Myths of Ancient Greece: the myth of Perseus. Encyclopedia of fairy-tale heroes: “Brave Perseus” A brief retelling of the tale about Perseus

And most people know Hercules even better than the legends of their own people. They are perfectly preserved in the presentation of ancient philosophers. The legends are illustrated by numerous statues - Greek and Roman - as well as images on amphorae and bas-reliefs of temples. The myth of Perseus is one of the central ones in the host of ancient Greek legends. Hesiod, Ovid and other philosophers expounded it on the pages of their works. He inspired many artists of Antiquity and the Renaissance to create masterpieces. Today we have the opportunity to compare different versions of the myth, as well as its numerous interpretations, accumulated over several centuries.

Birth of a Hero

The legends and myths of Ancient Greece about Perseus tell of a young man in whose veins divine blood flows, but he is not endowed with any supernatural abilities. He accomplishes his feats with the help of his own mind and with the support of his immortal relatives.

The story begins in Argos, where King Acrisius reigned. He imprisoned his beautiful daughter Danae in a dungeon in the hope that she would never have children. According to the prophecy, Acrisius was to be killed by his own grandson. However, Zeus fell in love with the beauty and penetrated her, turning into golden shower. Soon Danae gave birth to a son. The appearance of the boy did not escape Acrisius. Hoping to avoid an evil fate, he ordered the mother and child to be imprisoned in a wooden box and thrown into the sea.

Serif Island

The ancient Greek myths about Perseus, in the best traditions of such stories, tell about the miraculous salvation of heroes. The wooden box containing Danaë and Perseus became entangled in nets near the island of Serif. He was pulled ashore by Dictys, a fisherman and brother of the king of these lands.

Polydectes, the ruler of Serif, left Danae with his son at court. The boy grew up and turned into a handsome young man, surpassing all his peers in beauty, strength, ingenuity and dexterity. Danae became the object of the king’s passion. Polydectes tried to achieve what he wanted by force, but met a serious opponent in the person of young Perseus. It was then that the ruler of the island decided to send the young man for his head in order to get rid of him forever.

Beautiful and terrible

The myth of Perseus and Medusa was one of the most popular in Antiquity. The most complete list of its various versions is presented in the works of Apollodorus. According to one of them, Medusa was a beautiful girl with luxurious hair. In the temple of Athena she was forcibly possessed by Poseidon. The angry goddess punished the girl who desecrated the sanctuary by turning her hair into hissing snakes.

In many retellings of the myth, Medusa appears as a creature of dual nature. She could turn all living things into stone with her gaze and was famous for her unsurpassed beauty. The blood from one part of her body was capable of resurrection, and from the snake it was capable of killing, like poison. Her two sisters, Stheno and Euryale, were immortal, but Medusa in this sense was no different from ordinary people. One version of the myth says that the monsters’ body was covered with steel scales and there were copper claws on their hands. Gorgons could fly through the air with their golden wings. The hero had to face such an opponent.

Journey

Before fighting Medusa, Perseus had to overcome a considerable distance: the gorgons lived far to the west. The Olympian gods came to the hero's aid. Athena gave him her shield, in which everything was reflected as in a mirror. Hermes gave Perseus a weapon capable of defeating Medusa. The way to the hero’s goal was also suggested to him by the winged messenger of the gods.

The myths of Ancient Greece about Perseus tell about the meeting of the son of Zeus with the Grays, the elder sisters of the Gorgons. According to legend, they were born old and had one eye and one tooth between them. The Grays used them in turns. The moment one gave the other an eye, everyone was blind. The Grays knew the way to the gorgons and guarded it. The cunning Hermes told the son of Zeus what to do with the old women. Perseus, on his advice, stole his only eye and tooth. The blinded Grays were ready to do anything to get what they had back. Perseus demanded to be shown the way to the gorgons. The old women had no choice but to agree.

On the way to his goal, Perseus also met nymphs (according to one version, the same Grays showed the way to them). They presented the hero with magical objects. The nymphs presented him with the helmet of the ruler of the kingdom of the dead, Hades. The one who put it on became invisible. Perseus also received winged sandals, which allowed him to fly high and fast like a bird. The third gift was a bag in which you could fit anything: it expanded and then contracted. Having thanked the nymphs, Perseus moved on.

Feat

Perseus found the gorgons while they were sleeping. Hermes pointed him to Medusa. The hero looked at the monstrous sisters through Athena's shield. Perseus cut off the gorgon's head, and from the blood of Medusa the winged horse Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor appeared. According to one version of the legend, their father was Poseidon.

Medusa's body fell into the sea, but Perseus put his head in a magic bag. The gorgon sisters woke up from the splash of the waves and began to look for the killer, but he had already disappeared, wearing the helmet of Hades. According to Pindar, Athena, impressed by the lamentations of the gorgons, created a flute on this day.

Drops of Medusa's blood fell into the sands of Libya when Perseus flew over this country. According to legend, they turned into poisonous snakes and made the area deserted.

Atlant

Perseus, with the help of winged sandals, reached the country where the giant Atlas (Atlas), the brother of Prometheus, ruled. He guarded his flocks of fine-fleeced sheep and the entrance to a magnificent garden where an apple tree with golden leaves and fruits grew. Atlas did not want to let Perseus in: he was predicted that one day the son of Zeus would steal his apples. The offended hero took Medusa's head out of his bag and the giant turned to stone, turned into a mountain and has been supporting the firmament since that time. And Perseus, having rested and grabbed a few, moved on.

The Myth of Perseus and Andromeda

The rescue of the beautiful Andromeda is a plot to which many famous masterpieces are dedicated. According to legend, the girl was the daughter of the Ethiopian king Kepheus and Cassiopeia. Andromeda's mother was beautiful and overly proud of it. She once boasted that even sea nymphs could not compete with her in beauty. The offended Nereids complained to Poseidon and asked to take revenge on the proud woman. The ruler of the sea sent a monster to Ethiopia, similar in appearance to a giant fish. Whale (in earlier legends of Quito - the name of the sea goddess) began to ravage the coast of the country and kill its inhabitants. Kefei went to the oracle for advice. He said that the only way to calm the monster was to give him Andromeda, the only daughter of the king. Kepheus and Cassiopeia had to send the girl to certain death.

Andromeda was chained to a rock and left there until the monster arrived. Just at this time Perseus flew past Ethiopia. He saw a beautiful maiden and immediately fell in love with her. The hero sank onto the rock and asked the princess about what happened. Having received an answer, he turned to the unfortunate parents who approached and asked whether they would give Andromeda to him as a wife if she was saved. Kepheus and Cassiopeia promised Perseus a daughter and their entire kingdom if he defeated the monster.

Two versions

Further, the myth of Perseus is usually told in one of two ways. In the first, the hero defeated Keith with the help of a sword given to him by Hermes. Rising into the sky several times and rapidly descending on the enemy, Perseus inflicted a mortal wound on the monster and saved the beautiful girl and the entire country. According to the second version, the hero defeated a huge fish by taking Medusa's head out of his bag. The whale turned into a rock. Ovid also writes that after the battle, Perseus laid his weapon face down. At the same time, Medusa’s gaze fell on the algae, and they turned into corals.

Phineas

The ancient Greek myths about Perseus, however, do not end there. The hero made sacrifices to Athena, Zeus and Hermes, and then decided to celebrate the wedding. The general fun was disrupted by the appearance of an army led by Phineus, Andromeda's former fiancé. He accused Perseus of stealing the bride and intended to kill him. The opponents' forces were unequal. Phineas had long been known in these parts, and he brought many warriors with him. Seeing that he might lose, Perseus again used Medusa's head, and all his opponents turned to stone.

For some time the hero stayed in Ethiopia. Then he and Andromeda went to the island of Serif, where his mother was waiting.

Death of Polydectes

Perseus found Danae in the temple of Zeus, where she had to hide from the harassment of King Polydectes. The hero immediately went to the palace to find his mother’s offender. He found Polydectes during a feast. The king clearly did not expect Perseus: the hero had long been considered dead. The son of Zeus announced that he had completed the task - he had brought the head of Medusa. However, no one believed him. The already enraged Perseus raised the Gorgon’s head high as proof, and everyone present turned to stone.

Perseus transferred power over the kingdom to Dictys, the brother of Polydectes, who had once saved the hero and his mother. He himself went to Argos.

A prediction that came true

The myth of Perseus ends with the story of his stay in his homeland. Acrisius, having learned about the arrival of his daughter and grandson, fled in fear. Perseus began to rule in Argos. He returned the magical gifts to their owners, and gave the head of Medusa to Athena. The goddess placed it on her shell on her chest (according to another version, on her shield).

Acrisius still could not avoid what was predicted. He was killed by a disk thrown by Perseus during the next games. The saddened hero buried his grandfather and refused to rule in Argos. He went to Tiryns and ruled there for a long time.

Interpretation

Today, there are several interpretations of all known ancient mythological stories. It is sometimes assumed that behind fantastic adventures lies information about real historical events that were transformed by ancient poets into such vivid images. The meaning of the myth of Perseus has also been interpreted in a similar way. History knows of cases when this approach is taken to the point of absurdity. And then Zeus becomes a major official, the golden shower that penetrated Danae - by bribing the guards, and Atlas or Atlas - an astronomer.

According to philological theory, myths are the result of distortions of language. The names of the gods are derived from the ancient names of such common phenomena as sunlight, wind, fire, rain and clouds. Proponents of the theory provide evidence of the existence in ancient times of a single language, which gave rise to Sanskrit and Latin. The basic ideas contained in the myths were formed at a time when the ancestors of future peoples lived together. Then, with the change in languages, familiar plots began to take shape, in which, however, a hidden original meaning can be discovered.

Movement of the sun

In this theory, the myths of Ancient Greece about Perseus are considered solar. Philologists reduce the names of heroes and gods to the names of natural phenomena in Sanskrit. Danae is a parched land or a dawn generated by darkness (Akrisius) amid brightness (this is how the name of the city of Akros can be translated). She was the lover of heaven (Zeus) and gave birth to the bright day (Perseus). According to the prophecy, he will have to kill his grandfather, that is, the darkness.

Medusa, according to theory, personifies the starry night - beautiful, but dying with the coming of day. The name Andromeda also comes down to the Sanskrit word for dawn, while Cassiopeia and Cepheus represent darkness and night.

Thus, the ancient myths about Perseus tell of the victory of light over darkness, the change of night to a new day. Almost all legends from antiquity are interpreted in a similar way. Any myth - about Perseus, Orpheus and Eurydice, Theseus and Ariadne, the exploits of Hercules - appears in this theory as a description of physical phenomena.

One day, the king of Argos Acrisius was predicted that his daughter Danae would give birth to a son, by whose hand he was destined to die. To avoid
fulfillment of the prediction, then King Acrisius locked his daughter in a copper-stone dungeon, but Zeus fell in love with Danae, entered there in the form of golden rain, and after that Danae’s son Perseus was born.
Hearing the cry of the child, the king ordered Danae and her baby to be taken out of there, imprison them both in a barrel and throw them into the sea. For a long time Danaya and the child were carried by the raging waves, but Zeus protected her. Finally she was thrown ashore on the island of Serif. At this time, a fisherman named Dictys was fishing on the seashore. He noticed a barrel and pulled it ashore. Having freed Danae and her little son from the barrel, he led them to his brother, the king of the island Polydectes. He received them cordially, left them to live in his royal house and began to raise Perseus.
Perseus grew up and became a handsome young man. When Polydectes decided to marry Danae, Perseus prevented this marriage in every possible way. For this, King Polydectes disliked him and decided to get rid of him. He instructed Perseus to perform a dangerous feat - to go to a distant country and cut off the head of the terrible Medusa, one of the three terrible monsters called Gorgons. There were three of them, and one of them was called Stheno, the other was Euryale, and the third was Medusa, and only this of the three was mortal. These winged snake-haired maidens lived in the far West, in the region of Night and Death.
They had such a terrible appearance and such a terrible look that anyone who saw them turned to stone at their mere glance.
King Polydectes hoped that if young Perseus met Medusa in that distant country, he would never return back.
So the brave Perseus set off on a journey in search of these monsters and, after long wanderings, finally came to the region of Night and Death, where the father of the terrible gorgons, named Forkys, reigned. Perseus met three old women on the way to the Gorgons, who were called Grays. They were born with gray hair, all three had a single eye and only one tooth, which they shared alternately.

These grays guarded the Gorgon sisters. And along the way to them there lived good nymphs. Perseus came to the nymphs, and they gave him winged sandals that could easily support him in the air. They also gave him a bag and a helmet of Hades, made from dog skin, which makes a person invisible. The cunning Hermes handed him his sword, and Athena handed him a metal shield, smooth as a mirror. Armed with them, Perseus took off on his winged sandals, flew across the ocean and appeared to the Gorgon sisters. When he approached them, the terrible sisters were sleeping at that time; and Perseus cut off Medusa's head with his sharp sword and threw it into the bag given to him by the nymphs. Perseus did all this without looking at Medusa - he knew that her gaze could turn him to stone, and held a mirror-smooth shield in front of him. But as soon as Perseus had time to cut off Medusa’s head, the winged horse Pegasus immediately emerged from her body and the giant Chrysaor grew up.
At this time the sisters of Medusa woke up. But Perseus put on his invisibility helmet and, wearing winged sandals, flew back, and his terrible sisters, the Gorgons, could not catch up with him.
The wind lifted him high into the air, and when he flew over the sandy Libyan desert, drops of Medusa's blood fell to the ground and poisonous snakes, of which there are so many in Libya, grew from her blood.
Mighty winds arose and began to carry Perseus through the air in different directions; but by evening he managed to reach the far West, and young Perseus ended up in the kingdom of the giant Atlas. Fearing to fly at night, Perseus sank to the ground.
And the giant Atlas was a rich king of that country, and he owned many herds and huge gardens; in one of them grew a tree with golden branches, and the leaves and fruits were also all golden.

It was predicted to Atlas that one day the son of Zeus would appear and pluck golden fruits from the tree. Then Atlas surrounded his garden with a high wall and instructed the young Hesperides and the terrible dragon to guard the golden apples and not let anyone near them.

Perseus appeared to Atlas and, calling himself the son of Zeus, began to ask him to receive him. But Atlas remembered the ancient prediction and refused shelter to Perseus and wanted to drive him away. Then Perseus took Medusa's head out of the bag and showed it to Atlas. The giant could not resist the terrible power of Medusa and was petrified from horror. His head became the top of a mountain, and his shoulders and arms became its spurs; his beard and hair turned into dense forests. A spiky mountain rose and grew to enormous sizes. She reached the very sky, and it lay with all its stars on the shoulders of Atlas, and from then on the giant held this heavy burden.
Having thus taken revenge on Atlas, the next morning Perseus rose again on his winged sandals into the air, and he flew for a long time until he finally arrived at the shores of Ethiopia, where Cepheus reigned.
Perseus saw the young beautiful Andromeda chained to a rock on a deserted shore. She had to atone for the guilt of her mother Cassiopeia, who once, boasting of her beauty to the nymphs, said that she was the most beautiful of all. Angry, the nymphs complained to Poseidon and asked to punish her. And Poseidon sent a flood and a terrible sea monster to Ethiopia, devouring people and livestock.
The oracle predicted that Kepheus should give his daughter Andromeda to this terrible monster to be devoured; and so she was chained to a sea rock.
Perseus saw the beautiful Andromeda chained to a rock. She stood motionless, and the wind did not move her hair, and if there had not been tears in her eyes, one could have mistaken her for a marble statue.
The amazed Perseus looked at her, went down to her, and began asking the crying girl what her name was, where she was from and why she was chained to a desert rock. Not right away, but finally the girl told Perseus who she was and why she was chained to this rock.
Suddenly the sea waves rustled and a monster emerged from the depths of the sea. Opening its terrible mouth, it rushed towards Andromeda. The girl screamed in horror, King Kepheus and Cassiopeia came running to her scream, but they could not save their daughter and began to mourn her bitterly. Then Perseus shouted to them from above:
- I am Perseus, the son of Danae and Zeus, who cut off the head of the terrible Medusa. Promise me to give your daughter as my wife if I save her.
Kepheus and Cassiopeia agreed to this and promised to give him not only their daughter, but also their entire kingdom in addition.
At that time the monster swam, cutting through the waves like a ship, closer and closer, and now it was almost at the very rock. Then young Perseus rose high into the air, holding his shiny shield in his hand. The monster saw the reflection of Perseus in the water and rushed at him in rage. Like an eagle that pounces on a snake, so Perseus flew at the monster and plunged his sharp sword deep into it. The wounded monster flew high into the air, then rushed down at Perseus, like a wild boar pursued by dogs. But the young man in his winged sandals dodged the monster and began to strike him with his sword, blow after blow, and then black blood gushed from the monster’s mouth. During the battle, Perseus's wings got wet; with difficulty he flew to the shore and, noticing a rock rising from the sea, saved himself on it. Holding the stone with his left hand, he inflicted several more wounds on the monster with his right hand, and the monster, bleeding, sank to the bottom of the sea.
The young man rushed to Andromeda and freed her from the chains.
The delighted Kepheus and Cassiopeia joyfully met the young hero and took the bride and groom to their home. Soon a wedding feast was arranged, and Eros and Hymen were at their wedding with torches in their hands, playing flutes and lyres, singing funny songs; The wedding guests listened to the story of the exploits of the hero Perseus.
But suddenly a crowd appeared at Kefei’s house, led by the king’s brother Phineus, who had previously wooed Andromeda, but left her during the trouble.
And so Phineus demanded that Andromeda be given to him. He raised his spear at Perseus, but Cepheus shielded him. Then the enraged Phineus threw his spear at the young man with all his might, but did not hit. Perseus grabbed the same spear, and if Phineas had not hidden behind the altar, it would have pierced his chest, but the spear hit one of Phineus’s soldiers, who fell to the ground dead. And then a bloody battle began at a merry feast. Like a lion, Perseus fought against numerous enemies; the young hero was surrounded by a large crowd of enemies led by Phineus. Leaning against a high column, he hardly fought off the warriors attacking him, but finally saw that he could not defeat his enemies who were superior in strength. Then he took Medusa’s head out of the bag, and one after another, at the sight of her, the enemies turned to stone. Now the last warrior stands like a stone statue with a spear raised in his hand.

Phineus saw in horror that his warriors had turned to stone. He recognized them in stone sculptures, began to call them and, not believing his eyes, touched each of them - but he only had a cold stone at hand.
In horror, Phineus extended his hands to Perseus and asked to spare him. Laughing, Perseus answered him: “My spear will not touch you, but I will erect you as a stone monument in the house of my father-in-law.” And he raised the head of the terrible Medusa above Phineus. Phineus looked at her and immediately turned into a stone statue, expressing cowardice and humiliation.

Perseus married the beautiful Andromeda and went with his young wife to the island of Serif, where he saved his mother by turning King Polydectes, who was forcing her into marriage, into stone, and Perseus gave power over the island to his friend Dictys.
Perseus returned the winged sandals to Hermes, and the helmet of invisibility to Hades; Pallas Athena received the head of Medusa as a gift and attached it to her shield.
Then Perseus went with his young wife Andromeda and his mother to Argos, and then to the city of Larisa, where he took part in games and competitions. Perseus’s grandfather, who moved to the country of the Pelasgians, was also present at these games. Here the oracle's prediction was finally fulfilled.
While throwing the disc, Perseus accidentally hit his grandfather with it and inflicted a mortal wound on him.
In deep sorrow, Perseus found out who this old man was and buried him with great honors. Then he gave power over Argos to his relative Megapent, and he himself began to rule Tiryns.
Perseus lived happily with Andromeda for many years, and she bore him beautiful sons.

Myths and legends of ancient Greece. Illustrations.

They are very entertaining and interesting. The most powerful civilization at one time described the interaction of the gods of Olympus and ordinary people. Tales about various heroes played an important role in the myths of the ancient Greeks. One of such famous characters is Perseus (Greece). He is credited with defeating the deadly monster Medusa the Gorgon. The ancient Greek legend about Perseus will be briefly told in the article.

Birth of a Hero

In ancient times, the sayings of oracles were of great importance to the ancient Greeks. The ruler of Argos, Acrisius, tried to avoid the predicted fate by imprisoning his own daughter Danae, who was famous for her unearthly beauty. According to the prediction, the king was supposed to die at the hands of his grandson. However, the measures taken by Acrisius did not become a difficult obstacle for the great Zeus, who penetrated into the hard-to-reach place where Danae was kept, under the guise of golden rain. The son born from the thunder god was named Perseus. The news of the birth of Perseus greatly frightened the king of Argos. He ordered Danae and the baby to be put in a box, after which they were beaten tightly and thrown into the sea.

Serif

The myths of Ancient Greece about Perseus tell that it was not easy for the little future hero and his mother. After long wanderings across the endless expanses of the sea, the boarded up box, thanks to the roaring waves, finally landed on the shore of the island of Serif. At that time, the fisherman Dictis was throwing his fishing nets into the water. It was he who became the savior of Danae and Perseus. After opening the box, the fisherman’s surprise knew no bounds, because he clearly did not expect to see a beautiful woman and a cute baby. Subsequently, Dictys decided to show them to his brother Polydectes, who ruled Serif.

Danaë and Polydectes

The king of the island, Polydectes, welcomed Danae and her son. He left them to live in his luxurious palace. Thus, Perseus spent his childhood and youth under the tutelage of King Polydectes on Serif.

Over time, the young man became strong and slender. Perseus was noticeably different from his peers in his divine beauty, strength, dexterity and courage. Not a single guy on the island could compare with him in anything.

Polydectes could not resist the unearthly beauty of Danae. That is why the king wanted to take her as his wife. However, Perseus was categorically against such a marriage, making every effort to prevent it from taking place. Because of this, Polydectes disliked him and decided to get rid of the only obstacle on the way to his cherished goal. Perseus was tasked with going to a distant land to behead the Gorgon Medusa. No mortal has yet managed to survive an encounter with a terrible monster. Therefore, King Polydectes prepared a one-way mission for Perseus.

Medusa Gorgon and her sisters

According to the myths of Ancient Greece, the sea deity Phorcys and his sister Keto had three daughters who looked like snake-haired monsters. Euryale and Stheno were immortal from birth, and only their younger sister Medusa remained vulnerable.

According to legend, Medusa the Gorgon was a pretty girl with beautiful hair. Trying to find protection from Poseidon's advances, she hid in the temple of Athena. However, God still managed to penetrate the girl’s shelter in the form of a bird and take possession of her. The angry goddess took out her anger on Medusa, turning her into a terrible monster with snake-like hair.

Medusa Gorgon, unlike her sisters, although she was not immortal, could fascinate people with her gaze. Her amazing gift served as a deadly weapon. It was enough for a person to see the direct gaze of the Gorgon Medusa, as he instantly turned into a stone statue.

Perseus fees

According to the myths about Perseus, the various gods of Olympus provided the hero with great help. Among his patrons, it is worth noting Athena, who was known for her hatred of Medusa the Gorgon. The god Hermes, his half-brother, also played an important role in equipping the hero. Thus, before the journey, Perseus became the owner of very valuable artifacts.

The hero received a metal shield from Athena. It was so smooth that it was practically indistinguishable from a mirror. Hermes handed him a sharp weapon. Perseus's sword, like soft wax, cut even the hardest steel.

Journey of Perseus

The young hero needed to get to the western edge of the earth, because that’s where the Gorgons lived. Perseus had to go through many countries and see various peoples on the way to a dark place.

To find out the exact location of Medusa, the hero had to outwit the three Gray sisters, who shared one tooth and one eye. Perseus waited in ambush for an opportune moment while one gray-haired old woman was handing over the only eye to another, and with a quick movement he intercepted it. The sisters had no choice but to tell Persia the location of the Gorgons.

Before the battle with Medusa the Gorgon, Perseus visited the inhabitants of the legendary northern country of Hyperborea. They made a solemn sacrifice for the god Apollo, and also presented Perseus with a Hades cap made of dog skin. It made it possible to make its owner completely invisible. In ancient Greek mythology, the hat was of great importance, because it was often used by the gods themselves. Perseus was also given magic sandals, with which he could quickly soar above the ground. The donated bag had the magical ability to change in size depending on the volume of things placed inside. Having put the sandals and hat of Hades into it, Perseus went to the decisive battle.

Battle with Medusa the Gorgon

Thanks to the magic sandals, Perseus managed to cross the sea and get to the island where the snake-haired monsters lived. When the hero managed to find the Gorgons, they were all asleep, to his happiness. The mirror-polished shield served Perseus as eyes. With its help, he was able to clearly see the sleeping sisters with steel scales and golden wings. Only the snakes on the Gorgons' heads moved a little.

The myth of Perseus and Medusa the Gorgon says that the hero’s task was complicated by the fact that the deadly sisters were like two peas in a pod. The slightest mistake could cost lives, because only one of them did not have immortality. However, even here the gods of Olympus came to his aid. Quick Hermes told Perseus the exact location of Medusa. Using the mirror shield donated by Athena, the hero cut off the Gorgon's head with one blow with his sharp sword.

Perseus's path home

The myths of Ancient Greece about Perseus contain information that, having thrown Medusa’s head into a magic bag, the hero hastened to quickly get away from the ominous island. However, the body of his victim fell from a cliff into the sea, thereby awakening the two Gorgons. Thanks to Hades' hat, the hero managed to avoid death from winged monsters and leave the island unhindered.

Perseus's way home lay through Libya. Drops of blood flowed from the severed head of Medusa to the ground, which turned into poisonous snakes. Subsequently, Libya turned into a desert country.

The next place on the way home was the refuge of Atlas, who, like the apple of his eye, protected a tree with golden branches, leaves and apples. The giant was predicted by the goddess Themis that his fruits would be stolen by the son of Zeus. Tired Perseus asked Atlas to take a break. However, the giant, because of the prophecy, ordered him to leave. After this, the angry hero pulled Medusa's head out of his bag and turned Atlas into a huge stone statue, which began to constantly support the entire vault of heaven.

Rescue Andromeda

In Ethiopia, the hero decided to take a break after a difficult flight. Just then the lovely girl Andromeda had to atone for the guilt of her stupid and arrogant mother. Queen Cassiopeia was proud of her beauty, declaring to everyone that she was the most beautiful. The nymphs begged Poseidon to punish the ruler of Ethiopia and her entire country. The sea god, as his punishment, sent a gigantic monster that rose from the depths and devastated everything in its path.

According to the statement of the oracle of Zeus, only the sacrifice of Andromeda could put an end to Poseidon's punishment. However, before the death of the beautiful girl, pale with horror, Perseus arrived in time. At the sight of Andromeda, a strong feeling of love burned in the hero’s heart. Perseus invited her parents to marry their daughter, promising to save her. Having received an approving response, the hero entered into a stubborn confrontation with the sea monster, striking him one blow with his sword after another. After the end of the terrible battle, all the inhabitants of Ethiopia glorified Perseus.

Perseus' wedding

On the eve of the wedding ceremony, the hero made rich sacrifices to his patrons from Olympus. A luxurious feast took place in the royal palace, which was covered with greenery and flowers in honor of the newlyweds. All the people also feasted with the rulers of Ethiopia. During the feast, Perseus told the guests about his exploits. However, the wedding feast was ruined after Andromeda's first groom appeared with a large army. Phineus in the palace began to accuse the hero of stealing his bride, after which a desperate battle began. Perseus bravely fought against superior enemy forces, but was able to win only with the help of the head of Medusa. Thus, the statue of Phineus with an expression of fear and slavish prayer in his eyes remained forever in the palace.

Return to Serif and revenge on Polydectes

Perseus did not stay long in Ethiopia after the bloody battle. Together with his beautiful wife, he hurried to return to his native island. Perseus's mother was in despair at this time, because she had to constantly hide in the temple of Zeus from Polydectes. The angry Perseus decided to get even with the king of Serif. Entering the palace, Perseus found him at a luxurious feast. Polydectes' surprise knew no bounds, because the king could not even doubt the victory of the Gorgons. The hero told those present that he had brought the head of Medusa. The ruler of Serif did not believe Perseus and began to accuse him of lying. When the hero’s cup of patience was overflowing due to the bullying of Polydectes and his friends, he took his head out of the bag and showed everyone irrefutable proof. After this, the king and all those who feasted instantly turned into stone statues.

A prediction that came true

Danae and Perseus wanted to meet with Acrisius, who continued to rule Argos. However, he, fearing the oracle’s prediction, did not allow his daughter and grandson into his house. Many years later, at the Olympic Games, Perseus accidentally launched a disk to the audience. A heavy projectile instantly killed Acrisius, thereby fulfilling the oracle’s prophecy.

The myth of Perseus in cinema

The famous feat of the famous hero was successfully transferred to the cinema. In 1981, the feature adventure film “Clash of the Titans” was shot in the USA. The film was directed by Desmond Davis. And although the American film was somewhat different from the ancient Greek myths, the film adaptation of the feat of Perseus was a tremendous success. The sea monster in Clash of the Titans was called the Kraken, which was borrowed from Norse mythology. If in the myth snakes appeared from the blood of Medusa, then in the film - scorpions. In any case, the audience really liked the film, and the special effects, for 1981, were simply excellent.

In 2010, the American film industry decided to update the film adaptation of the myth about the feat of Perseus. The remake of the 1981 film was also called Clash of the Titans. Louis Leterrier was appointed director, and Sam Worthington played the main role. In addition to the traditional version, the film was also shown in 3D format. While the 1981 film adaptation cost $15 million, the remake's budget was $125 million. The 2010 film was overall successful, grossing $493 million.

The creators of the remake also made changes to ancient Greek myths. The god Hades was presented in the film as a negative character who hated people and opposed himself to Zeus. However, Perseus, thanks to the head of Medusa, managed to cope with the Kraken and send Hades back to the underworld. Instead of ruling Argos or moving to Olympus, the brave hero wanted to enjoy an ordinary human life.

Thus, thanks to the myth of Perseus, you can learn about the legendary feat of the greatest hero of Ancient Greece. American film adaptations will allow everyone to plunge into the exciting atmosphere of adventure and battles with various monsters.

These grays guarded the Gorgon sisters. And along the way to them there lived good nymphs.
Perseus came to the nymphs, and they gave him winged sandals that could easily support him in the air. They also gave him a bag and a helmet of Hades, made from dog skin, which makes a person invisible. The cunning Hermes handed him his sword, and Athena handed him a metal shield, smooth as a mirror. Armed with them, Perseus took off on his winged sandals, flew across the ocean and appeared to the Gorgon sisters. When he approached them, the terrible sisters were sleeping at that time; and Perseus cut off Medusa's head with his sharp sword and threw it into the bag given to him by the nymphs. Perseus did all this without looking at Medusa - he knew that her gaze could turn him to stone, and held a mirror-smooth shield in front of him. But as soon as Perseus had time to cut off Medusa’s head, the winged horse Pegasus immediately emerged from her body and the giant Chrysaor grew up.
At this time the sisters of Medusa woke up. But Perseus put on his invisibility helmet and, wearing winged sandals, flew back, and his terrible sisters, the Gorgons, could not catch up with him.
The wind lifted him high into the air, and when he flew over the sandy Libyan desert, drops of Medusa's blood fell to the ground and poisonous snakes, of which there are so many in Libya, grew from her blood.
Mighty winds arose and began to carry Perseus through the air in different directions; but by evening he managed to reach the far West, and young Perseus ended up in the kingdom of the giant Atlas. Fearing to fly at night, Perseus sank to the ground.
And the giant Atlas was a rich king of that country, and he owned many herds and huge gardens; in one of them grew a tree with golden branches, and the leaves and fruits were also all golden.

- END -

Myths and legends of ancient Greece. Illustrations.

In the glorious city of Argos lived a king named Acrisius. He was rich and respected, but he was not happy because he did not have an heir. One day the king decided to turn to the Delphic oracle for help, where the priestess Pythia told him the future. She said that you will have a daughter, and she will give you an heir, who will kill you when he grows up. The king did not utter a word; he was horrified by such a prediction. After some time, the king of Argos actually had a daughter, but not an ordinary one. The girl was of incredible beauty, she was named Danae, in honor of the founder of the dynasty, King Danae and his fifty daughters Danaids. According to legend, Danaus received a prediction that he would die at the hands of his son-in-law. He had 50 beautiful daughters. And his brother Egypt has 50 young men. The Egyptians wanted to intermarry with the daughters of Danaus, but he was against this union.

Perseus was also given magic sandals, with which he could quickly soar above the ground. The donated bag had the magical ability to change in size depending on the volume of things placed inside. Having put the sandals and hat of Hades into it, Perseus went to the decisive battle.

Battle with the Gorgon Medusa Thanks to the magic sandals, Perseus managed to cross the sea and get to the island where the snake-haired monsters lived. When the hero managed to find the Gorgons, they were all asleep, to his happiness. The mirror-polished shield served Perseus as eyes.

With its help, he was able to clearly see the sleeping sisters with steel scales and golden wings. Only the snakes on the Gorgons' heads moved a little. The myth of Perseus and Medusa the Gorgon says that the hero’s task was complicated by the fact that the deadly sisters were like two peas in a pod.

One more step

On the advice of Athena, Danaus built a huge 50-oared ship to escape the fifty sons of Egypt. However, on the island of Argos, the Egyptians reached the Danaids and forced her to marry them. The festive bells sounded, the holiday ended, but the silence of the night was interrupted by the last cries of the young husbands.

By order of their father, the Danaids plunged sharp daggers into their husbands' hearts at night. Hypermnestra alone failed to kill her new husband Lynceus. She took pity on him and saved him. Subsequently, their union brought about a whole generation of heroes; Hercules himself belonged to this family.
According to one version, Lynceus subsequently caused the death of Danaus. The Danaids themselves received their punishment only after death. Having found themselves in Hades, they are now forced to forever fill a bottomless well with water.
Acrisius can kill his daughter with one hand, but he is afraid of angering the gods. He doesn't do anything.

Attention

The messenger of the gods hands Perseus a silver shield, lends him his winged sandals, a bag and a very sharp sickle that can cut anything. Hermes advises Perseus to fly to the caves where three sorceresses live - the Graias. The Grays were full sisters of the Gorgons. According to legends, they were either already born old or were born gray-haired. The three of them had only one eye, which they took turns passing on to each other.

Thanks to his winged sandals, Perseus quickly flies to the right place. According to one version, Perseus takes possession of their eye by force at the moment of its transfer. According to another, the eye accidentally falls out of the hand of one sister and Perseus returns it.

For this, stunned by the beauty and kindness of the young man, the Grays tell him the way to the island where the Gorgons live. Perseus immediately goes to the said island, and a terrible picture appears before him.

Myths of ancient Greece: the myth of Perseus

Over time, his daughter becomes more and more beautiful, and the age is approaching when she can already be matched. Besides this, there is not a single man who would not want such a beautiful and beautiful girl as his wife. However, Acrisius remembers the prediction; secretly he wishes his daughter to die.
One day he calls his daughter and her nurse with him. He leads them for a long time until they reach a huge tower. He asks them to come in first and the huge door immediately slams shut. Now Danae is locked in the tower, now no young man will be able to get close to her.
Danae screams in horror, but the inhabitants of Argos consider her missing, no one will hear her. But what is hidden from the eyes of men cannot be hidden from the eyes of the gods. Soon Danae is noticed by Zeus himself. God is amazed by her beauty.
Zeus never appeared to mortal women in order to take possession of them.

The myth of Perseus - summary. Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa

Important

One day he decided to go to the oracle to find out the future fate of his reign. In Ancient Greece, as you know, rule could be passed on from father to son, but not to daughter. And Acrisius received a terrible prediction. His grandson will take his life.

So Acrisius decided that Danae would not marry, and he would not have heirs. Many years later. Danae lived in chambers underground. Acrisius forgot about the oracle's prediction. And here's the problem! Zeus fell in love with Danae at first sight. The Thunderer descended from heaven and entered her chambers. Soon a boy was born, who was named Perseus. The difficult fate of Perseus - the anger of King Acrisius Acrisius became angry and decided to punish his daughter. Perseus was hammered into a box along with Danae and thrown into the sea. Of course, God did not allow his son to die. Zeus did not allow the box to sink to the bottom. For a long time the boy was carried by the waves on the sea, but found salvation.

The myth of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa

Whatever the meaning behind the poetic narrative, ancient tales continue to delight with their imagery and colorfulness. The myth of Perseus inspired the creation of great paintings by Delacroix, Rubens, Veronese, and Titian. The famous sculpture by Cellini, depicting the hero with the severed head of Medusa in his hand, is still considered the most beautiful decoration of Florence.
The legend of the battle of Perseus with the Gorgon Medusa Having reached the place described by Hermes, he sees three terrible gorgons on a rock. Each scale burns with fire. How to determine which of them is Medusa? The myth of Perseus says that the brave hero heard a hint from Athena. It was the goddess who pointed him to Medusa. The battle proceeded as follows:

Perseus rushed at Medusa from above.
He defended himself with a shield and cut off her head in one fell swoop.
He then put on a helmet to avoid fighting the immortal gorgons.
Used my sandals to escape.

They chased him, but could not find him.
The hero returns home with Medusa's head in a bag! An interesting fact from the myth about Perseus According to ancient Greek mythology, when Perseus returned home, the blood of Medusa dripped from the bag. At this time, the hero of ancient Greek mythology was flying over Libya.
All the people also feasted with the rulers of Ethiopia. During the feast, Perseus told the guests about his exploits. However, the wedding feast was ruined after Andromeda's first groom appeared with a large army. Phineus in the palace began to accuse the hero of stealing his bride, after which a desperate battle began. Perseus bravely fought against superior enemy forces, but was able to win only with the help of the head of Medusa. Thus, the statue of Phineus with an expression of fear and slavish prayer in his eyes remained forever in the palace. Return to Serif and revenge on Polydectes Perseus did not stay long in Ethiopia after the bloody battle. Together with his beautiful wife, he hurried to return to his native island. Perseus's mother was in despair at this time, because she had to constantly hide in the temple of Zeus from Polydectes. The angry Perseus decided to get even with the king of Serif.

Myths about Perseus summary 5 6 sentences

If you are the son of Zeus, you will defeat Medusa the Gorgon,” Polydectes manipulates. “Okay, I’m ready.” After these words, Perseus sets off. The hero goes to the West, where the queen rules, the goddess of the night, where three dangerous gorgon sisters live. Their bodies are covered with strong, shiny scales, and their hands are covered with sharp claws that can cut through flesh. Snakes moved along the hair, and the eyes burned with rage. Anyone who met their gaze immediately turned to stone. The most powerful was the Gorgon jellyfish, but it can be killed. The two older sisters are immortal. The gods take the side of Perseus For a long time, Perseus wandered, but no one could help him on the way to the jellyfish. Only the glorious goddess Athena decided to tell the hero of ancient Greek mythology where to go. She sent Perseus to Hermes.

Myths about Perseus summary 5-6 sentences

Together with Danae and Andromeda, Perseus sailed to his homeland, Argos. Having learned about this, his grandfather Akrisius, who had previously thrown him into the sea, fled to the city of Larissa. After some time, the king of Larissa, Teutamides, invited Perseus to participate in athletic games.

A disc thrown by Perseus during the games accidentally hit Acrisius in the leg, and the former king died from this wound. There the prophecy given to him was fulfilled. Repenting over this involuntary murder, Perseus decided to relinquish power over Argos, inherited from his grandfather, and exchanged kingdoms with his uncle Megapentus, who ruled in Tiryns. Near Tiryns, Perseus built another glorious city - Mycenae. The walls of Mycenae were built from huge stones by the Cyclops.