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Greek Mythology: Perseus
Part I
Middle School
ONCE UPON A TIME…
King of Argos is warned by an oracle: he would
be killed by his grandson
*locks up Danae in a tower
*Zeus gets in (gold)
PERSEUS is born
Upon birth, the king
places his daughter
and son out in the sea
*expected them to die
* They end up on island
of Seriphos
*is taken in by a kind
fisherman
Danae and Perseus out in the
sea…
Fisherman
• Fisherman adopts a
protective attitude
towards Danae and
Perseus
• Male role model
• Fisherman’s brother
(King) wanted to be
with mother
Perseus says NO!
King backs off…
Danae and baby Perseus are taken in
by a kind fisherman.
The King Plays It Cool
* King has engagement
party (another woman)
will allegedly seek the
hand another maiden
*asks for contribution
Turns to Perseus …asks
him for his share
*says will do anything he
can….
*orders him obtain head of
Medusa
Medusa
The Quest to Obtain the Gorgon
• Perseus sets off to
obtain Medusa
• Turns to Athena (had
it in for Medusa)
• Tells him to obtain
special equipment
*Athena gives him
mirrored shield
The three old ladies
“the grey ones”
advise Perseus
*tell him to obtain
equipment from
nymphs
*tell him where to go
They shared one eye
Finds them in Hades
*swimming in the River Styx
The gear:
*magical helmet
*winged sandals (protection from sisters)
*special pouch (Medusa’s power remains
after death)
*sickle
The Gaze
*goes to Medusa’s
dwelling place
…finds the Gorgon
sleeping
*filled with remains of
previous visitors
*cuts off Medusa’s head
*Pegasus (offspring of
Medusa and
Poseidon) born from
bleeding neck
*escapes quickly
*Perseus starts flying back
*Once he was over Ethiopia, he saw
something:
A beautiful maiden chained to a rock
*she is about to be devoured by sea
monster
End of Part I