Perseids (mythology)

In Greek mythology, the Perseids^[1][2][3][4] (sg. Perseid;^[5][6][a] Ancient Greek: Περσείδαι, romanized: Perseídai,^[7][8][9] lit. 'those born of Perseus', sg. Περσείδης Perseídēs),^[b] also called the Perseid dynasty,^[11][12] the Perseid line,^[13][14] or the House of Perseus, are the descendants of Perseus and Andromeda.

After the Greek Dark Ages, tradition recalled that Perseus and his descendants the Perseids had ruled Tiryns in Mycenaean times, while the allied branch descended from Perseus' great-uncle Proetus ruled in Argos.^[15]

Perseus and Andromeda had seven sons: Perses, Alcaeus, Heleus, Mestor, Sthenelus, Electryon, and Cynurus; and two daughters: Gorgophone, and Autochthe. Perses was left in Aethiopia and was believed to have become an ancestor of the Persians. The other descendants ruled Mycenae from Electryon down to Eurystheus, after whom Atreus got the kingdom. The most renowned of the Perseids was the greatest Greek hero, Heracles son of Zeus and Alcmene, daughter of Electryon.

Notes

1. Archaically Perseides or Perseïdes, sg. Perseide or Perseïde.
2. Latin: Perseidae,^[10] sg. Perseides.