PE′LOPS, son of Tantalus, king of Phrygia. His father killed him, and
served him up to be eaten at a feast given to the gods, who, when they
found out what the father of Pelops had done, restored the son to life,
and he afterwards became the husband of Hippodamia.
PENA′TES. Roman domestic gods. See Lares.
PERPETUAL PUNISHMENT, see Sisyphus.
PERSEPH′ONE. The Greek name of Proserpine.
PER′SEUS was a son of Jupiter and Danæ, the daughter of Acrisius. His
first famous exploit was against the Gorgon, Medusa. He was assisted in
this enterprise by Pluto, who lent him a helmet which would make him
invisible. Pallas lent him her shield, and Mercury supplied him with
wings. He made a speedy conquest of the Gorgons, and cut off Medusa’s
head, with which he flew through the air, and from the blood sprang the
winged horse Pegasus. As he flew along he saw Andromeda chained to the
rock, and a sea-monster ready to devour her. He killed the monster, and
married Andromeda. When he got back, he showed the Gorgon’s head to
King Polydectes, and the monarch was immediately turned into stone.
“Now on Dædalian waxen pinions stray,
Or those which wafted Perseus on his way.”