Perseus Algol

Infobox animanga character
name = Perseus Algol
series = Saint Seiya


caption = Algol, the Perseus Silver Saint, in a screenshot from the anime
creator = Masami Kurumada
voiced by = Akira Kamiya , Masaya Onosaka
age = 17
gender = Male
born = November 11
nationality = Saudi Arabia
class = Saint
paux1 = Athena
paux1 name = Loyalty
paux2 = Perseus
paux2 name = Cloth
paux3 = Silver
paux3 name = Rank
paux4 = Austria
paux4 name = Training
paux5 = 1.88 m
paux5 name = Height
aux1 = 83 kg
aux1 name = Weight
aux2 = A
aux2 name = Blood type
aux3 = Rhas Al-Ghûl Gorgoneion
Medusa Shield Petrifying Attack
aux3 name = Secret moves
aux4 =
manga: chapter 24, vol.6 (shadowed)
manga: chapter 25, vol.7(fully)
Anime: ep.27
aux4 name = First appearance

nihongo|Perseus Algol|ペルセウス座のアルゴル|Peruseusu-za no Arugoru is a fictional character from the manga authored by japanese mangaka Masami Kurumada, later adapted to Anime, "Saint Seiya". Algol was introduced by Kurumada in vol. 6 of his manga, and he was one of the Silvers Saints sent to kill the Bronze Saints in the Sanctuary Arc.

Medusa Shield

He can utilize the Medusa Shield (based on the Greek mythological monster, Medusa), that can transform anyone who looks directly to it into stone. The shield's power works even if the target closes or covers their eyes, because it passes through blindfold and eyelid, and goes directly into the retina.

anctuary Arc

He was sent with two Silver Saints, Kerberos Dante and Auriga Capella, to kill the Bronze Saints. After Capella was killed by Phoenix Ikki's Phoenix Genma Ken, Ikki decided to leave, but gave the remaining Bronze Saints a bit of warning, stating the Algol is not the same as the other Silver Saints. Algol states that he could defeat all of them with the power of his Medusa Shield, and turns Shun into stone. Seiya, who took a fall earlier to protect Saori, was critically injured, and Shiryu stated that he must be given medical attention quickly. Algol now uses his shield on Cygnus Hyoga and Shiryu, turning the former Bronze Saint into stone.

However, Shiryu was not affected by this technique and told Algol that he used his shield to protect himself. He declared that he would defeat Algol to break the curse on his fellow Bronze Saints. Shiryu used his Rozan Shoryu Ha against Algol, but Algol evaded most of it, stating that he avoided it easily because Shiryu could not look at him and his technique was not aimed well. Thinking of the legend of how Perseus slayed Medusa, Shiryu decided to use his shield as a mirror, but Algol's movements were too fast, and he could not keep track on it. He must also use his shield to protect himself from Algol's attacks and the Medusa shield, keeping him from fighting back. Shiryu then decided rip a piece of his shirt off and use it as a blindfold, hoping that it would protect himself from the attack. But the Medusa Shield still worked despite the blindfold and turned the left half of his body into stone (hence he could not move or use his shield).

Knowing that Shiryu is now defenseless, Algol was about to use his shield on Shiryu. However, Shiryu hit his eyes with his fingers, not piercing them, but effectively blinding himself, so that he could no longer see the shield of Medusa. Although shocked by his action, Algol stated that he could defeat him without the shield of Medusa. Shiryu charged up for his attack, and stated that he could see clearly now - not the shield of Medusa nor Algol, but the power of Athena guiding him to victory, and unleashed his Rozan Shoryu Ha, defeating Algol. Shiryu stated as Algol fell that his actions were not just for the victory now, but also to protect his friends.

After Algol was defeated by Shiryu, the Saints Shun and Seiya turned back to normal.

Hades arc

Later, in the anime adaptation, Algol, along with Auriga Capella and Kerberos Dante, was resurrected from the dead by Hades. After being resurrected, all the three saints were using new cloths, the surplices, made of the same material of that of the specters. The new cloths look like the old Silver ones, except by the color, and perhaps they don't have the same powers, as Medusa Shield wasn't used or even commented at this time.

They were sent to kill Shiryu and Dohko. They arrived on the waterfall of the Rozan mountains to complete their mission. However, Dohko wasn't there, as he left to the Sanctuary to fight against the specters. They attacked Shiryu, and after a short period, Shiryu defeated all them with his Rozan Shoryu Ha.

After they were defeated, Shiryu left to the Sanctuary to help Dohko.

Although Algol's resurrection in the Hades arc was clearly depicted in the anime adaptation as a minor addition to the plot, Kurumada only hinted it in his manga with the open tombs of deceased Silver Saints.

Notes

*In the Greek mythology, Perseus was the hero who killed Medusa, a monster that could turn people into stone. Perseus used the head of Medusa several times in his adventure to turn his opponent to stone. Incidentally, he eventually gave Medusa's head to Athena, who used it on her shield, Aegis.

*In the manga he first appeared alongside Dante and Capella, though in the anime he was chosen to come with Shaina and the anime-only characters Spartan to fight the Bronze Saints.

*In the anime, Spartan was unintentionally turned to stone by Algol during their fight with the Bronze Saints.

* Masami Kurumada named Algol after the star Algol ("Demon Star"), known for its varying brightness and that is part of the Perseus constellation, . The word Algol is derived from the arabic Al'Ghul, meaning Demon's head.

*In both the manga and anime version, Shiryu blinded himself in the battle against Algol, and he didn't recover the vision until in the battle against Cancer Deathmask, then lost his vision again in the battle against Chrysaor Krishna.

*Although he is the Saint of Perseus all his attack shows images of medusa leaving some to think he is actually the Saint of Medusa, which is a mistake, since there is no Medusa constellation.

*Algol's name is frequently misspelled by translators and voice actors as Argor or Argol.

*According to De Plancy's "Dictionaire Infernal", Al'Ghul is the name Arab astrologers gave to the devil.

*ALGOL is the first computer programming language created.

References

*Saint Seiya manga vols. 6 & 7, by Masami Kurumada.