Myths of Ancient Greece had a tremendous influence on the formation of European literature, but for scientists the collective works of folk art and to this day are the source of the knowledge of the evolution of human psychology.In addition, they are an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artists, poets and musicians.In particular, many of the painters of the Renaissance paintings were written on the subject of myth, in which Perseus killing the gorgon Medusa.
Myths: the starting point
According to the myths of ancient Greece, the first in the universe existed only Skotos who personified mist.Then it emerged from chaos.Together, they have created night, darkness and love (nobody Erebus and Eros).
These major gods became parents Heaven and Earth (Gaia and Uranus), as well as deities, symbolizing the elements, Hecatonchires, Titans and Titanides.The latter included the Kronos and Rhea, from whom the Olympian gods.Recent became the hero of Greek mythology, and were given an extensive offspring, including the demigods and demigoddesses, which combined with the divine nature of man.
Olympus
The ancient Greeks believed that their main deity living on the highest mountain in the country, the top of which is always shrouded in clouds.Olympus Real is located in the north-east of modern Greece, and in ancient times along the ridge of the mountain range forms the border with Macedonia.There lived:
- supreme god Zeus - the ruler of the sky, thunder and lightning - and his wife, Hera, patronage marriage and family love;
- lord of the realm of the dead Hades;
- goddess of agriculture and fertility, Demeter;
- lord of the sea, Poseidon;
- goddess of the hearth Hestia.
Then the god-father Zeus gave birth to four sons and three daughters, have filled the company of the Olympian gods.They were Athena, Ares, Persephone, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, Apollo, Artemis and Dionysus.
demigods
Olympians, but rarely, and sweatshirts, did not hesitate to engage in an affair with a mortal.It is from this love came demigods Achilles, Heracles, Jason, Hector, Pelops, Theseus, Orpheus, Bellerophon, Odysseus, Phoroneus, Aeneas and Perseus.The last was the one who killed the Gorgon Medusa and freed the beautiful Andromeda.All the demigods were heroes, possessing supernatural powers, which they often used, coming to the aid of others.At the same time, unlike their fathers, they were mortal.
From occurred Perseus - the hero who killed Medusa the Gorgon
Remember, as in the tale of Tsar Saltan queen Baby zasmolennuyu put in a barrel and thrown into the depths of the waters?So the story Pushkin borrowed from the myth of the hero Perseus.It was believed that the young man's father was Zeus himself who entered the tower to the daughter of King Acrisius of Argos is given in the form of golden rain.Santa Perseus once predicted death by his grandson, so he did not hesitate to get rid of the princess and her newborn son by putting them in a box and thrown into the sea at the mercy of Poseidon.
gorgon Medusa-
This deva-monster that turns every living thing in sight stone was one of the three Gorgons - the daughters of sea gods Fork and Keto.It differed extraordinary beauty, so in love with her Poseidon.He chose the comfort temple of Athena, thus profaning the sanctuary.Vengeful goddess anger knew no bounds, and she turned Medusa into a monster.Unhappy Maiden hated the world and moved to a lonely island where travelers waiting for that turn into stone statues.Her sisters followed her and turned themselves into horrible monsters.However, they did not have it terrible force.
Warrior Gorgon
According to the myth, Perseus was brought up in the house Diktisa.His brother fell in love with the hero's mother, Dana, and decided to get rid of her son.He sent the boy over the head of Medusa the Gorgon, but Athens became patronize Perseus and Hermes and Hades gave him winged sandals, a hammer and a helmet of invisibility.
On the advice of a young man gods first visited three sisters Gry, who was one of three on the eyes.Perseus stole it and returned only after they were pointed out to him the way to the island of Gorgon.Upon arrival to the home of Medusa, a young man came into the bout, during which did not look at her reflection in a mirror shield.He managed to behead the monster adamantovyh sickle, and on the advice of Athena, he put it in the bag.Medusa Sisters wanted to take revenge on the hero, but he used a cap of invisibility, by which the island was able to escape unnoticed.
After that, all in Greece found out who killed the Gorgon Medusa.Famous as the hero Perseus and Athena finally quench their revenge.She said demigod that he had in his hands a powerful weapon, as the severed head is able to come to life and make petrify all life, to which she looks.However, the goddess warned that the use of force will be Medusa only once since then it to stone.
Andromeda
In those days the city Yoppa (Ethiopia) was ruled by King Cepheus and his wife, Queen Cassiopeia.They had a daughter, Andromeda, outshining its beauty sea maidens nerid.Driven by envy, they enlisted the help of Poseidon, who sent down the city cruel monster and ordered the oracle declare that Yoppa will be saved only if Andromeda is sacrificed to a sea monster.God of the seas could not assume that the person who killed the Gorgon Medusa, will come to the aid of the unfortunate maiden.However, things turned out not as intended neridy.
whom Perseus killed the head of Medusa the Gorgon
On the way to the island Serif hero turned around Yoppy.Walking along the shore, he saw tied to the cliff beautiful Andromeda.The girl was there, as the townspeople forced the king to give her child the monster.They hoped that, Andromeda is torn in pieces, the monster will return to the depths of the sea and will no longer bother residents Yoppy.They did not know what the next will be the one who killed the Gorgon Medusa.
Andromeda Perseus fell in love at first sight and promised to save her if she would marry him.She promised, and the hero slew the monster Medusa's gaze.Thus Perseus had lost the ability to control the whole world, keeping in mortal fear of the power of the Gorgon.But he won the love of Andromeda.
subsequent fate
one who got the head of Medusa the Gorgon and kill the sea monster, was a demigod, and therefore mortal.Having made his feat, he went to Serif and learned that his mother was harassed.This caused his anger, and he dealt with the king and his entourage Polydectes.Then the hero built the city of Mycenae, where he reigned with Andromeda, who bore him a daughter and six sons.
Once Perseus with Danae decided to visit his grandfather.Acrisius remembered the prediction and refused to take her daughter and grandson.It took another few years and once at a party hero offered to throw the disc.He did not refuse, but the unexpected happened and the shell had killed one of the crowd of spectators.As it turned out, it was Acrisius, who was not able to cheat fate.
At the end of a long life Perseus fought with the king of Argos Preto and struck him in a fierce battle.When the son of the slain ruler Megapenf older, he persuaded him to share the hero kingdoms, and then killed him during a fight.So ended the life of Perseus - the son of Zeus, whom the Greeks praised as the founder of one of the most powerful and rich policies of the Ancient World.
Now you know what a hero slew Medusa the Gorgon, and familiar with the basic characters of Greek mythology.
