Perseus
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Perseus, one of the greatest of Greek heroes, was able to gain his successes mainly because he was the son of Zeus. Since he had such a high lineage, the other gods were willing to help him out. These gods and their assistance helped Perseus attain his lofty goals.
Acrisius, the king of Argos, had only one child, a daughter named Danae. She was extremely beautiful, but Acrisius really wanted a son. He went to the Oracle at Delphi, who told him that he would never have a son, and his daughter would have a son that would kill him. Not wanting to meet this terrible fate, Acrisius locked Danae in a small bronze house and kept her underground. He hoped he would not have to kill her. However, one could enter the house, if one was a god like Zeus. Zeus did enter the bronze house, and he fathered a child by Danae. He was named Perseus. Knowing that Acrisius would be very angry if he knew she had a son, she kept the baby a secret. He did find out, however, and decided to rid himself of Danae and Perseus. He placed them in a chest and threw them into the sea, leaving them to the fates to decide. He feared Zeus too much to have them killed. Danae and Perseus eventually landed on an island, where they were stuck.
Eventually a fisherman named Dictys found Danae and Perseus in the chest. He took, them home to his wife, and they lived as a family for many years. Danae let Perseus grow up as a fisherman. However, fate intervened, because Polydectes, the brother of Dictys and king of the island, fell in love with Danae. He decided he wanted her, but not Perseus. He devised a plan to get rid of him. Polydectes told Perseus that he would really like to have the head of one of the Gorgons, who lived on a neighboring island and were known for their terrible characteristics. Polydectes announced he was marrying, and sent out invitations. Everyone but Perseus remembered to bring a gift. So at the wedding, Perseus stood up and announced he would bring back the head of the Gorgon Medusa. Polydectes knew Perseus would do this, and he hoped that Perseus would see a Gorgon, and turn to stone. Perseus quickly sailed off to Greece before his mother could stop him. Perseus did not have much luck finding the Gorgons' location, so Hermes and Athena helped him out. Hermes came to him and told him that he would need some equipment, which he could find with the nymphs of the North. Hermes also gave Perseus an unbreakable sword. Athena gave Perseus a bronze shield that worked as a mirror, so that the Gorgons' faces could not turn him to stone. To find the nymphs, he had to go to the Grey Women, where the land was dark and shrouded. The Grey Women were old and wise, but they had to pass around one eye among them. Perseus seized the eye from the women when they were passing it around, and would not give it back until they told him the whereabouts of the nymphs. The Grey Women told Perseus where the Nymphs of the North were - in the land of the Hyperboreans. Usually this road is extremely treacherous, but since Hermes was helping him, Perseus had an easy path. In the land of the Hyperboreans, the citizens gave Perseus three more gifts that would aid him in his fight - winged sandals, a cap of invisibility, and a wallet that held anything one put in it.
Perseus and Hermes flew across the ocean to the island where the Gorgons lived. When they arrived, the Gorgons were asleep. In the mirror of his shield, Perseus saw one with wings, golden scales, and snakes for hair. This was the Gorgon Medusa. Perseus pulled out the sword and cut off Medusa's head. Without looking at the head, Perseus stood it and placed into the wallet. Perseus put on the hat of invisibility and escaped the other two Gorgons. On the way back to his homeland, Perseus came upon a woman who was going to be devoured as a sacrifice by a great snake. Her beauty was so captivating that Perseus fell in love with her. He waited for the snake to approach, and he killed it with the magic sword. He freed the girl, named Andromeda, and went to her parents to ask for her hand in marriage. They gladly agreed.
When he finally returned to his home island, Perseus found that Dictys and Danae were hiding in a temple, because Danae refused to marry Polydectes. Polydectes was having a banquet in his palace. Perseus, seeking revenge, pulled out the head of Medusa and gave Polydectes his gift, as well as turning him to stone. The island was free from the tyrannical rule of Polydectes, and Perseus made Dictys the king. Perseus, Andromeda, and Danae returned to Greece to find and mend wounds with Acrisius. However, Acrisius had been expelled from Argos. Perseus heard that the King of Larissa was holding an athletic competition. He went there to participate, and threw the discus. He threw the discus errantly, and it flew into the crowd, killing a stranger that happened to be Acrisius. Thus the Oracle of Delphi was correct. Perseus and Andromeda had many children, including Electryon, the grandfather of Hercules. Perseus gave the head of Medusa to Athena as a gift, which she carried upon the shield of Zeus.
ACTIVITIES:
Perseus activity
KEY TEST WORDS: (Know the material behind these items.)
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FOOTNOTES:
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SOURCES:
James Isaacs
Edith Hamilton's Mythology
"Manual of Mythology" by Alexander S. Murray.