Polydectes

thumb|Illustration from the book ''The Story of Perseus and the Gorgon's Head''.

In Greek mythology, King Polydectes (; ) is a king of the island of Seriphos in the Cyclades. Polydectes was the ruler of the island when the Argive princess Danaë and her infant son Perseus washed ashore, having been cast away into the sea by Danaë's father Acrisius, who was afraid that his daughter's son would kill him. Polydectes eventually grew enamoured with the beautiful Danaë, but did not dare approach her due to her grown-up son Perseus, so he attempted to get rid of him by sending him to fetch the head of the gorgon Medusa. Polydectes' plan was foiled as Perseus returned victorious, who then used the severed head to petrify Polydectes.