Acrisius eyes widened in horror as the ancient pythia priestess hissed, king. Perseus did all he could to guard his mother against the kings unwanted attentions. 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. The story of perseus from ancient mythology read about gods, goddesses and mythical creatures in the myth story of perseus. Sought to explain things people could not otherwise understand. A myth may explain a belief, a custom, or a force of nature. This perseus and medusa passage and questions is great asset for anyone teaching greek mythology. The myth of perseus and medusa explained theoi greek mythology.
As soon as perseus was inside the room, phineas called to his men. This is a great way for students in grades 4 6 to practice their skills of poetry and mythology reading and comprehension. 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. Quickly perseus threw medusas head into the magic bag and swung himself into the air.
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. With a promising plot that gets more complicated as the story. 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. This product is an easy printandgo resource thats perfect for sub plans or an everyday lesson plan. Perseus, the maiden medusa, and the imagery of abduction ascsa. The story of how medusa was killed by perseus is one of the most thrilling stories in greek mythology. Perseus was the son of zeus and danae, the daughter of acrisius of argos. He would go off and kill medusa and bring back her head as his gift. He would become one of the great heroes in greek mythology because of his ability to behead the monster, medusa. This book gives readers a closeup look at this snakehaired horror. In the greek mythological pantheon, the gorgon medusa stands a head above all others in her power to terrify. Minos, king of crete, prayed to poseidon, the god of the sea, to send him a.
Perseus was born to the god, zeus, and mortal woman, danae, making him a demigod with great strength and intelligent ingenuity. 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. Children can then reconstruct the story using the follow me question cards. 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. Edith hamilton students who enjoy reading greek and. Perseus and the legends of argos oxford university press. 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 hid the medusas head in his leather bag and strode into the great hall. He looked down at the beautiful maiden, and immediately fell in love with her. During that time, perseus grew into a strong, handsome youth who was very protective of his lovely mother. 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.
She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes. Looking into the mirroring shield, perseus swooped down, and with one deft stroke he cut off the medusa s head. 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. He is best known as the slayer of the gorgon medusa, a fearsome monster, and as the rescuer of the ethiopian princess andromeda. In the portion of the perseus myth in which he encounters medusa, medusa a chthonic, snake haired, haglike entity actually represents.
The story above is the pdf version of the myth recorded on the website below. Perseus is one of the greatest heroes of greek mythology. Strangely enough, medusas story doesnt end with her death. 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. Perseus and the legends of argos 549 gorgon and came bearing the head with hair of writhing snakes, for the islanders a stony death. Polydectes had taken perseuss mother and told perseus the only w. He is best known as the slayer of the gorgon medusa, a fearsome monster, and as the rescuer of the. However, her pleas and sighs were heard in the heavens by zeus. On winged sandals perseus flew to the oneeyed witches lair. The question types are designed primarily for florida state standards mul. Harding, published in 1906 by scott, foresman and company.
Adapted from the myths and legends of ancient greece and rome by e. The greek gods gave perseus many gifts to help in his difficult quest. 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. Perseus the short mythical story of perseus is one of the famous legends that feature in the mythology of ancient civilizations. Powerpoint presentation n2 l2 perseus text of the story of perseus and medusa see lcp. The adventures of perseus 2 story of the play in pageant, verse and fearsome argument the gods on olympus present themselves. Click the link to see the text in its original format. It contains a 2page myth about perseus and medusa, 10 comprehension questions, and an answer key.
On a boast, perseus sought medusa out to vanquish her once and for all. When autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. 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. 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. One of my favorites is the medusa story, sometimes referred to as perseus and the gorgon medusa. So it was that the years ran by until finally the great god zeus saw dana through the. Share twitter facebook email close discover a world of learning resources explore. Furious, perseus took medusas head out of the bag and turned the king and all of the wedding guests to stone. The story of perseus and medusa word this worksheet gives an overview of the myth of perseus and medusa. Learn more about the traditional story of perseus in this article. The story of perseus and medusa does not exist outside of the specific. The myth of perseus and medusa greek myths and greek. Looking into the mirroring shield, perseus swooped down, and with one deft stroke he cut off the medusas head. On the way back to the island of seriphus, perseus runs into atlas, the titan doomed by zeus to hold up the sky forever.
The adventures of perseus the national gallery, london. It seems that medusas fate was sealed once she was cursed. Perseus is also said to be an ancestor of hercules and the asian race of the persians. He took medusas head and andromeda back to the polydectes and discovered that the king was forcing danae to marry him. Argos was connected in history and in legend with corinth and thebes, and the. 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.
The three gorgons, of whom only medusa was mortal, were of terrifying aspect, and those who looked upon their faces were turned to stone. Ancient as time, wrinkled and stooped like three ragged crows, they sat, muttering and cackling. The tale of perseus and medusa free stories online. Perseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorgon medusa and the rescuer of andromeda from a sea monster. With this qr code, students can access an online poem for the mythology story of perseus and medusa. Perseus s grandfather akrisios goes to the oracle to ask how long he has to live. 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. A myth is a traditional story that deals with goddesses, gods, heroes, and supernatural forces. Furthermore, when perseus returned home, he insisted that king polydectes should no longer harass his mother. But andromedas father phineas had other plans and summoned perseus to his banqueting hall. 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. He was determined to fight for his happiness and andromeda. Medusa was strong and he turned anyone who looked at her eyes into stone. The myth of perseus and medusa is one of the best thrillerlike tales in greek mythology.
Perseus killed the serpent and claimed the girl, andromeda, as his wife. 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. Play this story or choose another from the list of myths and legends. Fearing that, he hid his daughter danae in a chamber underground. Perseuss grandfather akrisios goes to the oracle to ask how long he has to live. Medusa cursed by athena and killed by perseus ancient. Then hermes whispered to perseus an idea, a little seed of an idea that soon took root.
While little is written of her life, probably because no one survived an encounter with her, we do have the story of her death. Myths usually have heroes or heroines who are gods or people with. Perseus was one of the greatest and oldest panhellenic heroes of greek mythology. The story of medusa zeus, hera and little io greek. Perseus kept medusas unsightly head in bag and used it against his other. By the time perseus was full grown, dictys brother, king polydectes, met danae, and. 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. The story of perseus long ago, king acrisius of argos learned from an oracle that he would one day be killed by his grandson. There were pretty girls there, and medusa was one of them. Medusa, in greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as gorgons. Quickly perseus threw medusa s head into the magic bag and swung himself into the air. Once upon a time, on the island of seriphus there was an evil king named polydectes.
The hero and the titan get into a fight, because atlas refuses to offer perseus shelter. 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. The gorgons of ancient greek myth were three monsters, the sisters stheno, eurayle and. Out from the monsters severed neck sprang a beautiful winged horse, the pegasus. Unhappily, she eventually came to the notice of the king. She was a very kind and she obeyed her greek gods and goddesses. The story of perseus and andromeda derives from greek mythology and contains very deep wisdom on the interactions of male and female energy. Taking andromeda with him, perseus wished to fly on for he knew that little time was left. Explore the tale of young hero, perseus, who sets out to defeat the terrifying medusa, who could turn any man into stone. 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. Text only version of perseus and medusa e2bn myths and legends. Perseus then flies away with medusas head packed in the kibisis.
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