King Polydectes is a character from Greek mythology, known primarily for his role in the story of Perseus. He ruled the island of Seriphos and was the brother of Dictys. Polydectes is often depicted as a tyrannical figure who desired to marry Danaë, the mother of Perseus, but faced opposition from her son. To eliminate this threat, Polydectes devised a plan to send Perseus on a dangerous quest to retrieve the head of the Gorgon Medusa. This quest ultimately led to Perseus's triumph, as he not only succeeded but also turned Polydectes to stone using Medusa's head.