The Gorgon's Head

Summary

In this mythological tale, King Acrisius of Argos, fearing an oracle's prophecy of his own death by his grandson's hand, imprisons his daughter Danae. Zeus impregnates Danae, and she gives birth to Perseus. To avoid the prophecy, Acrisius sets mother and child adrift. Rescued by a fisherman, Perseus grows up and, to win glory, is sent to slay Medusa. With Hermes and Athena's aid, he succeeds, obtaining winged sandals, an invisibility helmet, and a magic wallet. After adventures including saving Andromeda and inadvertently fulfilling the prophecy by accidentally killing Acrisius with a discus, Perseus returns home to reconcile with his grandfather.

Takeaways

• 😔 A king of Argos received a dire prophecy that he would have no sons and would be killed by his grandson.
• 🏰 In an attempt to avoid his fate, the king imprisoned his daughter Danae in a bronze chamber underground.
• ☀️ Zeus, seeing Danae's beauty, visited her as a golden rain and impregnated her, resulting in the birth of Perseus.
• 🌊 Fearing the prophecy, the king placed Danae and baby Perseus in a chest and set them adrift on the sea.
• 🐟 A fisherman named Dictys found the chest and took Danae and Perseus to his childless wife, who raised Perseus.
• 💍 King Polydectes, who married Danae, sought to kill Perseus by sending him on a dangerous quest to slay Medusa.
• 🔍 Hermes and Athena aided Perseus by providing him with winged sandals, a helmet of invisibility, and a mirrored shield.
• 🐉 Perseus used the reflective shield to locate and behead Medusa without looking directly at her, which turned his enemies to stone.
• 💖 On his return, Perseus rescued Andromeda, who was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster, and married her.
• 🏺 The final fulfillment of the prophecy occurred when Perseus accidentally killed his grandfather with a discus throw during a game.

Q & A

What was the dreadful Oracle that the Christian king of Argos received at Delphi?

The Oracle told the king that he would have no sons, but a grandson who would be the cause of his death.

How did King Acrisius attempt to evade the Oracle's prophecy?

King Acrisius tried to evade the prophecy by imprisoning his daughter Danae in a bronze house underground to keep her away from men.

How did Zeus encounter Danae, despite her imprisonment?

Zeus, seeing Danae's beauty, transformed himself into a shower of gold and entered her chamber through an opening in the roof.

What did King Acrisius do when he discovered the baby Perseus?

Fearing the prophecy, King Acrisius placed Danae and baby Perseus in a chest and set them adrift on the sea.

Who found the chest with Danae and Perseus, and how did they end up?

A fisherman named Dictys found the chest and took them to his wife, who raised Perseus as her own son.

Why did King Polydactus suggest that Perseus should go on an adventure to slay Medusa?

King Polydactus, who was in love with Danae, suggested the adventure to get rid of Perseus because he was jealous of the affection Danae had for her son.

What were the three items Perseus needed to successfully slay Medusa, and who provided them?

Perseus needed winged sandals, a helmet of invisibility, and a magic wallet. Hermes provided him with the winged sandals and a sword, and Athena gave him her bright shield to use as a mirror.

How did Perseus find out which Gorgon was Medusa, and how did he manage to slay her?

Athena guided Perseus to identify Medusa, and using her shield as a mirror, he approached and swiftly cut off Medusa's head with his sword.

What was the significance of the Ruby drops falling from Medusa's head as Perseus flew over the Libyan Desert?

The Ruby drops from Medusa's head turned into venomous snakes, which would inhabit the desert forever.

How did Perseus save Andromeda, and what was the outcome of their encounter?

Perseus saved Andromeda by killing a sea monster that was threatening her and her people. He then married Andromeda, and they celebrated their wedding.

How was the Oracle's prophecy concerning King Acrisius ultimately fulfilled?

The prophecy was fulfilled when Perseus, unknowingly, killed his grandfather Acrisius with a discus throw during a game in Larisa.