Edwin Sidney Hartland's The Legend of Perseus is a sweeping scholarly exploration of one of mythology's most persistent stories, tracing how a Greek heroic tale grows out of older folklore, ritual, and belief. Beginning with the classic account of Danae, Perseus's miraculous birth, his castaway infancy, the quest for Medusa's head, the rescue of Andromeda, and the fulfillment of prophecy, Hartland treats the legend not as a fixed romance but as a living tradition shaped by local settings and inherited motifs. He follows Perseus through Greek cult sites and rival claims at Seriphos, Argos, Mykene, Ardea, and Joppa, then pushes outward to Persia, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and beyond, comparing the hero with figures such as Gilgamesh and Herakles. Along the way, he uncovers recurring patterns of doomed kings, hidden heirs, monster-slaying, enchanted objects, and supernatural birth, drawing on tales from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The result is a rich comparative study of myth, custom, identity, and the enduring power of story. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.