Perseus and medusa moral

Ovids account of medusa s mortality tells that she had once been a woman, vain of her beautiful hair. Furthermore, when perseus returned home, he insisted that king polydectes should no longer harass his mother. The moral of the story is that the gods were capricious, meanspirited and extremely vain and selfish. He then returned to seriphus and rescued his mother by turning polydectes and his supporters to stone at the sight of medusa s head. Sep 29, 2018 medusa was the daughter of phorcys and ceto though some sources claim gorgon is her father.

He then sought out the ancient graeae and stealing their single eye compelled them to reveal the location of the gorgons. In other words, they werent really all that important. Medusa essentially is a chthonic that is, underworld deity who has certain taboo knowledge thus, she cannot be looked at directly. He looks at her reflection in the metal shield from athena. That is, a wondrous transformation occurs whereby the hero is carried from the netherworld of primal chaotic energy to the heavens. Perseus used the head of medusa to turn polydectes into stone. Medusa is one of the last residuals of the earth goddesses, and as such she represents the earth mother who has. When perseus travels to defeat medusa, a gorgon, he must first locate the island on which they live. Perseus is one of the greatest heroes of greek mythology. Medusa was a fearsome monster, who turned to stone anyone who would be unlucky to stare her in the eyes. Perseus answered that if it was necessary, he would bring the head of medusa, the gorgon, to him. The sculpture stands on a square base which has bronze relief panels depicting the story of perseus and andromeda, similar to a predella on an altarpiece. Over the years, as medusa was exiled on an island guarded by a three headed dog, her hatred of males became further entrenched.

During a banquet with king polydectes, perseus pulled out medusas head to prove that he did kill medusa, which petrified king polydectes. Nov 24, 2018 the story of medusa and athena moral story for kids periwinkle watch our other videos. No matter how dangerous the monsters in his path, perseus boldly marches forward. With athenas or poseidons help, another greek hero, bellerophon, captured pegasus and rode him first in his fight with the chimera and later while he was taking vengeance on stheneboea anteia, who had falsely accused bellerophon. Not everyone terrible always used to be like that can someone rephrase that because everyone always portrays medusa as a monster when in the past she was actually turned by athena quite unfairly. Medusa was one of three sisters, the gorgons and perseus beheaded.

Medusa s petrifying power is also used on phineus, andromedas uncle whom she was betrothed to, proetus, the usurper of the throne of argos, and finally polydectes himself. King polydectes commanded he fetch the head of medusa. What is the moral to the story in the myth called perseus. Ovids metamorphoses on canvas, 21 perseus and medusa caravaggio michelangelo merisi da caravaggio 15711610, medusa c 1597, oil on canvas mounted on wood, 60 x 55 cm, galleria degli uffizi, florence. Harding, published in 1906 by scott, foresman and company. Perseus did all he could to guard his mother against the kings unwanted attentions. He ends up rescuing her from a sea monster and making her his wife.

Perseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorgon medusa and the rescuer of andromeda from a sea monster. The king agreed and asked perseus to bring him the head of the medusa, otherwise, he would take his mother by force. Explore the tale of young hero, perseus, who sets out to defeat the terrifying medusa, who could turn any man into stone. What is the main reason that polydectes asks perseus for medusa s head. Athena was so jealous of poseidons interest in medusa that she turned that innocent girl into the infamous horrible creature of legend. Polydectes held perseus to his rash promise and demanded the head of the only mortal gorgon, medusa, whose gaze turned people to stone. Perseus is often depicted holding the medusa s head in his left hand while carrying an adamantine blade in his left. I took this picture at the getty museum in westwood on saturday. Perseus may hack medusa s head off with a sword, but in most cases his success comes from quick, clever thinking rather than through mad fighting skills.

Perseus used the head of medusa to turn phineus into stone. Perseus had no horse to give, so he asked polydectes to name the gift. Medusa, monstrosity, and the patriarchy the real story of medusa may not be what you think it is. The story of perseus, like many greek myths, begins with a prophecy, a prophecy that acrisius, the king of argos, received from the oracle of delphi. Like pretty much every great hero, perseus is incredibly brave. Hermes gives perseus guidance and a sword stronger than the medusa s scales. Acrisius went to the oracle for guidance and wisdom but left with a prophecy of his doom and demise instead, a prophecy. Perseus faced the hardest quest of finding and killing medusa, and bringing the head back. Perseus was born to the god, zeus, and mortal woman, danae, making him a demigod with great strength and intelligent ingenuity. The story of medusa and athena moral story for kids periwinkle watch our other videos. The story of medusa and athena moral story for kids. The greek myth of perseus and medusa tells the story of how perseus used the gifts of the gods and his own courage to kill the monster medusa, rescue andromeda, and save his mother from an unwelcome marriage.

Thus, perseus represents the greek order and its backing of the gods. It is a photo of a painting from the first decade of the 1700s by sebastiano rici, and depicts perseus holding the head of medusa in combat against phineus and his notsomerry band of men. 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. Perseus is also said to be an ancestor of hercules and the asian race of the persians. In this way, the hero perseus relies on logic athena to conquer and use wild primal energetic force, thus evolving into a true man. Apr 18, 2019 medusa was a devoted priestess of athena.

During a banquet with king polydectes, perseus pulled out medusa s head to prove that he did kill medusa, which petrified king polydectes. What is supposed to be the moral of the story involving medusa. Perseus slaying of medusa is a metaphor for perseus selfintegration through which he sublimates diffuse and dangerous psychic energies into efficiency and efficacy in will and consciousness symbolized by the. Apr 18, 2019 medusas petrifying power is also used on phineus, andromedas uncle whom she was betrothed to, proetus, the usurper of the throne of argos, and finally polydectes himself. Learn more about the traditional story of perseus in this article. While medusa is known to be one of the most famous monsters in greek mythology, there is relatively little that is recorded of her existence before she was beheaded by perseus. The heroic tale of perseus includes many elements of the classic greek epicsibling rivalry, a prophecy, an unexpected birth, lust, revenge, a. Anyone who looked in medusa s orange eyes would instantly turn to stone. Perseus shoves the head into the sack without looking at it. Medusa made the gods and goddesses nervous because she could turn to stone anyone she looked at with her stare. After slaying medusa, the winged horse, pegasus is born from medusa s blood. As perseus and andromeda were to be married, phineus attempted to fight perseus. He is best known as the slayer of the gorgon medusa, a fearsome monster, and as the rescuer of the ethiopian princess andromeda.

Poseidon desired and raped medusa in athenas temple. 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. But no matter how hard the situation was, as he did not know how and where to begin the quest, he did not just give up the quest and run away from the king. The severed head symbolizes his courage and combat prowess. Just like the second theme, he had to face so many harsh conditions throughout the whole journey, but instead of giving up and backing down, he decided to face the challenges and beat them all. Perseus with the head of medusa is a bronze sculpture made by benvenuto cellini in the period 15451554. What is the moral to the story in the myth called perseus and. From medusa s blood, springs her children pegasus and the giant golden blade cant remember the greek name. Perseus slaying of medusa is a metaphor for perseus. Athena and poseidon were just there to give perseus divine tools so he could kill medusa.

I remember reading the story of medusa, or at least one version of it, in my fathers edition of bullfinchs mythology when i was a child. People turned into stone as soon as they saw medusa s face. Perseus was one of the most celebrated heroes of greek mythology. Perseus and andromeda returned to see king polydectes and set his mother free. Perseus was the son of zeus and danae, the daughter of acrisius of argos. Medusa is a beautiful woman but, she has serpents on her head. Perseus and the medusa a myth with a moral many of the ancient myth stories, like the legend of perseus and the medusa, incorporate tales with morals that provided the old storytellers with short examples of exciting tales for kids and children of how to act and behave and reflected important life lessons. Mythic warriors guardians of the legend perseus the search for medusa. And she began to delight in turning them into stone. Nov 22, 2010 what is the moral of the myth of medusa. Perseus and his mother, danae, live on the island of.

Perseus was one of the greatest and oldest panhellenic heroes of greek mythology. No sooner had the words been spoken than perseus regretted what he had said. What is supposed to be the moral of the story involving. The myth of perseus and medusa is one of the most known myths of the greek mythology. Athena gives perseus his winged sandals in a different variation of the story at first perseus didnt know where to find medusa, so he went and asked the three fates. 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. During that time, perseus grew into a strong, handsome youth who was very protective of his lovely mother. He famously slew the dreaded gorgon medusa whose gaze could turn men to stone, an exploit he swiftly followed up with the daring rescue of the princess andromeda from a monstrous seacreature sent by poseidon to terrorize the kingdom of ethiopia perseus is. The fates were very old and they only had one eye and one tooth between them and they took turns every day, passing the eye and the tooth between them.

The story of perseus and medusa is told to teach various life lessons. Perseus and medusa have a complex relationship in apollodoruss myth. Perseus friend dictys took the throne and, now finished with the relic, perseus gave medusa s head to athena, who wears it on her aegis whenever she goes into battle. Medusa symbolizes and represents the subconscious, as well as the passions of a human being. Mythic warriors guardians of the legend perseus the search. Sep, 2019 the story of how medusa was killed by perseus is one of the most thrilling stories in greek mythology. Perseus friend dictys took the throne and, now finished with the relic, perseus gave medusas head to athena, who wears it on her aegis whenever she goes into battle.

While perseus is flying over africa, he notices the beautiful maiden, princess andromeda, tied to a rock by the sea. The story of how medusa was killed by perseus is one of the most thrilling stories in greek mythology. Enraged, perseus swore by zeus that he would provide a wedding gift for polydectes, a terrible gift the head of the medusa. Perseus is not intimidated by the grey women and their eyeball, or by hermess complicated directions, or by medusa, or by a winged horse sprouting out of medusa s blood, or by andromedas. 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. Perseus killed medusa and eventually went to the underworld when he died in ancient greek myth.

Oct 26, 2016 medusa, monstrosity, and the patriarchy the real story of medusa may not be what you think it is. The myth of perseus and the medusa the story of perseus and the medusa is featured in the book entitled greek gods, heroes and men by caroline h. He was determined to fight for his happiness and andromeda. Their location is a mystery, and perseus must ask the gray women, three sisters who live in a gray land and are gray themselves. He lived on seriphos with danae, his beautiful mother, easy on the eye. Perseus kept her severed head and used its petrifying gaze to his advantage in many later adventures. Jun 11, 20 what is the moral to the story in the myth called perseus and medusa. Perseus slaying of medusa is a metaphor for perseus selfintegration through which he sublimates diffuse and dangerous psychic energies into efficiency and efficacy in will and consciousness symbolized by the goddess athena. He tells perseus that to fight the medusa perseus will need special equipment from the nymphs of the north. The heroic tale of perseus includes many elements of the classic greek epicsibling rivalry, a prophecy, an unexpected birth, lust, revenge, a quest, and the inescapable nature of fate. This is the tale of the great perseus, legendary son of the mighty zeus.

She was also considered exceptionally beautiful, especially her long serpentine hair. Perseus is killing medusa, with the help of goddess athena logic, therefore the myth might want to indicate, that the human being should act in a higher conscious level, and by using his logic as a guide, to control his passions. Perseus knew he needed help so he went to a wise magician. To do this, he goes to the grey ones, or as they are known in the story, the gray women, who can. Perseus uses the shield as a mirror to look at medusa. Perseus, athena and head of medusa, apulian redfigure krater c4th b. Unhappily, she eventually came to the notice of the king. Perseus may hack medusas head off with a sword, but in most cases his success comes from quick, clever thinking rather than through mad fighting skills. The myth of perseus and medusa explained theoi greek mythology. The only son of zeus and danae and, thus, a halfgod by birth perseus was one of the greatest heroes in greek mythology, most renowned for beheading the only mortal gorgon, medusa, and using her severed head capable of turning onlookers into stone as a mighty weapon in his subsequent adventures.

Hey i stuck between which would be the morallesson theme about the myth of medusa. With the help of the gods, perseus obtained winged sandals, an invisible helm and a magical sword. Perseus said i have to get the face of medusa on a plate what a silly boy said the magician. Terrible because with just one glance, she could turn any living creature to stone. How does perseus cut off medusa s head without being turned to stone. Polydectes, a man who was enamored with perseus mother, sent perseus to slay medusa as a way to get rid of him.

Athena was so jealous of the virgins exceptionally beautiful hair that she turned it into snakes. All that cross swinging in the film above recalls the waving around of the medusas head by perseus, doesnt it. What was the moral of the myth of perseus and medusa. Phineus, a failed suitor to perseus s bridetobe, andromeda, crashes their wedding. The whole story of perseus killing medusa was driven by his special characteristic of having the spirit of not conceding. Dont let anybody get between you and the one you love. Perseus is often depicted holding the medusas head in his left hand while carrying an adamantine blade in his left. Medusa a myth with a moral many of the ancient myth stories, like the legend of medusa, incorporate tales with morals that provided the old storytellers with short examples of exciting tales for kids and children of how to act and behave and reflected important life lessons. On his way home from defeating the gorgon medusa, perseus met a beautiful young woman named andromeda, who was chained to a rock. Athena constantly provides aid to perseus in his quest to conquer medusa. The story of medusa and athena moral story for kids periwinkle. Apr 26, 2017 medusa essentially is a chthonic that is, underworld deity who has certain taboo knowledge thus, she cannot be looked at directly.

She was born on an island named sarpedon which is thought to be somewhere in the general area of cisthene and was known to have been one of the gorgon sisters. Because the gaze of medusa turned all who looked at her to stone, perseus guided himself by her reflection in a shield given him by athena and beheaded medusa as she slept. The myth of perseus and medusa is one of the best thrillerlike tales in greek mythology. One of my favorites is the medusa story, sometimes referred to as perseus and the gorgon medusa. Danae found the king obnoxious and mean, she really did not want. The story of perseus and medusa, the snakehaired gorgon. Most of what we know of medusa comes from her short time serving in athenas temple and the way in which her head was used after she was beheaded by perseus. The myth of perseus and medusa greek myths and greek mythology. The story of perseus and medusa involves him passing a coastal city plagued by a vicious seamonster called cetus on his. Nov 19, 2018 perseus is not intimidated by the grey women and their eyeball, or by hermess complicated directions, or by medusa, or by a winged horse sprouting out of medusa s blood, or by andromedas.