Heroic MythHeroic MythPerseusPerseus

Introduction to Heroic MythIntroduction to Heroic Myth

►Humans are the protagonists, not godsHumans are the protagonists, not gods►Narrative about events in the human, Narrative about events in the human,

not divine, pastnot divine, past►““Hero”Hero”

Homer: noble-born male who’s aliveHomer: noble-born male who’s alive Later: noble figure from the distant past.Later: noble figure from the distant past.

Folktale Motifs and Heroic MythsFolktale Motifs and Heroic Myths

Partly divine birthPartly divine birth

Miraculous birth and childhoodMiraculous birth and childhood

Great strength is a benefit and menace Great strength is a benefit and menace

A friendA friend

Falls under enemy’s power of spellFalls under enemy’s power of spell

Breaks a tabooBreaks a taboo

Is temptedIs tempted

Responsible for friend’s deathResponsible for friend’s death

Folktale Motifs and Heroic MythsFolktale Motifs and Heroic Myths

The questThe quest

Help from godsHelp from gods

Return home and is domesticatedReturn home and is domesticated

Rewarded for his effortsRewarded for his efforts

Great funeralGreat funeral

Legends of PerseusLegends of PerseusDanaDanaë and the Shower of ë and the Shower of

GoldGold

DanaDanaë and the Shower of ë and the Shower of GoldGold

►Lynceus (the one spared) in Argos Lynceus (the one spared) in Argos after Danaafter Danaüs üs

►HypermnestraHypermnestra►His son Abas has twinsHis son Abas has twins

Acrisius, rules in ArgosAcrisius, rules in Argos Proetus, rules in nearby Tiryns (Poetids-Proetus, rules in nearby Tiryns (Poetids-

madness)madness)►Acrisius has a daughter, DanaAcrisius has a daughter, Danaë, but ë, but

wants sonswants sons

DanaDanaë and the Shower of ë and the Shower of GoldGold

►Oracles says DanaOracles says Danaë will have a son, ë will have a son, but that he will kill him (Acrisius)but that he will kill him (Acrisius)

►Zeus’s “rain shower” impregnates herZeus’s “rain shower” impregnates her►Set adrift in a wooden boxSet adrift in a wooden box►Dictys at SeriphosDictys at Seriphos►PolydectesPolydectes

Tricked Perseus into going on a quest for Tricked Perseus into going on a quest for the head of a Gorgonthe head of a Gorgon

Poor DanaePoor Danae

► Danae was the daughter of Acrisius. An oracle Danae was the daughter of Acrisius. An oracle warned warned AcrisiusAcrisius that Danae's son would someday kill that Danae's son would someday kill him, so Acrisius shut Danae in a bronze room, away him, so Acrisius shut Danae in a bronze room, away from all male company. However, from all male company. However, ZeusZeus conceived a conceived a passion for Danae, and came to her through the roof, passion for Danae, and came to her through the roof, in the form of a shower of gold that poured down in the form of a shower of gold that poured down into her lap; as a result she had a son, into her lap; as a result she had a son, PerseusPerseus. . When Acrisius discovered Perseus, he locked both When Acrisius discovered Perseus, he locked both mother and son in a chest, and set it adrift on the mother and son in a chest, and set it adrift on the sea. The chest came ashore at Seriphus, where sea. The chest came ashore at Seriphus, where Danae and Perseus were welcomed. Later, King Danae and Perseus were welcomed. Later, King Polydectes of Seriphus fell in love with Danae and Polydectes of Seriphus fell in love with Danae and tried to force himself on her; he was eventually killed tried to force himself on her; he was eventually killed by Perseus. by Perseus.

Danae and Perseus set adriftDanae and Perseus set adrift

Perseus, the Gorgon Perseus, the Gorgon SlayerSlayer

Graeae and PerseusGraeae and Perseus

► Medusa was one of three terrible sisters called Medusa was one of three terrible sisters called Gorgons. They had leathery wings, brazen Gorgons. They had leathery wings, brazen claws, and writhing poisonous snakes in place claws, and writhing poisonous snakes in place of hair. Anyone who looked at them turned to of hair. Anyone who looked at them turned to stone. But Perseus was helped by the gods. stone. But Perseus was helped by the gods. Athena lent him her brightly polished shield, Athena lent him her brightly polished shield, and Hermes gave him a magic sword. Perseus and Hermes gave him a magic sword. Perseus came to the land of night where the three Gray came to the land of night where the three Gray Sisters (the Graeae) lived. They had only one Sisters (the Graeae) lived. They had only one eye and one tooth among them. They refused eye and one tooth among them. They refused to help Perseus, but he stole their eye and to help Perseus, but he stole their eye and returned it only when they told him where to returned it only when they told him where to find the Gorgons.find the Gorgons.

Perseus, the Gorgon SlayerPerseus, the Gorgon Slayer

►GorgonsGorgons SthenoStheno EuryalEuryalêê Medusa (the only mortal Gorgon)Medusa (the only mortal Gorgon)

►Help from the Graeae-shared on eye, Help from the Graeae-shared on eye, Perseus stole it.Perseus stole it. ““Where can the Gorgons be found?”Where can the Gorgons be found?”

MedusaMedusa

Perseus the Gorgon SlayerPerseus the Gorgon Slayer

►Magical implements-nymphsMagical implements-nymphs Cap of HadesCap of Hades Winged sandalsWinged sandals The The kibisis-special leather puchkibisis-special leather puch Extra sharp swordExtra sharp sword Highly polished bronze shieldHighly polished bronze shield Using invisibility snuck up and killed Using invisibility snuck up and killed

Medusa by cutting off her head while Medusa by cutting off her head while looking in the shield.looking in the shield.

Perseus’ gifts from NymphPerseus’ gifts from Nymph

Slaying MedusaSlaying Medusa

►With winged sandals that enabled With winged sandals that enabled him to fly, the helmet of Hades that him to fly, the helmet of Hades that made him invisible, and a bag in made him invisible, and a bag in which to conceal the head, he set out which to conceal the head, he set out again and finally found the three again and finally found the three Gorgons asleep. He put on his cap of Gorgons asleep. He put on his cap of darkness and flew nearer. Alighting, darkness and flew nearer. Alighting, he looked into his shining shield, thus he looked into his shining shield, thus avoiding a direct look at the Gorgons. avoiding a direct look at the Gorgons. With one stroke of his sword he cut With one stroke of his sword he cut off Medusa's head.off Medusa's head.

Slaying MedusaSlaying Medusa

Perseus with Medusa’s HeadPerseus with Medusa’s Head

Perseus the Gorgon SlayerPerseus the Gorgon Slayer

►From the body of Medusa, who was From the body of Medusa, who was pregnant by Poseidonpregnant by Poseidon Pegasus, later tamed by Bellerophon Pegasus, later tamed by Bellerophon ChrysaChrysaörör

►Perseus frees his mother from Perseus frees his mother from Polydectes’s aggression with the head Polydectes’s aggression with the head of Medusa of Medusa

PegasusPegasus

Rescuing DanaeRescuing Danae

►Perseus continued home and Perseus continued home and rescued his mother by turning rescued his mother by turning Polydectes and his supporters to Polydectes and his supporters to stone at the sight of Medusa's stone at the sight of Medusa's head.head.

Perseus and Perseus and AndromedaAndromeda

Perseus and AndromedaPerseus and Andromeda

Perseus and AndromedaPerseus and Andromeda

►Cepheus’s daughter, Andromeda, Cepheus’s daughter, Andromeda, about to be sacrificed to a sea about to be sacrificed to a sea monster, because of the rash boast by monster, because of the rash boast by her mother, Cassiopeher mother, Cassiopeää Perseus given Andromeda and the Perseus given Andromeda and the

kingdom for having freed herkingdom for having freed her

►Phineus, to whom Andromeda had Phineus, to whom Andromeda had been betrothed, killed with his men by been betrothed, killed with his men by the head of Medusathe head of Medusa

Andromeda SavedAndromeda Saved

AndromedaAndromeda► beautiful daughter of King Cepheus and Queen beautiful daughter of King Cepheus and Queen

Cassiope of Joppa in Palestine (called Ethiopia) Cassiope of Joppa in Palestine (called Ethiopia) and wife of and wife of PerseusPerseus. Cassiope offended the . Cassiope offended the Nereids by boasting that Andromeda was more Nereids by boasting that Andromeda was more beautiful than they, so in revenge Poseidon sent beautiful than they, so in revenge Poseidon sent a sea monster to devastate Cepheus' kingdom. a sea monster to devastate Cepheus' kingdom. Since only Andromeda's sacrifice would appease Since only Andromeda's sacrifice would appease the gods, she was chained to a rock and left to be the gods, she was chained to a rock and left to be devoured by the monster. Perseus flew by on the devoured by the monster. Perseus flew by on the winged horse Pegasus, fell in love with winged horse Pegasus, fell in love with Andromeda, and asked Cepheus for her hand. Andromeda, and asked Cepheus for her hand. Cepheus agreed, and Perseus slew the monster. Cepheus agreed, and Perseus slew the monster. At their marriage feast, however, Andromeda's At their marriage feast, however, Andromeda's uncle, Phineus, to whom she had originally been uncle, Phineus, to whom she had originally been promised, tried to claim her. Perseus turned him promised, tried to claim her. Perseus turned him to stone with Medusa's head. Andromeda bore to stone with Medusa's head. Andromeda bore Perseus six sons and a daughter.Perseus six sons and a daughter.

Perseus kills PhineusPerseus kills Phineus

The Death of AcrisiusThe Death of Acrisius

The Death of AcrisiusThe Death of Acrisius

►Perseus returns to ArgosPerseus returns to Argos►Acrisius flees (it is fated that Perseus will Acrisius flees (it is fated that Perseus will

kill him)kill him)►At a sports contest in Thessaly, Perseus At a sports contest in Thessaly, Perseus

accidentally kills him with a stray discusaccidentally kills him with a stray discus►Trades Argos of Tiryns with Trades Argos of Tiryns with

Megapenthes, a son of ProetusMegapenthes, a son of Proetus►Perseus also builds MycenaePerseus also builds Mycenae

►Can’t escape the Fates!Can’t escape the Fates!►Mycenae founded by Perseus, later Mycenae founded by Perseus, later

ruled by Atreus and then Agamemnonruled by Atreus and then Agamemnon►Perseus’ grandson HeraclesPerseus’ grandson Heracles

The Death of AcrisiusThe Death of Acrisius

► After a long rule, After a long rule, Perseus and Perseus and Andromeda become Andromeda become constellations, constellations, where their story where their story can be seencan be seen

► PerseusPerseus► PerseusPerseus Cartoon Cartoon

Perseus and FolktalePerseus and Folktale

PerseusPerseus

Perseus and FolktalePerseus and Folktale

►Perseus’ tale is nearly a child’s fairy Perseus’ tale is nearly a child’s fairy taletale

►Closest we have to a folktaleClosest we have to a folktale►The form of the girl’s tragedy for The form of the girl’s tragedy for

DanaDanaëë

Perseus and FolktalePerseus and Folktale

► ProhibitionProhibition Can’t marryCan’t marry

► SeclusionSeclusion Locked in a chamberLocked in a chamber

► Violation of the prohibitionViolation of the prohibition The showerThe shower

► Threat of punishment or deathThreat of punishment or death Set adrift in a boxSet adrift in a box

► LiberationLiberation Save by DictysSave by Dictys

Perseus and FolktalePerseus and Folktale

►Perseus’s story somewhat like Perseus’s story somewhat like Gilgamesh’sGilgamesh’s More emphasis on the questMore emphasis on the quest

►Extraordinary birth; his own strength a Extraordinary birth; his own strength a threat to his family; impossible labors threat to his family; impossible labors with divine help; rewarded in the end with divine help; rewarded in the end with a kingdom and wifewith a kingdom and wife

►Differences: no taboo, no male friendDifferences: no taboo, no male friend

Perseus and FolktalePerseus and Folktale

►Perseus devoid of internal struggle and Perseus devoid of internal struggle and personalitypersonality These are adult themes and not a part of These are adult themes and not a part of

folktalefolktale

►Perhaps the Perseus story circulated Perhaps the Perseus story circulated as oral tales (for children?) before it as oral tales (for children?) before it was written downwas written down

EndEnd