Chapter 14 Lecture Two of Two Perseus and the Myths of the Argive Plain ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

LEGENDS OF PERSEUS Danaë and the Shower of Gold ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Shower of Gold Lynceus (the one spared) in Argos after Danaüs His son Abas has twins – Acrisius, rules in Argos – Proetus, rules in nearby Tiryns Acrisius has a daughter, Danaë, but wants sons ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Shower of Gold Oracles says Danaë will have a son, but that he will kill him (Acrisius) Zeus’s “rain shower” impregnates her ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Fig Shower of Gold ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Réunion des Musées Nationaux/Art Resource, New York

Shower of Gold Set adrift in a wooden box Dictys at Seriphos Polydectes – Perseus tricked into going on a quest for the head of a Gorgon ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Fig Locked in a Box ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Photograph © 2011 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

THE LEGEND OF PERSEUS Perseus, the Gorgon Slayer ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Perseus, the Gorgon Slayer Gorgons – Stheno – Euryalê – Medusa (the only mortal Gorgon) Help from the Graeae – “Where can the Gorgons be found?” ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Perseus, the Gorgon Slayer Magical implements – Cap of Hades – Winged sandals – The kibisis – Extra sharp sword – Highly polished bronze shield ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Fig The Gorgon-Slayer ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Musée du Louvre, Paris; © Giraudon/Art Resource, New York

Perseus, the Gorgon Slayer From the body of Medusa, who was pregnant by Poseidon – Pegasus, later tamed by Bellerophon – Chrysaör Perseus frees his mother from Polydectes’s aggression with the head of Medusa ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Fig The Gorgon in FlightPerseus in Pursuit ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek, Munich; Hirmer Fotoarchiv, Munich

PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Perseus and Andromeda A variant has Perseus returning to Seriphos after a few adventures Joppa ruled by Cepheus ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Perseus and Andromeda Cepheus’s daughter, Andromeda, about to be sacrificed to a sea monster, because of the rash boast by her mother, Cassiopeä – Perseus given Andromeda and the kingdom for having freed her Phineus, to whom Andromeda had been betrothed, killed with his men by the head of Medusa ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Perspective 1 “Although they are false gods, it is lawful in this to imitate the ancients, who under these names hid allegorically the concepts of philosophy." ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Palazzo Vecchio, Florence; Scala/Art Resource, New York

THE DEATH OF ACRISIUS ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

The Death of Acrisius Perseus returns to Argos Acrisius flees (it is fated that Perseus will kill him) At a sports contest in Thessaly, Perseus accidentally kills him with a stray discus Trades Argos of Tiryns with Megapenthes, a son of Proteus Perseus also builds Mycenae ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

The Death of Acrisius After a long rule, Perseus and Andromeda become constellations, where their story can be seen ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

OBSERVATIONS Perseus and Folktale ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Perseus and Folktale Perseus’ tale is nearly a child’s fairy tale Closest we have to a folktale The form of the girl’s tragedy for Danaë ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Perseus and Folktale Prohibition – Can’t marry Seclusion – Locked in a chamber Violation of the prohibition – The shower Threat of punishment or death – Set adrift in a box Liberation – Save by Dictys ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Perseus and Folktale Perseus’s story somewhat like Gilgamesh’s – More emphasis on the quest Extraordinary birth; his own strength a threat to his family; impossible labors with divine help; rewarded in the end with a kingdom and wife Differences: no taboo, no male friend ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Perseus and Folktale Perseus devoid of internal struggle and personality – These are adult themes and not a part of folktale Perhaps the Perseus story circulated as oral tales (for children?) before it was written down ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

MEDUSA’S HEAD ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Medusa’s Head Deeper, psychological meaning? – Freud: Medusa’s head is the female pudenda A reflection of the social conditions under which a young boy was raised? – The death of Medusa symbolic of the boy’s release from his mother Overthrown of aboriginal matriarchy ? ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Medusa’s Head Medusa perhaps not an original part of the Perseus story Homer: – Gorgo on the shield of Agamemnon – Gorgo on the walls of Hades’s palace When, where, how, and why the “Gorgons” develop their full iconography is not known ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Medusa’s Head Cult of the snake goddess? Image used as apotropaic device ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Perspective 14.2 Classical Myth and the Stars. ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Art Resource, New York

End ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.