Editing Perseus (section)

===A Horrifying Wedding Gift===

When Perseus was growing up on the island of [[Serifos|Seriphus]],<ref name = britannica/> Polydectes came to lust for the beautiful Danaë. Perseus believed Polydectes was less than honorable, and protected his mother from him; then Polydectes plotted to send Perseus away in disgrace. He held a large banquet where each guest was expected to bring a gift.{{efn|Such a banquet, to which each guest brings a gift, was an ''eranos''. The name of ''Polydectes'', "receiver of many", characterizes his role as intended host but is also a [[euphemism]] for the Lord of the Underworld, as in {{cite book |title=[[Homeric Hymn|Homeric Hymns]] |chapter=Hymn to Demeter |at=9, 17}} }} Polydectes requested that the guests bring horses, under the pretense that he was collecting contributions for the hand of [[Hippodamia (daughter of Oenomaus)|Hippodamia]], daughter of Oinomaos. Perseus had no horse to give, so he asked Polydectes to name the gift; he would not refuse it. Polydectes held Perseus to his [[rash promise]] and demanded the snake-haired [[Medusa]]'s head.