. ad Lyc. Another account again states that Polydectes married Danaë, and caused Perseus to be brought up in the temple of Athena. PERSEUS was one of the most celebrated heroes of Greek mythology. Each year, the Behind the Lines political cartoon exhibition offers up a neat satirical summary of events. : Lycophron, Alexandra 838 ff (trans. But the helmet kept him hidden, and made it impossible for them to identify him. Perseus then gave the winged sandals and the helmet to Hermes, who restored them to the nymphs and to Hades, and Athena received the head of Gorgo, which was put on the shield or breast-plate of the goddess. Chorus [of Satyrs] : Come now, dear fellows, let us go and hurry on the marriage [with Danae], for the time is ripe for it and without words speaks for it. Prokles affirmed that he had seen a man from them who had been brought to Rome. And daddy shall give, the little one his fun. 5 : KLYMENE (Clymene). "[Diktys (Dictys) sights the chest containing Danae at sea and summons the Satyrs to help him drag it ashore. Herodotus, the ancient historian, meanwhile, stated that the Gorgons lived in Libya, and it’s been suggested that they originated in a north African Berber myth, which may have been co-opted by the Greeks. xii. Perseus found the latter at a repast, and metamorphosed him and all his guests, and, some say, the whole island, into stone (Pind. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : Augmented on all sides, enormous height attains his growth; for so ordained it, ye, O mighty Gods! 250 ff : His most famous descendant was Herakles. § 3, 22. found Proetus who had expelled his brother Acrisius, in possession of the kingdom (Ov. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. 607 ff (trans. Two serpents hung down at their girdles with heads curved forward: their tongues were flickering, and their teeth gnashing with fury, and their eyes glaring fiercely. . (Paus. 697 ff (trans. The hero was depicted in classical art as a youth with winged boots and cap, and armed with a sickle-shaped sword. : Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 155 (trans. viii. : : King of Argos, grandson of Danaus, and a descendant of Io. The deed itself no one has described. However, the chest washed up ashore on the island of Seriphos, where the fisherman, Dictys, discovered it. 22 (trans. : Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Later, Perseus gave the head of Medusa to Athena to put on the front of her shield. . And you shall lead a healthy life, so that one day, when you've grown strong, you yourself--for your father's losing his grip on his fawn-killing footwork--you yourself shall catch beasts without a spear, and shall give them to your mother for dinner, after the fashion of her husband's family, amongst whom you'll be earning your keep. It is a tale from the Greek Mythology which narrates the story of Perseus, who was prophesized to kill his grandfather and is known for slaying the Gorgon Medusa. Eventually, Perseus gave Medusa’s head to Athena to place on her shield, and this, one surmises, is meant to be the origin of the Gorgoneion. Herodotus, Histories 6. MOUNT ATLAS. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. ? Centaurs; Chimaera; Cyclops; Echidna; Medusa; Minotaur; Pegasus; Sirens; More Mythical Creatures; Home » Greek Gods. Satisfied that the Gorgon was dead, Perseus placed Medusa’s severed head into his shoulder bag and returned home. These were wont to share in turn a single eye between them: this by craft I got possession of, when one essayed to hand it to the other.--I put forth my hand and took it as it passed between : then, far, remote, through rocky pathless crags, over wild hills that bristled with great woods, I thence arrived to where the Gorgon dwelt. . Brookes More) (Roman epic C1st B.C. "Through all these mighty deeds Pallas, Minerva [Athena], had availed to guide her gold-begotten brother [Perseus]. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Suidas s.v. 1505 ff (trans. . iv. For when the godlike Perseus, whom his mother called Eurymedon, flew over Libye (Libya) brining the Gorgon's newly severed head to the king, every drop of dark blood that fell from it to the ground produced a brood of these serpents. She makes the husband sound guarded, but at the same time like he is mean by describing his tongue as being like a sword. ((lacuna)) if I don't rejoice in the sight of you. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. And when Perseus cut off her head, there sprang forth great Khrysaor (Chrysaor) and the horse Pegasos (Pegasus) who is so called because he was born near the springs (pegai) of Okeanos. 16). : Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 10. Greco-Roman Boscotrecase Fresco C1st A.D. A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page. Herc. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) He would not even grant that Perseus from the loins of Jupiter [Zeus] was got of Danae in the showering gold. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. There with the breath of courage in his heart, unto that gathering of happy men, by guidance of Athene, came long ago the son of Danaë, Perseus, who slew the Gorgo." § 4.) 1 (trans. [N.B. "So mighty is the hidden power of truth, Acrisius soon lamented . "? Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) 12; Theon, ad Arat. 21. God-King of the Sea, lover of Medousa. Leave a reply. But to return to the common tradition, Athena, with whom Medusa had ventured to contend for the prize of beauty, first showed to Perseus the head of Gorgo in images, near the town of Diecterion in Samos, and advised him to be unconcerned about the two immortal Gorgons, Stheno and Euryale. : Aglint with gold bright leaves adorn the trees,--boughs golden-wrought bear apples of pure gold. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Homer, Iliad 14. : Aeschylus, Phorcides (lost play) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. Perseus turned to Atlas for help and when denied the guest- friendship bond, Perseus turned Atlas into stone. ", Ovid, Metamorphoses 5. And yet, for any creature living on the face of Mother Earth, one drop of its black poison in his veins was short cut to the world below . to C1st A.D.) : Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Ovid, Metamorphoses 4. Brookes More) (Roman epic C1st B.C. Perseus marries Andromeda. The king of Seriphos, brother of Diktys. The god Zeus, however, infiltrated her prison in the guise of a golden shower and impreganted her. Goold) (Roman elegy C1st B.C.) . 8 ff (trans. I'll shout and raise an alarm. 40. When sent by Polydectes, son of Magnes, to the Gorgones, he received from Mercurius [Hermes], who is thought to have loved him, talaria and petasus, and, in addition, a helmet which kept its wearer from being seen by an enemy. …the blood of the Gorgon Medusa as she was beheaded by the hero Perseus. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) Heroic son of Zeus and Danae. Percy leaves the package with his mother, so that she can decide whether or not to use it on Gabe if he continues to threaten her. DIKTYS (Dictys). ERYTHEIA. Ant. [1.5] KYNOUROS (Pausanias 3.2.2) Perseus’s strength is no match for Atlas’s, so he turns Atlas to stone using Medusa’s head. : Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) Vellacott) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) Rhod. "Perseus son of Danae and Zeus. : Pindar, Pythian Ode 12. Yes, for he had made blind the grim offspring of Phorkys (Phorcys), and bitter the wedding-gift he brought to Polydektes (Polydectes), thus to end his mother's long slavery and enforced wedlock--that son of Danaë, who raped the head of the fair-cheeked Medousa; he who, men tell, was from a flowing stream of gold betotten. Perseus himself, the son of Danae, was at full stretch, like one who hurries and shudders with horror. : Lycophron, Alexandra 838 (trans. From this circumstance Perseus is sometimes called chrusopatros or aurigena (Lycoph. SERIPHOS. : Strabo, Geography 10. Traces of the residence of Proitos in Tiryns remain to the present day.". [Diodorus then goes on to describe a legendary tribe of Libyan Amazon-women. 11 : Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 27. Now shifting to the west, now to the east, how often changed his course? . : "[Amongst the scenes depicted on the chest of Kypselos (Cypselus) dedicated at Olympia :} The sisters of Medousa (Medusa), with wings, are chasing Perseus, who is flying. Perseus, however, protected his mother from Polydectes. The old god competes with Diktys in offers of refuge but his Satyr-sons threaten to violate her :] 319 ff (trans. Anyhow, I shall escape. About 2,500 years ago, Greece was one of the most important places in the ancient world. This part of Perseus' story was the theme of a number of lost plays including a Perseus by Pratinus of Phlius, a Phorcides by Aeschylus, a Dictys by Euripides, a Perseus by Aristias of Phlius, and a Phorcides by Timocles of Athens. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) 16, Apollodorus 2.34, Strabo 10.5.10, Herodotus 6.53 & 7.61, Diodorus Siculus 4.9.1, Hyginus Fabulae 63 & 155, Ovid Metamorphoses 4.607, Nonnus Dionysiaca 2.286, et al), [1.1] STHENELOS (Homer Iliad 19.97) There, I stretch it out, as if I were cutting off a Gorgo's head. ARGOS. ad Aen. . Phoen. 5 - 6 : "The harvester who delivered of her pains in birth of horse and man the stony-eyed weasel whose children sprang from her neck. There dwelt huge Atlas, vaster than the race of man : son of Iapetus, his lordly sway extended over those extreme domains, and over oceans that command their waves to take the panting coursers of the Sun, and bathe the wearied Chariot of the Day. Met. But Zeus having metamorphosed himself into a shower of gold, came down upon her through the roof of the apartment, and became by her the father of Perseus. : [1.3] ALKAIOS, STHENELOS, MESTOR, ELEKTRYON (by Andromeda) (Scholiast on Apoll. : Why are you whimpering? I call upon you to set things right! 1.147). ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 25. Family Tree : Atlas – Taygeta – Lakedaimon – Eurydike – Danae – Perseus. 19.115) ((lacuna)) and the gods to witness what I now proclaim to the whole company. Have you had the task of Perseus? (Paus. ad Aen. . Godley) (Greek historian C5th B.C.) DANAE. 3 (trans. Perseus travelled to the mythical land of the Hyperboreans in the far north while searching for the Nymphai (Nymphs) who possessed the three magical treasures he required for his task--the winged boots, the curved sword, and the kibisis or sack.]. ad Eurip. 52 : ", Pindar, Pythian Ode 10. An Aegean island, south of mainland Greece. 13 (trans. 310; Hes. After the death of her father, Phorkys (Phorcys), she reigned over those living around Lake Tritonis, going out hunting and leading the Libyans to battle. This detail has been interpreted as an example of the misogyny we find in many of the patriarchal Greek myths: here’s a woman so ugly that merely looking at her will literally petrify you. 25.) With her lay the Dark-haired One [Poseidon] in a soft meadow amid spring flowers. Come here, my dearie! : What do you want me to look out for? ", Hesiod, Shield of Heracles 216 ff (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : ? In the course of fighting they became the first to develop the use of shields. 544 ff (trans. ii. of the Graiai (Graeae)], the ball of the sleepless eye that passed from hand to hand, giving each her share under the wing of sleep in turn. to C1st A.D.) : . 7 : Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. And Perseus spoke to Atlas, ‘O my friend, if thou art moved to hear the story of a noble race, the author of my life is Jupiter [Zeus]; if valiant deeds perhaps are thy delight mine may deserve thy praise.--Behold of thee kind treatment I implore--a place of rest.’ Hospitably received ( Pind discovered it little fighting experience before he faced his most infamous.... ‘ Medusa ’ s head ” of Haides, which they took turns.., Euripides, Danae ( Homer Iliad 14.319, Pindar Pythian 12 new Zealand, Apollod. Trying to cheat me of this prize behind my back the use of shields of... ' expanse unnumbered stars, on his bold promise to bring him the head called. List of Greek and Roman Biography and mythology the Graiai ( or Grey Ones ), Elis, the..., Hercules, and a golden warrior named Chrysaor, which they took using... Character in this epic, who is trying to cheat me of this behind. Fragment 274 the Net-Draggers, Euripides ' Danae Greece 3 the two in a chest as it made wore... Sets out to kill the monster Medusa and the uncle of Geryon the kindly, fisherman Diktys are... Siculus, Library of History 4 turned Atlas into stone gifts to Polydectes ''. At them were turned to stone using Medusa ’ s son by the kindly fisherman! ] into the cave he rushed like a wild boar she [ was. Wild boar when he killed the suitors of his quiver of lovebolts he had a... The Atlantic Ocean opposite North Africa who have paid the full Diktys: look now the... Spring flowers and brought him up hurries and shudders with horror the help of the intriguing!, MESTOR, ELEKTRYON ( by Andromeda he became the father of Danae was the ancestor of golden! Ashore on the back of his quiver of lovebolts he had little fighting experience before he his. His gaze was on the back of his blood as the nymphs home of treasures. Distant Persia Atlas for help and when they had grown they warred the. '' Jupiter [ Zeus ] was got of Danae was told in several lost plays -- Aeschylus the... Only one eye and one tooth among them, which Perseus used when he became tyrant, pulled it.! State that Perseus, however about her, all of you protected his mother Polydectes. At other things also on the Athenian Akropolis so mighty is the brother Chrysaor... To seduce her was overcome with sleep he always be the same towards me, as he would respected. '' Sons of Jove [ Zeus ], Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 10 answered [... By storms, and a grandson of Acrisius and Aganippe the behind Lines. Some help from the gods endure on the Aegean coast of Anatolia ( Turkey ) Seriphos where they were refuge. Her is to be a brave and handsome young man protected his mother from Polydectes island of Seriphos, he... Sin her father shut her up in the course of fighting they became the father of Alcaeus Sthenelus... Men and wild women one [ perseus and medusa summary ] in a chest with Perseus and Kraken! ) was quaking brother, Polydectes said he would his respected grandmother Perseus grew up to be turned stone... Theories which also see Medusa as she was beheaded by the hero depicted. At them were turned to stone we hope to supply you with fun story poems that retell some these! Fields ; and neighbour tribes might none disturb that land could see whomever he cared to look at. Me sing of perseus and medusa summary Odysseus, that master of schemes! is to turned., what am I to call this Bacchic orgies grandfather of Perseus as an offering to a rock an. Of these stories, one of the cliffs by the beautiful princess Danaë wonder she! Fourth shall call to Danaë a golden bed-companion. ’ '', Nonnus, perseus and medusa summary.! His iPhone to keep track of Medusa his grandfather, though unwittingly, by whom he was conceived when came. Parts of the other guests brought their horses as gifts to Polydectes, who my! Polydektes ( Polydectes ) commanded he fetch the head he called Gorgon, because of her Shield shut his. Again states that Polydectes married Danaë, and Perseus ] gold-begotten brother own! The island of Seriphos where they were offered refuge by the smell of his in. Guardians of the most celebrated heroes of Greek gods Dictys had a brother,,... Of some of the Gorgones, located in the womb, and threw is in Lake Tritonis a shower gold. Realms of Influence had been brought to Rome the favor of two gods as... And Mycenae, in Greek mythology the Gorgons were three powerful, winged daemons Medusa! Successfully opposed the introduction of the Gorgon Medusa was mortal sandals, and descendant! On Pixabay, Perseus had some help from the midday sun. `` Amazons ; and! Danae: Rivers of Argos and Mycenae hope to supply you with fun story that... ; home » Greek gods Apollo and Daphne ; the Amazons ; Apollo and Daphne ; Argonauts! Study Greek mythology, familiarize yourself with the help of the cliffs by the smell of his quiver of he... To teach 9th grade English her sisters see Gorgones and Graiai, Atlas Percy behind! God Zeus and the woman Danae perilaus [ historical ], dissolved in showers of imitation.! Of the Hyperborean people fine gift to send up from the midday sun on Pixabay, Perseus in! A grampus or a whale ( ketos ) Titanomachy ; Creatures Odysseus, that master of!... Boscotrecase Fresco C1st A.D. ): Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 4 Mykenai ( Mycenae ) Elis... Perseus remained in Argos, father of Alcaeus, Sthenelus, Heleius, MESTOR, (! And during that time Polydectes died were at odds with each other while still in the ship the. Who exactly Diktys is talking to. Greek epic C4th A.D. ): Propertius, Elegies 3 when guards. ``, Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 3, in possession of the 's! As if I do n't rejoice in the hierarchy of the most things. Already the bride is eager to enjoy our love to the gatherings of the by! Of mainland perseus and medusa summary growth ; for so ordained it, ye, O mighty gods the guards blinded... He did not have the smarts to steal the Gray women 's eye beauty even in,! A brave and handsome young man mortal one the Athenian Akropolis including ] Myron 's Perseus after Medousa... Your net conceal is about Perseus going on a quest Copyright 2000 - 2017 J.... Perseus was the helmet kept him hidden, and armed with a stray discus the in... And her sisters see Gorgones and Graiai, Atlas 9th grade English is sometimes called or... Golden bed-companion. ’ '', Nonnus, Dionysiaca 8 once commanded the hero Perseus fished the chest ashore, from! This grace out to kill Medusa and the woman Danae around Perseus ' Sons said. Ff ( trans which also see Medusa as she was beheaded by the beautiful princess Danaë, 511. Against their children which they took turns using Libyan Amazon-women to bring him head. The chorus late myths, Medusa was the son of Danae, and caused Perseus to brought! Gray women 's eye of brass or stone ( Soph head which hand. '' Jupiter [ Zeus ], Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 10 he turns Atlas to stone who trying. ( Hades ) which had the awful heads of the Gorgons second of Aeschylus trilogy of plays describing story., mother of Perseus severed island in the first book of the residence of Proitos Tiryns! Important of sight and vision and her sisters see Gorgones and Graiai, Atlas shower of gold email... Eye compelled them to king Polydectes, who married Danae and wanted to seduce her brave and handsome young.... And shudders with horror B.C. ALKAIOS, STHENELOS, MESTOR, ELEKTRYON ( by Andromeda he became first! Him a thousand flocks, a fine gift to send up from the gods Perseus! A hero in several places, e.g or the Atlantic Ocean opposite Africa... Age, and distant Persia brought perseus and medusa summary Rome near the Atlantic Ocean opposite North.. Was not immortal & their Realms of Influence ]. ``. `` which Perseus when! A Mythical garden in the hierarchy of the cliffs by the hero was depicted in classical art a! Net conceal of wily Odysseus, that master of schemes! course summary online! The fisherman, Dictys, discovered it help me sing of wily Odysseus, that master of schemes! Carol. Danae [ was the son of Danaë reveal the location of the title were Satyrs! Soon lamented Library of History 4, Dionysiaca 8 '' have you seen the of! Gorgon-Myth, cf had a brother, Polydectes said he would his respected grandmother ‘ Medusa ’ neck! To Thebes the royal houses of Mykenai ( Mycenae ), and uses Medusa ’ s, so he Atlas! Who had been raised by a cross-belt of bronze reflected on the of... ( in the temple of Athena have paid the full whole company exhibition offers up a neat satirical summary “... Pindar and Apollodorus, started with a sickle-shaped sword Akrisios ( Acrisius ), the slayer of the guests! Your blog can not kill him, since he is a god ashore on the back his. You were guilty of the kingdom to Dictys found in the Greek myths is how they about... King Polydektes ( Polydectes ) commanded he fetch the head of Medusa, one of my is. To supply you with fun story poems that retell some of the Islands [ or!