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7/30/2019 Merdea: A Greek Tragedy
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By Pindelope
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Once upon a time, there was a princess called
Merdea.Beautiful though she was, the princess had
never in her life laughed (she lived with her
sister and step-brother).
Above: Sister,
Chalciope,
playing with
magic.
Right: Apsyrtus
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Busy with his reign over the kingdom of Colchis,
Merdeas father, Aeetes, rarely had time for his
offspring, and thus Merdea was left in the care ofher wicked step-mother.
Unfortunately, this step-mother was horribly cruel
to Merdea and made her do all the housework so
that her biological children, whom she perceived
as little angels, would be free to live happy, care-
free lives.
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These little angels were in fact terrible brats
and incessantly bullied poor Merdea; they had
even chosen her name, in reference to the most
abhorred of Merdeas chores
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One day, Merdeas sister received
an invitation to a ball which was to
be held the following weekend.Merdea, who never celebratedA
FRIDay nITE, knew she would not
be permitted by her family to
attend any social gatherings and
so, despite her glorious dreams,
remained silent.
Aphrodite, by Robert Fowler
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On the night of the ball, as Merdea was working
away, a strange thing happened. Her Fairy
Godfather, Helios, appeared and said: Mydarling grand-daughter, I know how much you
long to go to this ball, so if you listen very
carefully, and do as I say, I will grant you yourwish.
Merdea was thrilled and vowed to Helios that
she would not break the conditions he set.
Milky Way at Ikaria Island, Greece
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at such a rapid pace until,within seconds, it had metamorphosed into a
coach.
Firstly, began Helios grab me a pumpkin from
your garden.Merdea raced outside, overcome with joy, and
the instant that
she began topull a beautiful
pumpkin from
the vine, it
began to grow
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Now whatever happens, you must be back at
home before midnight, Helios ordered. Merdea
of course promised she would be and twirledwith delight in her new garment.
Helios clapped his
hands and the
princess rags were
immediately turned
into a beautiful toga.
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Now, as I will be
needing my own steeds,
your great aunt, Luna,
shall lend you her very
own so that you may
travel safely to and from
the ball.
Merdea thanked her
Godfather with all herheart and could hardly
wait to leave.
Helios in a chariot, Greek Krater (435BC)
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With a final kiss and
thankyou, Merdea
jumped into her ride
and left at once, Helios
calling after her: Just
make sure youre backbefore midnight!
The lovely horses appeared one
by one in front of the coach.
The Age of Hellenism Metope relief of the sun god Helios After 300 BC
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first time in her
life, the princesswas found
laughing with
delight. All the
men asked her to
dance, though
one in particular,
Simpleton, who
happened to be a
prince on a quest
from the
kingdom of
At the ball, Merdea found herself in a fairy tale. This is too
good to be true! She thought to herself, and for the
Iolcos, shone
far brighter
than the rest
and thehours
whirled by
as they
danced,
Jason und Medea by Gustave Moreau
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and hung out in the
magical coach, untilMerdea remembered
her curfew! It was
11:58! In a panic, she
pushed the prince out
of the coach, andforgetting about road rules, gave way to no one
as she raced home, only making it in time bythe hair on her chinny-chin chin and not
without running over two minors.
Oil on canvas: Jason and Medea by Carle van Loo (1759)
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It was not until the
following day that the
prince came to see
Merdea, claiming he had
left one ofhis sandals in
her coach.
Sure enough, when
Merdea went into the
garden where she had leftthe coach, there was the
princes lost sandal.
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However, this did not appear to be the only
reason that Simpleton had visited. He had his eye
on the kings Golden Goose, and also the princessherself.
Merdea and Simpleton fell in
love as though under a spell.They arranged to be married
and when Aeetes decided to
ask young Simpleton what
wedding gift he should give
them, naturally, the prince
mentioned the Golden Goose.
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Despite his contempt for testosterone-based,ego-centred activities, Simpleton accepted the
challenge.
The king was veryproud of owning this
goose, so he
begrudgingly decided
to offer it to Simpleton
if he could first kill the
dragon that guarded it.
http://www.allpaintings.org/d/18346-1/John+William+Waterhouse+-+Jason+and+Medea+2.jpg7/30/2019 Merdea: A Greek Tragedy
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By now, Merdea
was crazily in love
with the princeand thus decided
to help him. She
whipped up a
sleeping potion
(magic ran in her
blood) and at
midnight thecouple snuck out
to put the dragon
to sleep.Jason and Medea by John William Waterhouse (1907)
http://www.allpaintings.org/d/18346-1/John+William+Waterhouse+-+Jason+and+Medea+2.jpghttp://www.allpaintings.org/d/18346-1/John+William+Waterhouse+-+Jason+and+Medea+2.jpghttp://www.allpaintings.org/d/18346-1/John+William+Waterhouse+-+Jason+and+Medea+2.jpg7/30/2019 Merdea: A Greek Tragedy
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This done, they climbed beyond the beast where
a tree grew tall and thick.
Jason charming the Dragon, by Salvator Rosa
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And there it lay; the Golden Goose.
Simpleton quickly gathered up his prize beforesetting back with Merdea to her home.
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In the morning, Simpleton rose to see that the king wasfurious because he had been tricked out of his goose:
You are but loathsome and filthy, tell me yourrace!
And the other answered without fear and gently:
Firenze I name my master
And men shall see it. I come from the cave,Also from Vernon and Petunia,
Muggles whom the Centaur would deem unholy.
Achilles and Chiron, by Gottlieb Schick
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The story of Simpleton
Source:
Excerpt (visual only) from Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone retrieved from Youtube at 3:50pm on 1/05/2013, uploaded by firewitch97 on20/09/2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcFd8RNqKuA
As for my parents, who ruled ofright;
When the wand first pointed abovemy eyes, they feared
That wizards malice:
So they darkened the house and
made a keeningAs if I had died,
And amongst the wailing of Lily
Stealthily I was sent away
In swaddling bands of purple,
And Night knew the secret of ourroad,
Which Hagrid flew me above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcFd8RNqKuAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcFd8RNqKuAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcFd8RNqKuA7/30/2019 Merdea: A Greek Tragedy
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On hearing this, the king roared with a rage so
immense that Merdea emerged from her room to see
what was wrong.We must go! Simpleton cried to her Now!
Already familiar with her fathers volatility, Merdea
dared not wait a moment longer and raced out thedoor, following Simpleton to his ship.
Up they hopped and set sail
at once, but not before
Apsyrtus, Merdeas step-brother jumped aboard too.
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Apsyrtus:
Oh Simpleton, you shall not go without a fuss,
as you only came here to usurp us!
Simpleton:
Alas Apsyrtus,
Your words are ri-dic-u-lous!
Merdea:
Yes, brother, your worth is now nothing to us,Jason and Medea by Herbert James Draper
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And with that, Merdea raised her arms above her
head and the figure of Apsyrtus was veiled by a
great burst of light. With a bang and a sound notunlike the snip of scissors, the light disappeared and
thousands of fragments of Merdeas step-brother
were strewn overboard.
As if to justify her, Merdea said under her breath:
Besides, you have never been more than
absurdand sus.
Medea cutting her brother Apsyruts, by Martin Didier Pape (1580-90)
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By now they were far
from shore. Merdea
turned to Simpleton:And now we can find
our way back if ever
we shall need.Good thinking my
love; white pebbles
would have sunk.