In Greek mythology, Andromeda was the daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia of Aethiopia. The story begins with an act of hubris: Cassiopeia boasted that she (or her daughter) was more beautiful than the Nereids, the sea nymphs. This insult angered Poseidon, who sent a monstrous sea creature, Cetus , to ravage the kingdom.
: The characters of this myth were eventually immortalized as constellations in the northern sky. The Scientific Perspective: Our Galactic Neighbor Andromedum
To appease the gods and save his people, Cepheus was forced to sacrifice Andromeda, chaining her to a rock by the sea to be devoured. She was eventually rescued by the hero Perseus , who used the severed head of Medusa to petrify the monster. This narrative has served as a cornerstone of Western art and literature, often interpreted through themes of: In Greek mythology, Andromeda was the daughter of