Gorgophone was the daughter of Perseus and Andromeda, and she became a queen of both Messenia and Sparta, as well as the mother and grandmother of various notable figures in Greek mythology.
Biography
Born from the union of the legendary hero Perseus and the Ethiopian princess Andromeda, Gorgophone was named in honor of her father's greatest deed, the slaying of the Gorgon Medusa.[1] As a virgin, Gorgophone was married to Perieres, the king of Messene and Sparta. With him, Gorgophone begat sons who went on to become princes and kings of Sparta themselves.[1]
After Perieres died, Gorgophone refused to bow to tradition which stated she should henceforth remain unmarried and live out her life as a widow, and married Oibalos, another king of Sparta. Via him, she became the grandmother of a number of famous people, including Helen, Kastor and Polydeukes, and Klytaimnestra.[1]
In addition to breaking that tradition, Gorgophone was said to delight in chaos otherwise as well.[2] Some said she was the elderly warrioress who wreaked havoc around Lake Tritonis to the extent that Perseus sought to put an end to it himself.[1] Even if that was not the case, Gorgophone still possessed a helmet which, following her death, was laid in her tomb within the depths of the Foundry of Hephaistos.[1]
Legacy and influence
During the Peloponnesian War, some still remembered Gorgophone. One of these, an elderly woman in the Port of Kechries, Korinthia, tasked the Spartan misthios Kassandra to retrieve Gorgophone's helmet for her to study.[1]
Behind the scenes
The name Gorgophone is Greek, and means 'Gorgon-slayer'.[3]
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (mentioned only)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Test of Courage
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Helmet of Gorgophone
- ↑
Gorgophone on Wikipedia