PerseusPerseusThis powerpoint was found online. This powerpoint was found online.

It is very comprehensive, and It is very comprehensive, and should help you with reviewshould help you with review

OriginOrigin King Acrisius was told King Acrisius was told

that the son of his that the son of his daughter, Danae, would daughter, Danae, would kill him.kill him.

He could not let this He could not let this happen so he locked her happen so he locked her in a tower to never marry in a tower to never marry or have childrenor have children

However, a man with a However, a man with a thunderbolt appeared to thunderbolt appeared to her and together they her and together they gave birth to a boy, gave birth to a boy, Perseus.Perseus.

Cast AwayCast Away

King Acrisius was furious when he discovered the child.King Acrisius was furious when he discovered the child. He shut Danae and Perseus up in a chest and cast them He shut Danae and Perseus up in a chest and cast them

out to sea.out to sea. Somehow they got to Seriphos where Polydectes was Somehow they got to Seriphos where Polydectes was

king.king.

PolydectesPolydectes’’ Plot Plot

Soon Polydectes fell in Soon Polydectes fell in love with Danae and love with Danae and wanted to remove wanted to remove Perseus.Perseus.

Perseus was tricked into Perseus was tricked into offering anything offering anything Poldectes wanted as a Poldectes wanted as a wedding gift.wedding gift.

He demanded the head He demanded the head of Medusa, a gorgon with of Medusa, a gorgon with a gaze that turned people a gaze that turned people to stone.to stone.

Help from the GodsHelp from the Gods Divine help was needed Divine help was needed

for this quest and it came for this quest and it came from Hermes and Athena.from Hermes and Athena.

Athena gave Perseus her Athena gave Perseus her mirrored shield and mirrored shield and Hermes gave him his Hermes gave him his sword.sword.

He then visited the Gray He then visited the Gray Women and forced them Women and forced them to tell him how to get to to tell him how to get to the Gorgons. He was the Gorgons. He was also given a satchel, also given a satchel, winged sandals, and a winged sandals, and a cap to make him invisible.cap to make him invisible.

Slaying MedusaSlaying Medusa

He used the reflection in his shield to approach He used the reflection in his shield to approach Medusa and cut off her head.Medusa and cut off her head.

The other Gorgons attacked, but Perseus used The other Gorgons attacked, but Perseus used the sandals and the cap to escape.the sandals and the cap to escape.

Princess AndromedaPrincess Andromeda

As he passed Ethiopia on As he passed Ethiopia on his return trip, Perseus his return trip, Perseus spied Andromeda spied Andromeda chained to a rock.chained to a rock.

Her father was sacrificing Her father was sacrificing her to a sea monster to her to a sea monster to please Poseidon.please Poseidon.

Perseus rescued her in Perseus rescued her in return for their marriage.return for their marriage.

Return to SeriphosReturn to Seriphos

When Perseus When Perseus returned to Seriphos, returned to Seriphos, he used Medusahe used Medusa’’s s head to turn head to turn Polydectes to stone.Polydectes to stone.

He made PolydectesHe made Polydectes’’ brother, Dictys, the brother, Dictys, the new king. new king.

Prophecy Fulfilled and The EndProphecy Fulfilled and The End

At an athletic event At an athletic event sometime later, Perseus sometime later, Perseus thrilled a crowd with his thrilled a crowd with his discus skill.discus skill.

However, he accidentally However, he accidentally struck and killed a man struck and killed a man who turned out to be who turned out to be Acrisius.Acrisius.

The prophecy originally The prophecy originally told to Acrisius had come told to Acrisius had come true.true.

Works CitedWorks Cited

Hamilton, Edith. Hamilton, Edith. MythologyMythology. New York: . New York: Little Brown & Company, 1940. Print. Little Brown & Company, 1940. Print.

"Perseus." "Perseus." Greek MythologyGreek Mythology. 2005. Web. . 2005. Web. 21 Feb. 2010. 21 Feb. 2010.

<http://www.greekmythology.com/Myth<http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/Perseus/perseus.html>. s/Heroes/Perseus/perseus.html>.