. Like a knight in shining armour, he came to her rescue after her mother committed hubris (defiance of the gods) by proclaiming Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids (female spirits of sea waters).

The interesting love tale of Ethiopian Princess Andromeda and Greek demi-god Perseus

Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini

According to legend, the Nereids who are very beautiful and sociable had a very close relationship with Poseidon, god of the sea and other waters, earthquakes and horses. As punishment for Queen Cassiopeia’s boastful proclamation, Poseidon sent Cetus, a sea monster to destroy Aethiopia as well as capture Andromeda and kill her.

Andromeda’s father King Cepheus, in a last-ditch attempt, consulted the oracle of Apollo to have mercy on his daughter but was told until his she was sacrificed, nothing could be done to atone for her mother’s hubris. Stripped naked and chained to a rock on the coast, Andromeda was left to be devoured by Cetus.

The interesting love tale of Ethiopian Princess Andromeda and Greek demi-god Perseus

Perseus saving Andromeda — Painting by Gemäldegalerie

Perseus, who was returning after successfully killing and beheading Medusa chanced upon Andromeda and rescued her after killing Cetus while wearing the Hades’s helm which made him invisible. Perseus subsequently married Andromeda although she was betrothed to her uncle Phineus. On the day of their wedding, an altercation between Phineus and Perseus ensued and it ended with Phineus being turned into stone with Medusa’s head.

The interesting love tale of Ethiopian Princess Andromeda and Greek demi-god Perseus

Andromeda’s parents thanking Perseus after he saved her — Painting by Pierre Mignard

Perseus, alongside Andromeda, then went on an expedition to the island of Serifos where he rescued his mortal mother Danaë. They then went to Tiryns, Argos.

The couple had seven sons and two daughters. After Andromeda’s death, Athena, the goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason placed her in the sky as a constellation.

The interesting love tale of Ethiopian Princess Andromeda and Greek demi-god Perseus

Constellation Andromeda (marked with the lines) — Photo via AlltheSky.com

In as much as her story is very interesting, her portrayal as a white woman in art, film as well as novels always strikes a curious chord. If she was Ethiopian, why is she then portrayed as a white woman?

Last Edited by:Ismail Akwei Updated: September 15, 2018

Conversations

Must Read

Connect with us

Join our Mailing List to Receive Updates

Face2face Africa | Afrobeatz+ | BlackStars

Keep Up With Global Black News and Events

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox, plus our curated weekly brief with top stories across our platforms.

No, Thank You