THE MYTH OF
PERSEUS
By Chloe, Carter, Josh and
Karishma
Character Analysis
King Acrisius of Argos: Father of Danae and Perseus’ grandfather. He was told
by Delphi that Perseus would kill him
Danae: Perseus single mother/daughter of King Acrisius. Zeus impregnates
her to fulfill the prophecy. Also wanted by King Polydectes, who she rejects
Zeus: God of Thunder and King of the Gods. Father of Perseus. Came in a
shower of gold to fulfill the prophecy and impregnated Danae.
Perseus: Son of Danae and Zeus. Grandson of King Acrisius.Goes on journey to
get Medusa’s head for King Polydectes’ wedding. Also rescued his future wife
from serpent guarding her.
Dictys: Fisherman that took in and cared for Perseus and Danae after finding
them in box. Father figure for Perseus
Character Analysis (Continued)
King Polydectes: Dictys’ brother and ruler of the island. Wants to marry
Danae so he sends Perseus on a dangerous quest to get Medusa’s head,
certain he will die in the process.
Medusa: Woman with snakes as hair. Can turn anyone to stone if they look at
her. Perseus cuts her head off to get revenge on Polydectes
Gray Woman: Three women who share an eye. Perseus tricks them into
telling him how to find the nymphs of the north.
Hermes: God of speed and messenger of the gods. Gives advice to Perseus
and give him and unbreakable/unbendable sword
Athena: Goddess of wisdom.Gives Perseus a sword and a startegy to beat
Medusa
Character Analysis (Continued)
Andromeda: Daughter of Queen Cassiopeia and the woman Perseus falls in
love with
Queen Cassiopeia: Andromeda’s mother who was so arrogant that the gods
punished her. She gave up her daughter to protect the people of Ethiopia
King of Larissa: Had a discus throwing competition with Perseus that Acrisius
was attending. This was where he was killed by Perseus
Summary
The myth starts with a king of Argos naked Acrisius who had a daughter named
Danaë. The king had wanted a child and wanted to know if he'd have a son, however
a priestess that he had asked not only said no, but that his daughter would have a
son that would kill hok. The only day to defy the prophecy, he'd have to kill Danaë
which his fatherly affection could not do. He had built a bronze house underground
with only part of the roof open to the sky so that light and air may come. There, he
guarded her. A mysterious occurrence had happened where a shower of gold fell
from the sky who had supposedly been thought of as Zeus who visited Danaë ine. A
mysterious occurrence had happened where a shower of gold fell from the sky who
had supposedly been thought of as Zeus who visited Danaë in that shape. Eventually,
a boy named Perseus was born and when Acrisius found out, He feared him not only
because of fate, but also because of the fear of Zeus and the Furies. He created a
chest where he would put both of them in and send them out to sea since he can't
kill them.
Summary
The chest that Danaë and Perseus where they rocked back and forth; they were
tossed along the waves. They couldn't see where they were nor did they have any idea
where they were going. Soon after, they reached land when the chess finally stops and
the waves had left them motionless. A fisherman named Dictys found them and he had
broke that trust taking the two back to his home with a wife as good as he. Dictys and
his wife didn't have children but they cared and nurtured Danaë and Perseus as if they
were their own. Trouble arose where the brother of Dictys, Polydectes, was the ruler
of the island. He was a cruel and ruthless man and hadn't noticed that the mother and
the son. Eventually, Danaë had caught Polydectes' attention. Polydectes fell in love
with her and she was still beautiful even after her son Perseus was fully grown.
Polydectes plotted a way to get rid of Perseus. He convinced him that the head of a
Gorgon would be something a person would want more than anything else in the
world.
Summary
Polydectes invited all to his soon-to-be married celebration. All were supposed to
provide gifts for the bride to be because it was customary. Perseus, who didn't know
he had to, was the only one without a gift and claimed that he will bring the head of
Medusa, a Gorgon, as a gift. Whoever looked at Medusa was instantly turned into
stone. Perseus was saved from his folly as the two gods, Athena, God a wisdom, and
Hermes, the Messenger God, was watching over him. Perseus took ship after leaving
the Kings hall. He went to Greece to find the whereabouts of the three core gone. He
asked a priestess in Delphi, but only she said it is where men do not eat Demeters
golden grain, only acorns. He then went to go to Dodona in the land of talking oak
trees. There, they told Perseus where Selli lived whom made their bread from acorns.
I see wandered about he met a strange and beautiful person. He had met Hermes who
had a gold wand with wings, a winged hat, and winged sandals. He was the guide in
the giver of good. In order for him to kill Medusa, he had to have the proper
equipment. He had to go to the Gray Women who will tell him how to go to the
nymphs of the North.
Summary
In order for Perseus to get that information on how to reach the nymphs of
the north, Hermes told Perseus he had to hide until he saw one of them take
the eye out of her for head to pass it on. When that time comes, he has to
take the eye and refuse to take it back until they told him the information he
needed. Hermes gave Perseus a sword to fight Medusa rest. It could not be
bent nor broken by the scales of the Gorgons. Athena, the god of wisdom,
had another gift for purchase. She had a shield polished with bronze and told
Perseus that when he attacks the Gorgon, he god of wisdom, had another gift
for purchase. She had a shield polished with bronze and told Perseus that
when he attacks the Gorgon, he must look at that field as if it were a mirror
to avoid Medusa's power of turning people who looked at her into stone. Soon
enough, Perseus found the Gray Woman with Hermes and did as he was told.
He waited until he saw one of them take the eye out of the forehead, and he
snatched it without a thought.
Summary
They gave Perseus the directions on on how to go to the nymphs of the north and he
went on his way. He had entered the country of Hyperboreans where no one can find
the wondrous road to the gathering place by ship nor land, but because of Hermes by
his side, he was able to find the road where people greeted him with kindness and
invited them to their feast. Perseus was given gifts of winged sandals, a magic wallet
that could carry anything, and a cap that made him invisible. With those items and
Athenas shield, he was able to take on the Gorgons who lived in the Terrible Sisters'
island. When Perseus confronted them, they were all asleep. They had great wings,
their bodies covered in golden scales and snakes for hair. Athena and Hermes told him
who was Medusa since she's the only one that can be killed while the other two were
immortal. He hovered above the Gorgons, looking at the shield, he sliced Medusa as
Athena guided his hand. He took the head and put it in his magical wallet. When the
other two Gorgons tried to take hold of him, Perseus had put on his cap that made him
invisible.
Summary
On his way back home, he came to Ethiopia and landed there. Perseus found
a lovely maiden names Andromeda who was going to be devoured by a sea
serpent. The Mother, Queen Cassiopeia, had boasted on her beauty being
more superior than the Sea God Nereus. Her punishment for arrogance had
fell upon her daughter. The Ethiopians kept being devoured by the sea
serpent but had been told by an oracle that if Andromeda was offered to the
serpent, they all would be freed. Perseus at first sight fell in love with her.
He waited for the serpent to come from the ocean, and when the serpent
did, he cut the head off. He then took her to her parents to marry her. When
he returned to the island, he found that Dictys' wife had been dead and he
and Danaë had fled to hide away from Polydectes who was furious when
Danaë refused to marry him. They escaped to a temple. When the King had
held a banquet, for everyone who favored him, Perseus went to the hall and
grabbed the attention of everyone with Athena's buckler and his silver wallet.
Summary
He then took the head of Medusa and before anyone could look away, the
king and servants turned to stone. They Stood as statues. The islanders were
freed from the tyrant and he was able to find Danaë and Dictys. Dictys
became king and Perseus, his mother, and Andromeda went to Greece to
reunite with his grandfather Acrisius. Although, Acrisius wasn't anywhere to
be found. Eventually, an athletic contest was being held by The King of
Larissa in the North and Perseus went to participate. During the discus
throwing, he hurled the object and fell amongst the crowd. Amongst the
crowd was Acrisius who had come to visit the King and had been hit. As it was
said, the prophecy came true that one day Perseus will kill his grandfather.
Morals
-The Myth of Perseus is a myth of the journey of the hero which esoterically
is about transforming energies within oneself into power, wisdom and light
and true creative force.
-In the myth, Perseus sets out to find the grey sisters who are three old
women, who are really aged and know a lot. The grey women/sisters
represent that in order to move ahead you need guidance from the old and
the aged because they have the experience and knowledge about things that
the young don’t and the young have the ability to prove themselves but
without the guidance you most likely can’t achieve those goals.
-In the myth when Perseus encounters Medusa, Medusa symbolizes and
represents the subconscious as well as the passions of a human being
Morals
-Perseus is killing Medusa, with the help of the goddess Athena. Therefore the
myth wants to indicate that the human being should act in higher conscious
level by using logic as a guide to control passions
-Human Beings should always act consciously
-In the myth the character of Perseus shows how he became a man from a
young boy by showing maturity and he acts consciously. Normally in
mythology a boy getting married shows that he has become a Man from a boy
as we see in this myth.