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 - Yes, date unknown
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| Name |
Cassiopeia |
| Gender |
Female |
| Death |
Yes, date unknown |
| Notes |
- «b»http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassiopeia_(mythology)
Wife of Cepheus
«/b»The Queen Cassiopeia, «u»wife «/u» of king «u»Cepheus «/u» of the mythological realm of «u»Ethiopia «/u», was beautiful but also arrogant and vain; these latter two characteristics led to her downfall.
Her name in «u»Greek «/u» is which means "she whose words excel".
The boast of Cassiopeia was that both she and her daughter «u»Andromeda «/u» were more beautiful than all the «u»Nereids «/u», the nymph-daughters of the sea god «u»Nereus «/u». This brought the wrath of «u»Poseidon «/u», ruling god of the sea, upon the kingdom of Ethiopia.
Accounts differ as to whether Poseidon decided to flood the whole country or direct the sea monster «u»Cetus «/u» to destroy it. In either case, trying to save their kingdom, Cepheus and Cassiopeia consulted a wise oracle, who told them that the only way to appease the sea gods was to sacrifice their daughter.
Accordingly, Andromeda was chained to a rock at the sea's edge and left there to helplessly await her fate at the hands of «u»Cetus «/u». But the hero «u»Perseus «/u» arrived in time, saved Andromeda, and ultimately became her husband. Since Poseidon thought that Cassiopeia should not escape punishment, he placed her in the heavens in such a position that, as she circles the celestial pole in her throne, she is upside-down half the time. The constellation resembles her throne, though it is sometimes construed as a crown.
As it is near the «u»pole star «/u», the constellation «u»Cassiopeia «/u» can be seen the whole year from the northern hemisphere, although sometimes upside down.
«b» «/b»
«b»
«/b»
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| Person ID |
I61441 |
Glenn Cook Family |
| Last Modified |
19 Jun 2013 |
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| Photos |
 | Wife of Cepheus
The king of Ethiopia Cepheus and the queen Cassiopeia thank Perseus for freeing their daughter Andromeda, La Délivrance d'Andromède (1679) Pierre Mignard, Louvre
MIGNARD, Pierre
(b. 1612, Troyes, d. 1695, Paris)
Perseus and Andromeda
1679
Oil on canvas, 150 x 198 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris
Ovid tells how Andromeda, daughter of an Ethiopian king, was chained to a rock by the sea-shore as a sacrifice to a sea-monster. Perseus (the son of Danaë whom Jupiter caused to conceive after turning himself into a shower of golden rain) flying overhead on Pegasus, the winged horse, fell in love at first sight. He swooped down just in time, slew the monster and released Andromeda.
The picture represents the moment following the freeing of Andromeda. |
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