Perseus killed the serpent and claimed the girl, andromeda, as his wife. The story above is the pdf version of the myth recorded on the website below. The myth of perseus and medusa explained the story of how medusa was killed by perseus is one of the most thrilling stories in greek mythology. Acrisius eyes widened in horror as the ancient pythia priestess hissed, king. While little is written of her life, probably because no one survived an encounter with her, we do have the story of her death. Play this story or choose another from the list of myths and legends.
The three gorgons, of whom only medusa was mortal, were of terrifying aspect, and those who looked upon their faces were turned to stone. A myth is a traditional story that deals with goddesses, gods, heroes, and supernatural forces. The greek myth of perseus and medusa tells the story of how perseus used the gifts of the gods and his own courage to kill the monster medusa, rescue andromeda, and save his mother from an. Share twitter facebook email close discover a world of learning resources explore. The myth of perseus and medusa is one of the best thrillerlike tales in greek mythology. The short story and myth of perseus and the medusa the myth about perseus and the medusa is featured in the book entitled greek gods, heroes and men by caroline h. In the portion of the perseus myth in which he encounters medusa, medusa a chthonic, snake haired, haglike entity actually represents. 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. This is a great way for students in grades 4 6 to practice their skills of poetry and mythology reading and comprehension. During that time, perseus grew into a strong, handsome youth who was very protective of his lovely mother. The story of perseus is the classic story of the journey of the hero, which, esoterically, is about transforming chaotic energies within the onesself into power, wisdom, and light and true creative force. Fearing that, he hid his daughter danae in a chamber underground.
The adventures of perseus the national gallery, london. Perseus was born to the god, zeus, and mortal woman, danae, making him a demigod with great strength and intelligent ingenuity. The story of medusa and the greek goddess athena a myth submitted to the site by shainuja many years ago there was a beautiful women called medusa. Looking into the mirroring shield, perseus swooped down, and with one deft stroke he cut off the medusa s head. The hero and the titan get into a fight, because atlas refuses to offer perseus shelter. Children can then reconstruct the story using the follow me question cards. Furthermore, when perseus returned home, he insisted that king polydectes should no longer harass his mother. Perseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorgon medusa and the rescuer of andromeda from a sea monster. He is best known as the slayer of the gorgon medusa, a fearsome monster, and as the rescuer of the. The question types are designed primarily for florida state standards mul. The story of medusa zeus, hera and little io greek. His family line was descended from zeus and he wanted a son to carry on the family line. On the way back to the island of seriphus, perseus runs into atlas, the titan doomed by zeus to hold up the sky forever.
On a boast, perseus sought medusa out to vanquish her once and for all. It seems that medusas fate was sealed once she was cursed. This book gives readers a closeup look at this snakehaired horror. 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. The graphic novel details his assistance from the nymphs and hermes, perseus trickery with the gray witches to gain medusas address, and his ultimate fight with medusa. Perseus may hack medusas head off with a sword, but in most cases his success comes from quick, clever thinking rather than through mad fighting skills. Powerpoint presentation n2 l2 perseus text of the story of perseus and medusa see lcp. So it was that the years ran by until finally the great god zeus saw dana through the. This perseus and medusa passage and questions is great asset for anyone teaching greek mythology. Looking into the mirroring shield, perseus swooped down, and with one deft stroke he cut off the medusas head. The adventures of perseus 2 story of the play in pageant, verse and fearsome argument the gods on olympus present themselves. Medusa cursed by athena and killed by perseus ancient. She was a very kind and she obeyed her greek gods and goddesses. A myth may explain a belief, a custom, or a force of nature.
The story of perseus long ago, king acrisius of argos learned from an oracle that he would one day be killed by his grandson. As soon as perseus was inside the room, phineas called to his men. He looked down at the beautiful maiden, and immediately fell in love with her. With a promising plot that gets more complicated as the story. The story of perseus and medusa began in ancient greece. Perseus is also said to be an ancestor of hercules and the asian race of the persians. Argos was connected in history and in legend with corinth and thebes, and the. The story of perseus and medusa does not exist outside of the specific. Perseus was the son of zeus and danae, the daughter of acrisius of argos. Learn more about the traditional story of perseus in this article. Perseus s grandfather akrisios goes to the oracle to ask how long he has to live.
Myths usually have heroes or heroines who are gods or people with. Ancient as time, wrinkled and stooped like three ragged crows, they sat, muttering and cackling. Medusa was strong and he turned anyone who looked at her eyes into stone. When the oracle tells the human king, acrisius, that his grandson will kill him, the old miser locks his daughter, danae, up in a tower guarded by savage dogs. Perseus then flies away with medusas head packed in the kibisis. The tale of perseus and medusa free stories online. With this qr code, students can access an online poem for the mythology story of perseus and medusa. He took medusas head and andromeda back to the polydectes and discovered that the king was forcing danae to marry him. Perseus hid the medusas head in his leather bag and strode into the great hall. But andromedas father phineas had other plans and summoned perseus to his banqueting hall. By the time perseus was full grown, dictys brother, king polydectes, met danae, and. Quickly perseus threw medusa s head into the magic bag and swung himself into the air. Adapted from the myths and legends of ancient greece and rome by e. Athena then sent medusa with her hair of snakes to live with the blind monsters, the gorgon sisters, at the end of the earth, so that no innocent people would be turned to stone at the sight of her by accident.
The story of perseus and andromeda derives from greek mythology and contains very deep wisdom on the interactions of male and female energy. The greek gods gave perseus many gifts to help in his difficult quest. The story of perseus and medusa word this worksheet gives an overview of the myth of perseus and medusa. The myth of perseus and medusa explained theoi greek mythology. The story forms the basis of the movie clash of the titans and both the movie and the poem contain some violence which make them unsuitable for young children. He would become one of the great heroes in greek mythology because of his ability to behead the monster, medusa. Perseus kept medusas unsightly head in bag and used it against his other. Polydectes had taken perseuss mother and told perseus the only w. It contains a 2page myth about perseus and medusa, 10 comprehension questions, and an answer key. Edith hamilton students who enjoy reading greek and. Harding, published in 1906 by scott, foresman and company. The gorgons of ancient greek myth were three monsters, the sisters stheno, eurayle and.
Then hermes whispered to perseus an idea, a little seed of an idea that soon took root. Perseus is one of the greatest heroes of greek mythology. During a banquet with king polydectes, perseus pulled out medusas head to prove that he did kill medusa, which petrified king polydectes. He would go off and kill medusa and bring back her head as his gift. Strangely enough, medusas story doesnt end with her death. Sought to explain things people could not otherwise understand. Out from the monsters severed neck sprang a beautiful winged horse, the pegasus. The myth of perseus and medusa is one of the best thrillerlike tales in greek mythology 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. Medusa was asleep and perseus, using the reflection in athenas bronze shield as a guide so as to not look directly at the gorgons and be turned into stone, managed to cut off her head with his sickle. Medusa, in greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as gorgons. Perseus and the legends of argos oxford university press. Unhappily, she eventually came to the notice of the king.
She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes. Click the link to see the text in its original format. Perseus and the legends of argos 549 gorgon and came bearing the head with hair of writhing snakes, for the islanders a stony death. Furious, perseus took medusas head out of the bag and turned the king and all of the wedding guests to stone. Perseus was one of the greatest and oldest panhellenic heroes of greek mythology. Perseus, the maiden medusa, and the imagery of abduction ascsa. Starting with details about medusas history, physical features, and supernatural powers, the text continues with a retelling of the classic myth of perseus. Perseus the short mythical story of perseus is one of the famous legends that feature in the mythology of ancient civilizations. There are myths from every culture in the world, but the bestknown ones are from ancient greece, rome or from the norse people of northern europe. Explore the tale of young hero, perseus, who sets out to defeat the terrifying medusa, who could turn any man into stone.
Olympus in the form of a stream of gold, which poured through the roof of the chamber, and soon danae had a baby named perseus. However, her pleas and sighs were heard in the heavens by zeus. There were pretty girls there, and medusa was one of them. Perseus and medusa perseus has to find the gorgon medusa, kill her and bring her head back to the king. Perseus manages to kill medusa by not looking directly at her but using the reflection in. On winged sandals perseus flew to the oneeyed witches lair. Text only version of perseus and medusa e2bn myths and legends. Perseus was no ordinary young man and he was caught up in a chain of events that would be told in myths forever and a day. Quickly perseus threw medusas head into the magic bag and swung himself into the air. Perseuss grandfather akrisios goes to the oracle to ask how long he has to live. Printable version of this story greek index greek coloring pages athena craft medusa craft perseus craft on and on medusa went about her beauty to anyone and everyone who stopped long enough to hear her until one day when she made her first visit to the parthenon with her friends.
Perseus did all he could to guard his mother against the kings unwanted attentions. He famously slew the dreaded gorgon medusa whose gaze could turn men to stone, an exploit he swiftly followed up with the daring rescue of the princess andromeda from a monstrous seacreature sent by poseidon to terrorize the kingdom of ethiopia perseus is perhaps the oldest of the greek heroes with. Taking andromeda with him, perseus wished to fly on for he knew that little time was left. This product is an easy printandgo resource thats perfect for sub plans or an everyday lesson plan. When autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next.
The story of perseus from ancient mythology read about gods, goddesses and mythical creatures in the myth story of perseus. So, one night, he visited her as a shower of golden light, and from this heavenly union, nine months later, a baby boy was born. Minos, king of crete, prayed to poseidon, the god of the sea, to send him a. When you have finished reading the poem, please scroll down a little further to read some comments on the myth. One of my favorites is the medusa story, sometimes referred to as perseus and the gorgon medusa. 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 myth of perseus and medusa greek myths and greek. As you read this myth, look for examples of perseuss bravery. In the greek mythological pantheon, the gorgon medusa stands a head above all others in her power to terrify. He was determined to fight for his happiness and andromeda. The myth of perseus and medusa greek myths and greek mythology. The story of how medusa was killed by perseus is one of the most thrilling stories in greek mythology. Once upon a time, on the island of seriphus there was an evil king named polydectes. He is best known as the slayer of the gorgon medusa, a fearsome monster, and as the rescuer of the ethiopian princess andromeda.
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