Medusa ellyn carroll, lauren toddy, kirsten smith, julian thomas hour 5 perseus son of zeus and danae married to argos and also father of electryon most gods loved him killed his father once was a mortal, but turned immortal medusa chief of the gorgons daughter of phorcys and ceto once beautiful only mortal out of the three sisters also she. Since he is not old enough to sift through greek mythology collections yet, i wanted stand alone books for perseus and hercules alone for now, and that turned out to be to my dismay a really challenging hunt. The story of the semigod was way beyond the death of the creepy medusa. Greek mythology heros journey of perseus storyboard. With the help of athena and hermes magic winged sandals, a cap, a pouch and a mirrorlike shield, he fought her and beheaded her by viewing her image in the. Perseus did all he could to guard his mother against the kings unwanted attentions. They are rescued by a fisherman, and young perseus grows up, unaware of his royal birth. She grew up and became a chaste priestess in one of athenas temples.
Bbc teach school radio english ancient greek myths. Numerous paperback editions of the book mythology, written by edith hamilton, featured perseus carrying medusa s head on their cover, as did some versions of bulfinchs mythology. See more ideas about greek, greek gods, bday party. Like hercules, his father was the mighty zeus, king of all the gods.
Polydectes would trick perseus in accepting a quest to obtain the head of medusa, perseus believing that it was to be a wedding gift, so that polydectes could marry another woman, not danae. The severed head of medusa is one of the most familiar images from greek mythology. Feb 08, 2021 perseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorgon medusa and the rescuer of andromeda from a sea monster. Additional facts and information about the mythology and legends of individual gods and goddesses of these ancient civilizations can be accessed via the following links. Yet, for some reason, greek myths arent usually associated with their heroes weapons as much as say the norse myths. However, zeus the all mighty saw the girl and fell in love with her. As perseus headed home, the blood from medusa s head dropped on the plains of libya, causing them to turn into venomous snakes.
One reason for that might be that, while the ancient greeks were a warlike culture, they arent really been remembered as such in modern days. He would become one of the great heroes in greek mythology because of his ability to behead the monster, medusa. When perseus arrives home, he confronts king polydectes, whos been trying to force danae to marry him. Perseus and medusa capstone library capstone publishing. Perseus was the son of danae and zeus, who came to danae in the form of a golden spring. Athena would supply perseus with a reflective shield, a razorsharp curved sword manufactured by hephaestus, hades helmet of invisibility, and hermes flying sandals. Perseus and medusa ancient greek mythology stories youtube.
Geraldine mccaughrean has won the carnegie medal, the whitbread childrens book award three times, the guardian childrens fiction prize, the smarties. Danae and zeus disguised as a shower of gold on a krater in the louvre. His mother was a mortal, a lovely princess of the greek citystate of argos. The greek myth of how perseus killed the gorgon medusa. Oct 9, 2019 a ccss aligned, greek mythology short story and corresponding activities about the hero perseus, who slayed the monster medusa. Perseus and the gorgon medusa by geraldine mccaughrean. The short story and myth of perseus the myth about perseus is featured in the book entitled. He beheaded the gorgon medusa for polydectes and saved andromeda from. As she was beheaded, chrysaorhe of the golden sword and pegasus, the winged horse, sprang from her body. The myth of perseus and medusa, according to pindar and apollodorus, started with a quest. It was foretold to danaes father, acrisius the king of argos, that danaes son would kill him. Perseus and medusa ancient greek mythology stories.
Oct 22, 2019 a ccss aligned, greek mythology short story and corresponding activities about the hero perseus, who slayed the monster medusa. Despite the death of medusa, it is said that her head still had magical properties. Adapted from the myths and legends of ancient greece and rome by e. In 1930 she published her first book, the greek way. 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. The 1964 horror film the gorgon was based on the myth of the medusa. Aug 20, 2019 medusa and perseus in the principle myth, medusa is killed by the greek hero perseus, the son of danae and zeus. Medusa was beheaded by the greek hero perseus, who thereafter used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone, as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess athena to place on her shield. He then took the form of a golden rain to get into the bronze chamber and seduce danae. Perseus was the son of danae, daughter of acrisius the king of argos, and zeus.
A close look at her role in greek mythology and art reveals a nuanced and. Myth of perseus and the medusa roman and greek gods and. Poseidon saw the beautiful medusa one day and just had to have her. A summary and analysis of the myth of perseus and the gorgon.
However, as the legend says, zeus came to her in the form of golden rain, pierced through the walls of chamber, and danaes body. According to the myth, there once was a king named acrisius, who had a. Medusa was very beautiful and many men wanted to marry her, but to remain a priestess of athenas medusa had to remain chaste and virtuous. Who led the argonauts in search of the golden fleece. 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. Medusa and perseus in the principle myth, medusa is killed by the greek hero perseus, the son of danae and zeus.
He was conceived when zeus came to danae disguised as a shower of gold. The myth of perseus and medusa is one of the best thrillerlike tales in greek mythology. This fullcolor graphic novel is an adaptation of the greek myth of the hero halfgod perseus. As an infant he was cast into the sea in a chest with his mother by acrisius, to whom it had been prophesied that he would be killed by his grandson. Unhappily, she eventually came to the notice of the king. Born to the sea god phorcys and ceto phorcys wife and sister, medusa queen or ruler was one.
Perseus and medusa perseus though was a son of zeus, and also a mortal favoured by his halfsister, the goddess athena. The adventures of perseus have been told, and retold, over the millennia, and even today his story regularly appears on the big screen. 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. The king, sensing that perseus was an obstacle to pursuing danae, sends him on the impossible mission to bring back the head of medusa. A beautiful mortal, medusa was the exception in the family, until she incurred the wrath of athena, either due to her boastfulness or because of an illfated love affair with poseidon. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Perseus with the head of medusa, pegasus and athena. He had a powerful weapon, but he only used it once. This resource was created for beginner to intermediate esl students to practice reading and responding to a fictional text.
Oct 05, 2020 perseus was a much different type of hero in the way he handled medusa than was common in greek mythology. During that time, perseus grew into a strong, handsome youth who was very protective of his lovely mother. So perseus set out to retrieve the head of the gorgon, medusa. Miss helen mutter taught year 4 students about greek myths. This was a collaborative effort between the english department, and year 4 students in primary. In greek mythology, perseus is the legendary founder of mycenae and of the perseid dynasty. Start by marking perseus and the gorgon medusa greek myths as want to read. Greek mythology is the home of many fantastic and magical weapons used by the greek heroes, demigods, gods, and titans. Danae is the object of desire of polydectes, the king of the cycladic island of seriphos. Another myth holds that this is probably the reason why libya has lots of snakes. The god had impregnated the princess in the form of a shower of gold after her father had locked her away upon learning from an oracle that he would be killed by his grandson.
Harding, published in 1906 by scott, foresman and company. He who has a golden sword from, golden and, sword, the brother of the winged horse pegasus, was often depicted as a young man, the son of poseidon and the gorgon medusa. Perseus and medusa greek mythology storiesperseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorgon medusa and the rescuer of andromeda. Nov 26, 2019 the curse of medusa in greek mythology posted on november 26, 2019 by madeleine medusa is known as a winged gorgon monster with snakes for hair who could turn anyone to stone just by looking into the persons eyes, but medusa wasnt always this despicable monster that she became known as. Perseus was the son of zeus and danae, the daughter of acrisius of argos. The hesperides were 3 sea nymphs left on a hidden island to guard heras precious golden apples. Several other book followed including her most famous work, mythology 1942. A concise, stylised and dynamic version of the perseus and medusa myth. 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. The best known myth recounts her fateful encounter with the greek hero perseus. In her books, hamilton made ancient cultures accessible to a wide range of readers. As perseus was flying home on his winged sandals, perseus passed by ethiopia or in some versions, phoenicia and he saw a beautiful girl, andromeda, who was the princess of the land, chained to a rocky cliff and about to.
Perseus was born to the god, zeus, and mortal woman, danae, making him a demigod with great strength and intelligent ingenuity. Perseus was the son of the greek god zeus and the woman danae. Sep, 2019 the story of how medusa was killed by perseus is one of the most thrilling stories in greek mythology. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes. King polydectes of seriphos wanted to get rid of perseus, so that he could have his way with perseus mother danae. Perseus was one of the great heroes of greek mythology and he is the real definition that accidents happen. Perseus and medusa graphic greek myths and legends. Perseus in greek mythology greek legends and myths. Discover delightful childrens books with amazon book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new amazon book box prime. Perseus and medusa perseus and andromeda greek mythology stories animated cartoonsperseus and medusaperseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorg.
Perseus, athena and head of medusa, apulian redfigure krater c4th b. Medusa, in greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as gorgons. Athena told perseus in order to kill medusa he would need to find hesperides, that the nymphs who guard heras garden and golden apples also guarded the items perseus would need to beat medusa. The amazing story of medusa really is easy reading for kids and children who are learning about the history, myths and legends of the ancient roman and greek gods. Even to kill his human enemies, he relied on the power of the gorgons head, the very trophy polydictes had demanded, rather than try to defeat them in combat. In both greek and roman mythology, perseus, attempting to rescue his mother danae from the coercive king polydectes, needed to embark on the dangerous venture of retrieving medusa s head. Medusa is one of the most misunderstood characters in greek mythology, shes often looked at as a cruel monster.
Medusa is best known to today for her role in the adventures of the greek hero perseus. Perseus and the golden medusa transcript to printdow. Son of danae, princess of argos, perseus was born being disliked by his grandfather acrisius, king of argos. The full myth of perseus and medusa begins years before they battled. He was, alongside cadmus and bellerophon, the greatest greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of heracles. Perseus is the first book in the early myths collection, a series of childrens picture books on greek myth. Medusa in ancient greek art essay the metropolitan museum of.
Perseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorgon medusa and the rescuer of. Oct 22, 2019 a ccss aligned, greek mythology short story and. The story of how medusa was killed by perseus is one of the most thrilling stories in greek mythology. Today we answer another commonly asked question from greek mythology, why did athena help medusa but then help perseus kill medusa. On the way, he rescues a princess, andromeda, from a sea dragon. Perseus must fight medusa, a snakehaired monster a look and youll be turned to stone. In classical antiquity the image of the head of medusa appeared in the evilaverting device known as the gorgoneion. Myth of perseus roman and greek gods and goddesses. Jan 01, 1980 i wanted to buy specifically a perseus and medusa book for my son and spent hours searching for one. Nov 29, 2018 then perseus gave the gorgons head to the goddess athena, who placed it on her shield, the aegis. Athena also left perseus a magic shield and told perseus not to. The hunt for medusas head a greek myth graphic myths and legends audible audio edition. Perseus and medusa greek mythology storiesperseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorgon medusa and the rescuer of andromeda from a sea monster.
Medusa was one of the three gorgons, daughters of phorcys and ceto, sisters of the graeae, echidna, and ladon all dreadful and fearsome beasts. Herverve medusa a timeless true story of greek mythology. Perseus and andromeda the magical world of myth and legend. Perseus using the sandals of hermes flew to the hidden island where the hesperides lived.
One of my favorites is the medusa story, sometimes referred to as perseus and the gorgon medusa. Edith hamilton students who enjoy reading greek and. Mythology childrens book collection discover epic childrens. Perseus is the only greek hero that i am aware of who does not fit the story.
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