Perseus was born to the god, zeus, and mortal woman, danae, making him a demigod with great strength and intelligent ingenuity. He received help from athena and hermes who gave perseus a sword, a mirrored shield, and winged sandals, these gifts were used to escapes medusas sisters. The hideous medusa has snakes for hair, terrifying tusks and a face that turns anyone that looks at it into stone. Once upon a time,king acrisius of argos was told by the oracle that he would be. Ellen shealy portergaud school, sc charleston, sc 410 views. Perseus beheading the sleeping medusa, obverse of a terracotta pelike jar attributed to polygnotos vase painter c. She was a creature hated by the world, and her story spread far and wide, transmitting across time as well as space to reach the ears of the modern era. Shes asleep, but one gaze at her face and perseus would be. This is the reason for the high number of poisonous snakes in africa according to the myth. Read the complete script on the lazy bee scripts web site. Medusa the gorgon ks2 reading comprehension worksheets. Perseus and medusa acrisius, king of argos, receives an oracle that any child born of his daughter, danae, will grow up to kill its grandfather i. Perseus had no horse to give, so he asked polydectes to name the gift. Edith hamilton students who enjoy reading greek and roman.
She was the daughter of phorcys, a god of the sea, and ceto, a female sea god. Retelling of the greek myth describing the life of the hero perseus. Silently thanking the gods for the invisible helmet, perseus backed into the cave, watching the images in the mirrored surface of his shield. The only son of zeus and danae and, thus, a halfgod by birth perseus was one of the greatest heroes in greek mythology, most renowned for beheading the only mortal gorgon, medusa, and using her severed head capable of turning onlookers into stone as a mighty weapon in his subsequent adventures. Ovids account of medusa s mortality tells that she had once been a woman, vain of her beautiful hair. Medusas death was figured as a perversion of the erotic abductions common to many greek myths, and points out the beautiful gorgon s affinities with abducted. Perseus hid the medusas head in his leather bag and strode into the great hall. The adventures of perseus the national gallery, london. Perseus and medusa a greek myth perseus and medusa. Perseus, athena and head of medusa, apulian redfigure krater c4th b. No man may marry my mother without my word, for i am her only male relative. Perseus found a gorgon called medusa perseus put on his cap so that medusa could not see him. The graphic novel details his assistance from the nymphs and hermes, perseus trickery with the gray witches to gain medusas address, and his ultimate fight with medusa.
The adventures of perseus have been told, and retold, over the millennia, and even today his story regularly appears on the big screen. Medusa was beheaded by the hero perseus, who thereafter used her head as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess athena to place on her shield. She was a very kind and she obeyed her greek gods and goddesses. Perseus main mission is hunting down medusa, decapitating her, and bringing her severed head back home to his king on the island of seriphus. The prezi that we are about to show you is about a greek demigod that is very famous for slaying medusa and saving andromeda his girlfriend. He then sought out the ancient graeae and stealing their single eye compelled them to reveal the location of the gorgons. Once upon a time in the land of argos, there reigned a king called acrisius, the father of one fair. It also provides a model text and prompts for writing activities. Medusa and her two sisters euryale and stheno, were. Ancient greek mythology states that medusa dropped baby poisonous snakes as she wandered through africa. A greek legend told in the style of ancient greek drama. Jpg from wikimedia commons, the free media repository jump to navigation jump to search.
With the help of the gods, perseus obtained winged sandals, an invisible helm and a magical sword. But zeus comes to her through a window in a shower of golden light and soon perseus is born. Appropriate for the english national curriculum ks2 history topic ancient greece. Perseus and the gorgon medusa download ebook pdf, epub. Perseus confronting phineus with the head of medusa by. Medusa is an ancient greek mythological character known for her ability to turn one into stone if they looked at her even by accident, and for her head of snakes instead of hair and winged human female form. Click download or read online button to get perseus and the gorgon medusa book now.
On his journey he will face toothless witches, an angry giant, a terrible sea monster, and the terrifying gorgon medusa. With the help of the gods, perseus was able to kill the gorgon, medusa. As you read, try to identify the characteristics of. The story of perseus and medusa does not exist outside of the specific. Medusa was a gorgon one of three sisters with venomous snakes for hair and the ability to turn people to stone. Perseus in greek mythology greek legends and myths. Perseus was the son of zeus and danae, the daughter of acrisius of argos. Perseus perseus facts and information on the greek hero perseus. Perseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorgon medusa and the rescuer of andromeda from a sea monster. Perseus with the head of medusa by benvenuto cellini, wikimedia commons. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading perseus.
Perseus and medusa greek, issue 1 thors stolen hammer norse, issue 3 the hero twins mayan, issue 4. The three gorgon sistersmedusa, stheno, and euryalewere all children of the ancient marine deities phorcys or phorkys and his sister ceto or keto, chthonic monsters from an archaic world. Heres one version of perseus story, as told by thomas bulfinch in the age of fable. She had the face of a hideous woman, but had poisonous snakes on her head, instead of hair. This essay examines the greek myth of perseus killing the gorgon medusa as emblematic of the relationship between science and myth, and between culture and nature. Perseus was one of the oldest out of all of the greek mythological heroes. Perseus study mod pdf arts for learning connecticut. Perseus, favoured by minerva and mercury, the former of whom lent him her shield and the latter his winged shoes, approached medusa while she slept and taking care not to look directly at her, but guided by her image reflected in the bright shield which he bore, he cut off her head and gave it to minerva, who fixed it in the middle of her aegis. Perseus confronting phineus with the head of medusa by sebastiano ricci, c.
Edith hamilton students who enjoy reading greek and roman mythology as part of their english classes have edith hamilton to thank. Acrisius, scared that perseus will grow up to kill him, throws perseus. Perseus was flying back to seriphos when he saw a young woman crying because she was chained to a rock near the. Perseus confronting phineus with the head of medusa. Perseus manages to kill medusa by not looking directly at her but using the reflection in his new shield. 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. Perseus perseus facts and information on the greek hero. The adventures of perseus 2 story of the play in pageant, verse and fearsome argument the gods on olympus present themselves. 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. Nov 25, 2016 mythic warriors guardians of the legend perseus the search for medusa. Enraged, perseus swore by zeus that he would provide a wedding gift for polydectes, a terrible gift the head of the medusa. Unhappily, she eventually came to the notice of the king. The brothers pegasus the wonder horse and chrysaor spring from the neck of the dying medusa.
King polydectes of seriphus wanted to marry perseus mother danae but she had no interest in him. Focusing on the reflection of medusa s head, he rose a bit on the winged sandals, raised the sword above him, and athena, who was always there at the right time, perseus and medusa. Some myths try to explain how the universe or natural world was created. Here are some famous myths weve featured in storytime magazine.
The myth of perseus and medusa is one of the best thrillerlike tales in greek mythology. Medusa on the breastplate of alexander the great, as depicted in the alexander mosaic from pompeiis house of the faun c. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The hunt for medusas head a greek myth graphic myths and legends. Students will love reading the fascinating tale of perseus slaying medusa. Character profile for medusa from the greek myths page 1. The story above is the pdf version of the myth recorded on the website below. Edith hamilton students who enjoy reading greek and. 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.
This greek myth, retelling the tale of perseus and medusa the gorgon, can be used to test reading comprehension skills in ks2. There were pretty girls there, and medusa was one of them. He was the son of the argive princess danae who was locked away in a bronze chamber by her father akrisios acrisius who lived in fear of a prophecy that he would one day be killed by her son. Perseus is one of the greatest heroes spoken of in greek mythology, for perseus was the famed vanquisher of the gorgon medusa.
Perseus, the maiden medusa, and the imagery of abduction ascsa. Mythic warriors guardians of the legend perseus the search. The myth of perseus and medusa supposedly went down like this. To please his king, warrior perseus agrees to slay the beast. Acrisius eyes widened in horror as the ancient pythia priestess hissed, king of. The hunt for medusas head a greek myth graphic myths and legends kindle edition by storrie, paul d. His grandfather acrisius, alarmed by an oracle which had told him that his. He locks up danae alone in an empty room before she has had any children.
Perseus hid the medusa s head in his leather bag and strode into the great hall. As you read this myth, look for examples of perseuss bravery. Greek and roman mythology except for the whispering sounds of the serpents that were her hair. He is best known in greek mythology as the slayer of medusa, one of three female creatures, or gorgons, with hair said to be made of poisonous snakes. The adventures of perseus pdf 153kb opens in a new window. The story of how medusa was killed by perseus is one of the most thrilling stories in greek mythology.
Perseus and the legends of argos oxford university press. Surrounded by spears, swords and shields, perseus stood quite still. Download the free pdf resource free members and subscribers see other resources. King polydectes commanded he fetch the head of medusa. Immediately he began to file thin links of bronze, for a net, a snare that would deceive the eye. Mythic warriors guardians of the legend perseus the search for medusa. The finest spun threads, those the spider spins from the rafters, would not better his work. Abandoned at birth, but miraculously rescued, perseus must protect his mother from the wicked king polydectes. The text is accompanied by 20 reading comprehension questions. Wearing a helmet of invisibility, he sneaks up on medusa.
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 did all he could to guard his mother against the kings unwanted attentions. She was the daughter of phorcys, a god of the sea, and ceto, a. Learn more about the traditional story of perseus in this article. During that time, perseus grew into a strong, handsome youth who was very protective of his lovely mother. Climax noun mood or feeling of a story at the gorgons lair, perseus used the shield to block medusas. The story of perseus long ago, king acrisius of argos learned from an oracle that he would one day be killed by his grandson. Bedtime and campfire stories from way, way back in the day. Perseus turned to atlas for help and when denied the guest friendship bond, perseus turned atlas into stone. If i asked for this girl as perseus, son of jupiter and that danae, imprisoned in the brazen tower, whom jupiter filled with his rich golden shower. This engaging and detailed lesson enables students to gain a deep understanding of the greek myth perseus and medusa. Thank you so much for being part of the betterlesson community. Perseus conqueror of the gorgon with snakes for hair, he who dared to fly, driven through the air, on soaring wings, then surely i should be preferred to all other suitors as a soninlaw. Perseus with the head of medusa, by benvenuto cellini, installed 1554.
At the age of sixtythree, hamilton began a second career retelling the ancient myths of greece and rome. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The story of perseus and medusa, an interpretation of its. Facts about the ancient greek gorgon primary facts.
The main character in this epic, who is sent to kill medusa. Text only version of perseus and medusa myths and legends e2bn. Mar 18, 2015 the myth of perseus and medusa is one of the best thrillerlike tales in greek mythology. The story and myth of perseus and the medusa features pictures from mythology and legend. This readers theater literacy toolkit includes two readers theater scripts, as well as other activities and resources. Focusing on the reflection of medusas head, he rose a bit on the winged sandals, raised the sword above him, and athena, who was always there at the right time, perseus and medusa. As soon as perseus was inside the room, phineas called to his men. Click the link to see the text in its original format. Perseus returns to seriphos and turns polydectes to stone using the gorgons severed head.
Medusa and perseus, and the relationship between myth and. As night came on, he reached the western limit of the earth, where the sun goes down. Greek myths are always a crowd pleaser in the elementary classroom, and having your students create a handson project to record their learning is a surefire way to spark excitement. Click download or read online button to get perseus and andromeda book now. Apr 02, 2017 this engaging and detailed lesson enables students to gain a deep understanding of the greek myth perseus and medusa. Atlas and perseus the myth of atlas and perseus the mythical story of atlas and perseus by thomas bulfinch. He cut off medusas head with his sickle, and put the head in his shoulder bag. Medusa was a monster of legend, with hair turned to serpents and eyes that killed with just a glance. Medusa was a monster in greek mythology, known as a gorgon. Perseus and andromeda download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Fearing that, he hid his daughter danae in a chamber underground. Perseus returns to seriphos and turns polydectes to. Hamiltons scholarly work singlehandedly renewed an interesting the classical world in american schools.
Edith hamilton students who enjoy reading greek and roman mythology as part of their english. Mingle with myth the story of perseus long ago, king acrisius of argos learned from an oracle that he would one day be killed by his grandson. He would become one of the great heroes in greek mythology because of his ability to behead the monster, medusa. Perseus and his origins on argos perseus was thought to exist several generations. This readers theater literacy toolkit includes two readers theater scripts, as well as other activities and. In this story, perseus is sent out to claim the head of the only mortal gorgon, medusa. Ovids account of medusas mortality tells that she had once been a woman, vain of her beautiful hair. The myth of atlas and perseus after the slaughter of medusa, perseus, bearing with him the head of the gorgon, flew far and wide, over land and sea.
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