The Story of Perseus

1. The Story of Perseus

2. King Acrisius of Argos only had one child, a daughter name Danae. She was beautiful above all other women of the land, but this was a small comfort to the king for not having a son. • One day, he journeyed to Delphi to ask the a priestess if he would one day, father a son. • The priestess told him no.

3. The priestess also told him something that is far worse. • One day, his daughter will have a son who would kill him. • The only way for Acrisius to escape that fate was for the King to have Danae instantly put to death. But he could not do so. • Acrisius’ fatherly love towards Danae was not strong, but his love for the Gods was. • He did not dare to slay his daughter. Instead he had a house built all of bronze and sunk underground, but the house will have part of the roof open so light and air can come through. • He put her in the prisoned house and guarded her.

4. Danae sat there through the long days and hours with no human contact. • Then something mysterious happened. A shower of gold fell from the sky and filled her chamber. • This was Zeus visiting her in the chamber. Zeus gave her a son. • For a time she kept his birth secret from the King, but it became increasingly difficult to do so in the house she was imprisoned. • Her son’s name was Perseus. • Once the King found out about the birth of Danae’s son. He only knew one thing, the baby was a danger to his kingship and his own life.

5. He was afraid to kill them for the fear of angering Zeus and the Gods. • The only possible thought Acrisius had was to come up with a way that they would not be murdered by his own hand. • He made a great chest, in which both mother and son would be placed in it, then cast them out to sea.

6. After many days at sea, they somehow made land, they were safe, but still locked in the chest. • Zeus had realized that his his lover and his child were not completely safe just yet, and made it sure that they were discovered by a fisherman name Dictys. • He broke the box open and took Danae and perseus home to his wife.

7. Dictys and his wife had no children of their own and they cared for the two for many years. • Danae was content of her son living the life of a fisherman, out of harm’s way. But more trouble came their way. • Polydectes, the ruler of the island, was the brother of Dictys. He was a cruel and ruthless leader. And once he began to notice Danae he fell in love with her. • At this time, Perseus was fully grown. Polydectes wanted Danae but wanted nothing to do with Perseus. And he immediately began to think of a way to get rid of him.

8. There were fearsome creatures called the Gorgons who lived on an island and were known widely around the world because of their deadly power. • Polydectes evidently talked to perseus about them, saying he would have the head of one of them than anything else in the world. This would eventually devise the plan to kill Perseus. • Later, he announced he was about to be married and he called all of his friends together for a banquet, he included Perseus as well. • Each guest brought a gift, except for Perseus, he had nothing to give.

9. Perseus stood up before them and told them he was going to give them a gift better than any other there. He would go off and kill Medusa and bring back her head as his gift. • This is exactly what Polydectes wanted. • Medusa was half woman, half snake, with snaky hair. She was considered the most horrible of all the Gorgons.

10. Whoever looked her in the eye was turned instantly to stone. • No man unaided to kill Medusa. • But Perseus was under the guidance of two great Gods.

11. Perseus loaded up his ship and sailed to Greece to learn where the three monsters were found. • Perseus was not so fortunate, for no one knew where the Gorgons lived. • But Hermes and Athena came to his guidance. Perseus came upon a young man wearing a winged hat and winged sandals. He knew he was in the company of Hermes. • Hermes made sure before he attacked Medusa, he was well equipped and what he needed was in the possession of the nymphs’ of the North.

12. To find the nymph’s of the north, they must go to the Gray Women who would be able to tell him the way. • These women dwelt in in a land where all was dark and dim. • They were strange creatures, extremely old of age, and had but one eye for the three of them, each removing it from their forehead handing it from one to another to be able to see. • Hermes would guide Perseus to the Gray Women.

13. The plan was once Perseus was there, he must stay hidden until he saw one of them take the eye out of her forehead to pass it on. Then one of them would be able to see. • He would threaten to never give it back until they had told him how to reach the nymphs of the North. • Before they left to find the Gray Women. Hermes himself would give Perseus a sword that would be able to cut through the Gorgon’s scales, no matter how hard they were. • This was a great gift, but Perseus thought to himself how a sword would do any good if he couldn’t get within striking distance without being turned to stone.

14. Athena then comes to Perseus, taking off her shield of polished bronze. • She told him to look into the shield when he attacks Medusa. He would be able to use it as a mirror without being turned to stone by her deadly power. • Hermes then took Perseus to the Gray Women. They had the shape of swans, but their heads were human and beneath their wings they had arms and hands.

15. Perseus did exactly what he said, he held back until he saw one of them take the eye out of her forehead. Then before she could give it to her sister, he snatched it out of her hand. • The Gray Women gave him full directions • He returned the eye and left. • On his way to the Gorgons, Perseus came across the country of the Hyperboreans. They welcomed him to their feast and gave him three gifts. • Winged sandals, a magic wallet, and a cap which made him invisible when wearing it.

16. With the three additions the Hyperboreans gave him, he was officially ready to take on the Gorgons. • When Perseus arrived he was in good fortune for they were all asleep. With the mirror of the shield, he could see them clearly. • With Athena and Hermes with him, they told him which one was Medusa. She was the only one of the three would could be killed. The other two were immortal.

17. Perseus, with his winged sandals hovered over them. • Then he aimed his sword at Medusa’s throat. With Athena’s help, with a single sweep of his sword, he cut her head off. • He never looked at her eyes though, for they can still turn men to stone. He dropped her head into his wallet. • When the other two woke up, they tried to pursue Perseus but he was safe.

18. On his way back home he came to Ethiopia, he came across a lovely maiden who was going to be devoured by a horrible sea serpent. Her name was Andromeda. • When arrived, the maiden was on a rocky ledge by the sea, chained there to wait for the coming of the monster. • Perseus saw her and instantly fell in love. He waited for the sea monster to rise, using the Head of Medusa, turned it to stone.

19. Perseus took Andromeda to her parents and asked for her hand in marriage, which they gladly gave him. • With her, they sailed back to the island and his mother. • Back at home, it was utter chaos. Perseus’s mother Danae and Dictys were in hiding from Polydectes, who was furious because of Danae refusal to marry him. • He also learned that him and his men were in the banquet hall. He saw the opportunity to present the head to Polydectes. • Perseus stood in the entrance, pulled out the head of Medusa and every man in the hall looked into the Gorgon’s eyes. • Polydectes and his men were turned to stone.

20. Following the death of Polydectes, Dictys became king. Perseus, Danae and Andromeda went back to Greece and try to be reconciled with Acrisius. • When they returned, they found out Acrisius had been driven from the city. No one knows where he went. • Upon their arrival, Perseus heard of an athletic contest being held by king Larissa in the North. Perseus wanted to join. When it came to throwing the discus. Perseus threw the discus so hard, it swerved among the spectators and struck Acrisius, who was there to see king Larissa. • Following the contest, Perseus and Andromeda lived happily ever after. And Medusa’s head was given to Athena.