THE GORGON’S HEADANNE TERRY WHITE

PERSEUS’ JOURNEY

LEA C.MINAY/15

ISLAND OF SERAPHOSISLAND OF

ARGOS

AN ENCOUNTER WITH HERMES AND ATHENA

End of the Earth (Land of the Gray

women)

LAND OF THE HAPPY

BEINGS

(NYMPHS)

LAND OF THE GORGONS

LYBIAN DESERT

ETHIOPIAserapho

sARGO

S

Acrisius, the king of Argos, was told by the oracle of Delphi that his own grandson would kill him one day.

This grandson would be the child of his daughter Danae. 

Scared of the upcoming future and his destiny, King Acrisius decided to deprive his daughter of any possible intercourse, mating and child bearing, so he built a room beneath the earth and imprisoned Danae there.

However, as the legend says, Zeus came to her in the form of golden rain, pierced through the walls of chamber, and Danae’s body. Hence, Perseus was born.

Hearing the news but not believing that Zeus was the father of the newborn, Acrisius let his daughter and grandchild out to the open sea on an ark. 

They eventually came to the shores of Seraphos island, where they were saved by Dictys, the brother of King Polydectes.

Perseus grew up to a handsome and strong young man, one more time he found himself in the way of one king, this time King Polydectes, who wanted Danae to become his wife.

Knowing that he wouldn’t have the woman for himself as long as Perseus was there to protect her, the king made a plan to send Perseus not only far away but also to a dangerous mission. Polydectes told Perseus to bring him the head of the gorgon Medusa.

Hermes advised him that he should havea winged sandals, the magic wallet and

the helmet of invisibility. The Gray womencan tell him where to find these things.

Hermes also gave him a

magnificent curvred sword.

Athena gave him a bright shield to look into it instead of at the monster so that he will not turn into stone

Perseus snatched the eye from the Gray Women as they passed it from one to another and being helpless they told him where he can get the three priceless things he needed to get Medusa’s head.

The NYMPHS gave him the three things he needed to

conquer Medusa

The Gorgons were asleep when he saw them and through the help of Athena he easily cut off Medusa’s head.

The Gorgon sisters roared with fury but they could not outstrip the winged sandals.

• He didn’t notice that the blood falling from Medusa’s head turned into snakes.

Perseus saved Andromeda and killed the serpent.

A wedding feast was celebrated but Phineas came and want to take avenge for Andromeda was promised to he him to be her bride.

The feast turned into battle and at the end Phineas became a stone together with two hundred men who did not hide their faces when Perseus asked them to do so.

Polydectes didn’t believe that he slain Medusa. Perseus showed him the head

and he turned into stone.

That was the last time he usedthe head of Medusa and

he gave it to Athene.

Danae wanted to go home and reconciledwith her father so Perseus made Dictys

the King of Seraphos.

Perseus unknowingly killed his grandfather when he threw the discuss and swerved and landed to King Acrisius.