The eloquent and dramatic epic poem captures the terrible anger of achilles, the best of the achaeans, over a grave insult to his personal honor and relates its tragic result. Hector is a different kind of hero than achilles, less godlike but more connected to the people around him. He sees andromeda chained to a rock as an offering to a sea monster. A concise, stylised and dynamic version of the perseus and medusa myth. With the help of hermes and athena he slew the gorgon medusa, conquered a mighty sea monster and won the hand of the beautiful princess andromeda. When a creature that can see the medusas eyes starts its turn within 30 ft. Enyo in the iliad from four different translations richmond lattimore. The english text of the odyssey from the perseus project not a good translation. The story of perseus greek mythology see u in history.
The myth of perseus where he had to slay medusa and free his mother from an evil king who wanted perseus dead. Hesiod, a greek poet who was writing about 700 bc, makes a passing reference to perseus cutting off medusa s head in theogony. Perseus and the monstrous medusa chapter one in search of hairy snakes apollo strummed his lyre and sang as he and eleven other olympianssix boys and six girls, all of them about ten years oldmarched along the coastline of greece. Perseus and the monstrous medusa 12 heroes in training by joan holub, suzanne williams and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Medusa ellyn carroll, lauren toddy, kirsten smith, julian thomas hour 5 perseus son of zeus and danae married to argos and also father of electryon most gods loved him killed his father once was a mortal, but turned immortal medusa. The story of perseus and medusa, an interpretation of its.
The iliad is an ancient greek poem that tells the story of the trojan war. At one point, over a thousand men surround perseus. The rest bethought them of supper and of sweet sleep, to take their fill thereof. Phineus pleads for his life, and perseus promises that he will not touch him with his sword. See the related quiz and activity, as well as materials for further greek mythology, the iliad, the odyssey, and oedipus rex. Mylonas is right and a tale about perseus, king of mycenae around 50 bc, was sung already in the mycenaean palaces. Perseus leaves and sees andromeda fastened to a rock in the sea.
An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. Comic books, strips, etc juvenile literature cartoons and comics. In this version of the myth, achilles death therefore came in retribution for this sacrilege. Medusa ellyn carroll, lauren toddy, kirsten smith, julian thomas hour 5 perseus son of zeus and danae married to argos and also father of electryon most gods loved him killed his father once was a mortal, but turned immortal medusa chief of the gorgons daughter of phorcys and ceto once beautiful only mortal out of the three sisters also she. Greek mythology heros journey of perseus storyboard. Ovids account of medusa s mortality tells that she had once been a woman, vain of her beautiful hair. All the people of troy grieve his loss, and the three trojan women testify to his humane qualities. The assembly now broke up and the people went their ways each to his own ship. The myth of medusa is about a beautiful girl who was the object of affection of poseidon. Perseus, medusa s head, athena, late classical iii. The myth of perseus and medusa the myth of perseus and medusa is one of the best thrillerlike tales in greek mythology.
The medusa reader, edited by marjorie garber and nancy j. Homer, iliad book 24 theoi classical texts library. Perseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorgon medusa and the rescuer of andromeda from a sea monster. Your most recent novel, the silence of the girls, is a retelling, of sorts, of the iliad. Perseus and medusa when you left perseus, he had just struck a bargain with andromedas parents king cepheus and queen cassiopeia, but now he has to battle the sea monster. The lightning thief perseus the invincible chimera in herman melvilles mobydick, melville writes, every one knows the fine story of perseus and andromeda. The myth of perseus and medusa is one of the best thrillerlike tales in greek mythology with a promising plot that gets more complicated as the story progresses, this myth has a typical hollywoodlike scenario with the main character not being born yet at the moment when his destiny was determined. Homer, iliad, book 24, line 1 perseus digital library. Flying over aethiopia on his way to seriphos, perseus encountered the beautiful andromeda, the doomed daughter of kassiopeia and kepheus. The clever king, playing on the young mans embarrassment, replied, after a thoughtful pause. Dictys ascended to the throne and perseus lived happily with andromeda and his mother at his side in argos. One of the daughters of phorkys phorcys who were known collectively as the gorgons medusa s sisters were named sthenno, euryale. He announces his intention to change the tide of the battle and threatens any god who would strive against him. In her warlike manifestation, enyo is often confused with the roman goddess, bellona.
Get help there is the heat of love, the pulsing rush of longing, the lovers whisper, irresistiblemagic to make the sanest man go mad. Benvenuto cellini, perseus with the head of medusa smarthistory. Here is a new loeb classical library edition of homers stirring heroic account of the trojan war and its passions. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Perseus shows atlas the head of medusa and turns him to stone. Agamemnons shield in the iliad has the demon face of a gorgo. Perseus may be determined and pretty clever, but hes still young and inexperienced when polydectes orders the young man to bring him medusa s head. A dictionary of greek and roman antiquities 1890, fi.
Perseus saves his mother, and his journey is concluded. Agamemnons shield in the iliad has the demon face of a. The funeral games end, but achilles continues to be consumed by grief for patroclus. In book 9 of the odyssey, odysseus describes to his hosts the phaeacians his encounter with the cyclops polyphemus. Lines 912 continue to trouble interpreters of the twelfth pythian. Polydectes held perseus to his rash promise and demanded the head of the only mortal gorgon, medusa, whose gaze turned people to stone. When perseus a son of zeus killed medusa by cutting off her head theogony, line 280, from the drops of her blood sprang the winged horse, pegasus, and khrysaor chrysaor. Perseus and andromeda a variant has perseus returning to seriphos after a years adventures in either ethiopia or palestine distracted while flying home by the sight of a damsel in distress andromeda tied to rock about to be eaten by a seamonster he saves the girl and. Murray 1 then was the gathering broken up, and the folk scattered, each man to go to his own ship.
Learn more about the traditional story of perseus in this article. He composed a poem, the theogony, about the creation of the world and the greek gods, only one generation before an artist from the island of tenos made the earliest image of perseus. He takes the head of medusa to the kings court and while the king is surprised that he survived his quest perseus pulled out the head of medusa. But it is alleged by some that medusa was beheaded for athenas sake. Although apollo urges aeneas to fight achilles, he cannot hope to match achilles now, filled with grief as he is. Perseus s strength is no match for atlass, so he turns atlas to stone using medusa s head. In some sense, the heroism of aeneas fathers saves him, as poseidon decides that it would be a pity for achilles to snuff out the noble line of troy. As all the troops of troy catch their breath within its walls, hector stands at the gates to withstand the coming raid. Lynne weiss presents the story of perseus and medusa, includes historical background. With a promising plot that gets more complicated as the story progresses, this myth has a typical hollywoodlike scenario with the main character not being born yet at the moment when his destiny was determined. He was the son of the argive princess danae who was locked away in a bronze chamber by her father akrisios acrisius who lived in fear of a prophecy that he would one day be killed by her son. From the perseus vase catalog, investigate the images of paris, helen, and.
Priams quest in iliad 24 classical association of victoria. Perseus gods and heroes of the ancient world daniel. A greek myth graphic myths legends paperback jonadonnellan. Him and medusa are the only two characters mentioned in the poem. For example, perseus is attributed with founding the city of mycenae, which later, was the home of agamemnon, the leader of the greek forces in the trojan war.
First, the priest chryses comes to ask their leader, king agamemnon, to release his daughter, whom agamemnon was holding captive. The adventures of perseus part 2 greek mythology ep. Perseus told him that he had indeed brought the requested gift. Apollodorus, the library book 2 theoi classical texts. Perseus, the poem by robert hayden describes the myth of how along with some godly help perseus killed medusa. They are rescued by a fisherman, and young perseus grows up, unaware of his royal birth. Perseus and medusa summary conclusion he saves andromeda from the dreaded sea monsters and takes her to his homeland of serifos. Thus, the iliad only tells us that a story about perseus, son of zeus and danae, was known early on. Medusa was the only gorgon who was mortal but anyone who gazed upon her face was turned to stone perhaps three generations before herakles heracles, the hero perseus was sent by the king of the island of seriphos, polydektes polydectes, to kill medusa.
He held up medusa s head, shutting his eyes firmly, and turned all the courtiers and the king to stone. Jan 01, 2009 a concise, stylised and dynamic version of the perseus and medusa myth. Apollodorus, the library book 2 theoi classical texts library. Over the last fifty years the influential editions of bowra and turyn printed boeckhs emendation uvwofvin line 11, based. Agamemnon, the leader of the achaean forces, takes chryseis as his prize, and achilles, the achaeans greatest warrior, claims briseis. Homer, iliad, book 1, line 1 perseus digital library. Fascinating and terrifying, the medusa story has long been a powerful signifier in culture with poets, feminists, anthropologists, psychoanalysts, political theorists, artists, writers, and others. With the help of athene athena he was able to cut off medusas head. Perseus and medusa summary by ryan maclennan on prezi.
Benvenuto cellini, perseus with the head of medusa. The annenberg cpbproject provided support for entering this text. Dawn comes again and zeus addresses the assembly of the gods. There they made ready their supper, and then bethought them of the blessed boon of sleep. Jul 10, 2018 perseus carries the severed head of medusa in a knapsack and can use his cunning action to wield the monsters petrifying gaze. When perseus arrives home, he confronts king polydectes, whos been trying to force danae to marry him. Having rescued andromeda from the seamonster cetus, perseus makes offerings to the gods, and prepares for his wedding to his newlywon bride. He turns them to stone by pulling out medusa s head. Surprisingly few ancient authors mention medusa and perseus although the story seems to have circulated from at least the beginning of seventh century bc. Mythology final homers iliad, apollodorus, clash of the. Perseus was the son of zeus and danae, the daughter of acrisius of argos. Although the iliad begins by outlining its subject as the wrath of achilles, the poem ends with the burial of hector. He technically keeps his word but petrifies him with medusa s head.
This time, however, the fathers prayers are immediately granted. On the way, he rescues a princess, andromeda, from a sea dragon. Books 1 to 4 of the iliad trace the events from the breaking out of the quarrel between achilles and agamemnon to the first combat on the battlefield. Shamefaced, perseus blustered, i can bring you a fine gift, anything in the world, what is your wish. Characters 7 essays 20 quotes 69 all books 2 ask our manager to find a better quote or its page number. The epic poem ends with the trojans burying hector. Homer had already book 6 described the cyclopes as men overweening in pride who plundered their neighbors the phaeacians continually. To the contrary, in the iliad homer mentions achilles being wounded.
It is then, at his wedding feast, that ovid has perseus tell the story of his encounter with the gorgon medusa, which brings book 4 of the metamorphoses to a conclusion the story. Books iv and v of ovids metamorphoses include the version of perseus tale. Before he can claim his heritage, the hero is ordered to slay a hideous monster named medusa, whose gaze turns men into solid stone. Having just left the land of the lotuseaters, odysseus says thence we sailed on, grieved at heart, and we came to the land of the cyclopes. Although perseus was known for slaying medusa, he is also known for his acts of heroism and the influence of the morals taken from his story on the modern day world. The anthology traces medusas evolution from a beauty turned monster into a feminist. Im a minimalist, so i dont have many possessions i do however have a great collection of greek mythologyrelated items, but this edition of the book is one that i would never voluntarily part with. It seems rather odd that enyo would betray medusa in such a way, but perseus was a son of zeus and nothing could stand between zeus and his desires. In book 24 of homers the iliad, priam of troy goes to the myrmidon camp and asks achilles for hectors body. Indeed to some he was a greater hero even than heracles. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes.
Bringing together the essential passages and commentary about medusa, the medusa reader traces her through the ages, from classical times through the renaissance to the pop culture, art, and fashion. The iliad summary in the tenth year of the trojan war, tensions are running high among the achaians a superancient name for the ancient greeks. Iliad 24 is a book ive read any number of times with greek. Its a good thing, then, that perseus gets some help from the gods. As an educator and counselor, i often use tales from classic greek mythology as a way of relating common themes that speak to the human condition.
In the shield of herakles, by hesiod, we are given a glimpse of perseus reckless escape from the angry sisters after he had beheaded medusa. It is usually attributed to the poet homer, about whom not much is known. He and melia, daughter of ocean, had sons, phoroneus, and aegialeus. Pioneer valley books provides educators and parents with high quality books and other resources including guided reading to support beginning readers in the successful acquisition of reading. Achilles still chases apollo who turns and tells him that it is impossible to kill him. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the iliad, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. During the battle, the achaeans capture a pair of beautiful maidens, chryseis and briseis. Charles simmons, the metamorphoses of ovid, books xiii and xiv. Nine years after the start of the trojan war, the greek achaean army sacks chryse, a town allied with troy. One of my favorites is the medusa story, sometimes referred to as perseus and the gorgon medusa. The son of zeus, perseus belongs in the first rank of greek heroes. As perseus flew over the libyan desert, the drops of blood from medusa s severed head produced a brood of vile serpents, the winged horse pegasos and the monster with the golden sword, khrysaor.
Medusa, the dreadful monster, is mentioned three times. This is a 2page study guide for myth of perseus, including a characterization chart, plot summary questions, and prompts regarding primary conflicts. Vickers, is a comprehensive anthology of excerpted references to medusa in literature and art, beginning with homer in books 5 and 11 of the iliad and concluding with gianni versaces selection of her image as the symbol for the house of versace. However, the legend of perseus is far older than that.
The iliad is an ancient greek epic poem in dactylic hexameter, traditionally attributed to homer. Start studying mythology final homer s iliad, apollodorus, clash of the titans, vergils aeneid. Benvenuto cellini, perseus with the head of medusa giambologna, abduction of a sabine woman venice browse this content giorgione the tempest three philosophers the adoration of the shepherds titian pastoral concert noli me tangere assumption of the virgin madonna of the pesaro family bacchus and ariadne two portraits of pietro aretino venus of. Then, after defeating the monster, he marries andromeda and, at the wedding feast, he tells the story of how he defeated the gorgon medusa and took possession of her head, itself a deadly weapon. Perseus kills polydectes, using medusa s head to turn him into stone. Perseus had no horse to give, so he asked polydectes to name the gift. Perseus carries the severed head of medusa in a knapsack and can use his cunning action to wield the monsters petrifying gaze. He tells them that they will not help either side for the time being.