What does the myth of Perseus and Medusa explain?

What does the myth of Perseus and Medusa explain?

The story of Perseus and Medusa is a story of perseverance, bravery, and dignity. Perseus personifies the length one would go to in order to save the ones you love. Perseus shows the authenticity of his character when he rescues the helpless Andromeda from the Cetus and the attachment to the rock.

What is the story of Perseus summary?

Perseus, in Greek mythology, the slayer of the Gorgon Medusa and the rescuer of Andromeda from a sea monster. 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.

What is the summary of Medusa?

Legend states that Medusa was once a beautiful, avowed priestess of Athena who was cursed for breaking her vow of celibacy. She is not considered a goddess or Olympian, but some variations on her legend say she consorted with one. When Medusa had an affair with the sea god Poseidon, Athena punished her.

What is the message of the story of Medusa and Athena?

I think that the moral of Medusa tells us to appreciate others and to think about others as well as yourself. It tells the reader not to make the same mistake as Medusa did, and if you do you will have to pay for it. I think it also tells us to think before you say things.

What type of myth is Medusa?

Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful.

What is the original story of Medusa?

The snake-haired Medusa does not become widespread until the first century B.C. The Roman author Ovid describes the mortal Medusa as a beautiful maiden seduced by Poseidon in a temple of Athena. Such a sacrilege attracted the goddess’ wrath, and she punished Medusa by turning her hair to snakes.

What is the theme of the story Medusa’s head?

The theme of the story is to be a leader. Perseus being a leader was illustrated when Perseus killed Medusa the gorgon while she was sleeping. If Medusa was not the way she is, then she would not be killed.

Why is Perseus important?

Perseus is a major hero from Greek mythology best known for his clever decapitation of Medusa, the monster who turned all who looked at her face into stone. He also rescued Andromeda from the sea monster. Like most of the mythological heroes, the genealogy of Perseus makes him the son of a god and a mortal.

What is the theme of Perseus?

Courage. Like pretty much every great hero, Perseus is incredibly brave. No matter how dangerous the monsters in his path, Perseus boldly marches forward. He is unstoppable – Gorgons, sea monsters, wicked…

What lesson did the Medusa myth teach Greek society?

In examining the myth of Athena and Medusa further, the story also seems to be a suggestive fable, slyly teaching women how to look out for and protect one another in a society dominated by men, where rape is a constant threat. Athena was aware of Poseidon’s hunger for Medusa and knew of Medusa’s vow of celibacy.

What is the theme of the story Medusa?

What is the story of Perseus and Medusa?

Perseus and Medusa: plot summary Perseus was the son of the Greek god Zeus and the woman Danae. He was conceived when Zeus came to Danae disguised as a shower of gold. Danae’s father, Acrisius, discovered that his daughter had given birth to a son, and threw both Danae and Perseus into the sea, in a wooden chest.

What did Polydectes tell Perseus to bring him?

Polydectes told Perseus to bring him the head of the gorgon Medusa. Medusa was one of three sisters, the gorgons, but she was the only mortal one. Some versions say all three were born as monsters, but the predominant myths had them as gorgeous maidens.

How did Athena and Hermes help Perseus?

Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, and Hermes, the Greek god of mischief, appeared to the young man early in his travels. Athena provided the hero with valuable wisdom and advised him to seek out the Graeae, three old women who guarded valuable treasures that would help Perseus to defeat Medusa.

How did Perseus meet Andromeda in the Odyssey?

On his way home from defeating the Gorgon Medusa, Perseus met a beautiful young woman named Andromeda, who was chained to a rock. Perseus defeated the sea monster that threatened to eat the young woman and unchained her from the rock.