In [[Greek mythology]], '''[[Boast of Cassiopeia|Andromeda]]''' was the daughter of [[Cepheus]] and [[Cassiopeia]], king and queen of [[Ethiopia]]. Cassiopeia had bragged that she was more beautiful than the [[Nereids]] (water-nymphs), and so in revenge, [[Poseidon]] sent a flood and a sea monster to plague the land. Cepheus then consulted the oracle of Ammon, and was told that he had to sacrifice his daughter to the sea monster in order for the problem to end. His people forced him to comply with the oracle, and he chained Andromeda to a rock by the sea. She was rescued by [[Perseus]] who killed the monster and then married Andromeda. One of their children, [[Perses]], became the ancestor of the kings of [[Persia]].
Andromeda is [[Greek]] for ''"ruler of men"''. She is represented in the northern sky by the [[constellation]] [[Andromeda (constellation)|Andromeda]] which contains the [[Andromeda Galaxy]].
The name '''Andromeda''' may also refer to—
*[[Andromeda (genus)|a plant genus]] of the [[Ericaceae|heath family]].
*any one of [[Andromeda (comics)|several comic book characters]].
*''[[Andromeda (TV series)|Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda]]'', an American television series.
*In ''[[Space Battleship Yamato]]'', an Earth-built dreadnought.
* a [[progressive metal]] band from Sweden.
* [[Mount Andromeda]] in the [[Canadian Rockies]]
See also Michael Crichton's novel ''[[The Andromeda Strain]]'' (1968).