Perseus and Medusa
A Greek/Roman Myth
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Retold by The Legendary Connection
TLC#00064
Also known as: “How Perseus Conquered the Sea”
Once upon a time in ancient Greece, a terrible storm raged at sea. Giant waves rolled from the cave of Medusa the Gorgon. Medusa, once a beautiful woman, was cursed to have snakes for hair, and anyone who looked at her turned to stone. She sent powerful waves to crush ships, sending them to the bottom of the sea.
One stormy day, a wooden chest floated on the waves, tossed by the sea. Some fishermen on the shore saw the chest and rushed to pull it from the water. When they opened it, they found a young mother, Danae, holding her baby son, Perseus. They brought them to their King, who listened as Danae told her story.
"I am Danae, a princess of the neighboring kingdom," she explained. "My father, the king, feared my son and sent us adrift at sea. Please protect us until Perseus is grown."The King of Argos took them in, and Perseus grew into a brave young man.
For years the King secretly hoped to marry Danae, but he needed to get her son out of the way. So the King told Perseus about Medusa the Gorgon. Determined to be a hero, Perseus decided to defeat Medusa.
The gods heard of Perseus' brave plan and wanted to help him. Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, gave him a shining shield and a magical bag, Mercury, the god of messengers and travelers, gave him winged sandals, and Pluto, the god of the underworld, gave him a magic helmet that made him invisible. But to find Medusa, Perseus needs more information. So, he set out to find the Grey Sisters, who know where Medusa lives.
The Grey Sisters were strange creatures who shared one eye and one tooth between them. Perseus knew they wouldn’t tell him anything willingly, so he waited until they passed the eye to one another. At the perfect moment, he swooped in and snatched the eye from their hands.
"Give it back!" they cried.
"Only if you tell me how to find Medusa," Perseus said firmly.
Grumbling, the Grey Sisters told him how to reach the land of the Gorgons. Satisfied, Perseus returned their eye and set off on his quest. Guided by the directions from the Grey Sisters, Perseus flew swiftly and invisibly thanks to Mercury’s winged sandals and Pluto’s helmet.
When Perseus reached Medusa’s lair, he knew he couldn’t look at her directly. Instead, he used Minerva’s shield as a mirror, watching Medusa’s reflection as she slept. Carefully, he crept closer and, with one swift movement, cut off Medusa’s head without ever looking at her.
Now carrying Medusa’s head in the magical bag, Perseus began his journey home. Along the way, he came to the land of Ethiopia, where he saw a terrible sight. A beautiful princess named Andromeda was chained to a rock by the sea, about to be devoured by a sea monster. She had been sacrificed to save her people from the monster’s wrath.
Brave Perseus couldn’t let this happen. He flew down, invisible, and waited for the monster to rise from the waves. When it appeared, he attacked swiftly from above. After a fierce battle, Perseus killed the monster and freed Andromeda.
Grateful for her rescue, Andromeda’s parents agreed that Perseus could marry her. But at their wedding feast, a jealous warrior named Phineas, who had once hoped to marry Andromeda, arrived with an army. Phineas wanted to take Andromeda away from Perseus.
Perseus, thinking quickly, called out, "Let all my friends turn away!" Then, he pulled Medusa’s head from his bag. Phineas and his warriors looked at it and were immediately turned to stone.
With the danger behind them, Perseus and Andromeda returned to Argos. Perseus soon learned that the king who had taken him and his mother in was causing trouble. Using Medusa’s head once more, Perseus turned the wicked king into stone, freeing his people.
In the end, Perseus became a wise and kind ruler. The gods were so pleased with his bravery and cleverness that they placed him and Andromeda among the stars, where they shine brightly to this day.
Source: “Bailey, Carolyn Sherwin. “Wonder Stories: The Best Myths for Boys and Girls.” Https://Www.gutenberg.org/Files/35704/35704-h/35704-H.htm, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/35704/pg35704-images.html#Page_74. Accessed 9 Feb. 2024.
