Term 2 - Lec 9 (Perseus) Flashcards
What kind of hero is Perseus?
How is this different from other heroes?
Rare, Integrated Hero
- very integrated in his relationships with divine and domestic
Different because..
- mutually supportive relationships with women
- quests on behalf of or with help of women
- doesn’t go to Underworld
Genealogy
Io + Zeus –> Epaphus (Egypt)
return to Greece after many generations
Acrisius, King of Argos –> Danae
Danae + Zeus –> Perseus
Perseus’ unusual birth
- Acrisius receives prophecy that Danae’s son will overthrow him
- locks Danae in bronze tower
- Zeus impregnates her via rain shower
- Danae gives birth in tower
- Acrisius hears baby crying, sets them both to sea in a chest (intention that they will die)
How are they rescued?
- chest lands on Seriphos island
- rescued by fisherman Dictys
- Perseus grows and comes of age there
What is the threat that Perseus/Danae face?
- Danae pursued by evil King Polydectes (receiver of many - associated with death)
- Perseus offers him anything else he wants
- Polydectes requests the head of Gorgon Medusa
Describe Perseus’ Quest
- Athena helps with advice/wisdom needed and gives him shield
- tells him to get advice of Graiae (hags; sisters of the Gorgon)
- Graiae share one eye and one tooth
- Perseus tricks them into directing him to the nymphs
- nymphs give him 3 talismans to help him
- Hermes gives him Adamantine sword
- Perseus puts on invisibility cap, looks at Medusa’s reflection using his sword, beheads her with his sword, puts her head in his pounch
What are the 3 talismans given to him by the Nymphs
- cap of invisibility (belongs to Hades)
- winged sandals (belongs to Hermes)
- pouch
What happens as Perseus beheads Medusa?
- little winged horse comes out of her (Pegasus)
- fathered by Poesidon (who’s associated with birth of unnatural creatures)
How does Perseus get married?
- Cassiopeia + Cepheus (Ethiopia) –> daughter named Andromeda
- Cassiopeia brags that Andromeda is more beautiful than sea nymphs
- her hubris angers Poseidon, who floods the land and demands sacrifice of Andromeda
- Andromeda dressed as bride (bride of death, but later becomes actual bride), chained to a cliff, awaits a sea-monster
- Perseus on the way back from quest, sees her and kills monster using Medusa’s head
- he then claims her hand in marriage
How does Perseus return home and vanquish the threat
- goes back to Seriphos and turns Polydectes + his court into stone
What does Perseus do with the head of Medusa?
- gives it to Athena who puts in on her shield or aegis (cape)
- why you can see her aegis covered in snakes
–> transfer of horrifying qualities of savage female supernatural creature to Athena (represents civilization)
What happens to the prophecy given originally to Acrisius?
- Perseus returns to Argos and accidentally kills Acrisius with a discus
- therefore prophecy comes true even though not on purpose
What is the end to Perseus? What part of this is unusual?
- becomes King of Tiryns and Mycenae
- happily ever after with Andromeda (UNUSUAL)
- death = old age
- both are catasterized (immortalization) after death
- -> therefore he gets full divine status without having to face animosity from the gods like other heroes
What are the 5 elements of ‘The Girl’s Tragedy’ story pattern?
How does Danae fit into it?
Where can you see this pattern in modern stories?
PROHIBITION - from marrying SECLUSION - locked in a tower VIOLATION OF PROHIBITION - Zeus' rain shower - conception of Perseus THREAT OF PUNISHMENT/DEATH - set to sea in chest LIBERATION - by Dictys on Seriphos
–> seen in Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel
