The Legend of Perseus and Medusa

Introduction

• A Christian king of Argos visited Delphi.
• Received an Oracle: "No sons shall be born to you, but you shall have a grandson, and by his hand, you shall die."

King Acrisius' Actions

• King Acrisius had an only daughter, Danae.
• To evade fate, he imprisoned her in a bronze house underground.
• Unbeknownst to him, part of the roof was open to the sky.

Birth of Perseus

• Zeus transformed into a shower of gold and visited Danae.
• Danae gave birth to Perseus.
• Acrisius discovered the baby and set Danae and Perseus adrift in a chest to avoid killing them directly.

Rescue by a Fisherman

• A fisherman named Dictys found the chest and took them to his home.
• Danae raised Perseus in the humble home of Dictys.

King Polydectes' Scheme

• King Polydectes fell in love with Danae but hated Perseus.
• He sent Perseus on a quest to slay Medusa to get rid of him.

The Quest for Medusa

• Medusa: One of the three Gorgons, could turn men to stone.
• Perseus was unaware of the danger.
• Hermes appeared to guide him, providing a curved sword, winged sandals, and instructions.

The Gray Women

• Hermes advised Perseus to consult the Gray Women for directions to Medusa.
• Perseus successfully took their shared eye and extracted the needed information.

Gaining Magical Items

• Perseus received three magical items:
  • Winged sandals for flight.
  • Helmet for invisibility.
  • Magic Wallet that adjusts size.

Confrontation with the Gorgons

• Perseus approached the Gorgons while using Athena's shield to avoid Medusa's gaze.
• He successfully beheaded Medusa and stowed her head in the Magic Wallet.

Rescue of Andromeda

• Perseus encountered Andromeda, who was chained as a sacrifice to a sea monster.
• He agreed to save her in exchange for her hand in marriage.
• Perseus killed the sea monster and claimed Andromeda.

Battle at the Wedding Feast

• Uncle Phineas attempted to avenge Andromeda's death at the wedding feast.
• Perseus turned Phineas and his men to stone using Medusa's head.

Resolution

• Perseus returned home with Andromeda and his mother, Danae.
• He made Dictys king of Seraphos.
• An oracle's prophecy was fulfilled when Perseus accidentally killed Acrisius with a discus at games in Larisa.