Medusa and Perseus - one of the most famous characters in Greek mythology.Hero who killed a terrible monster and saved from destruction the beautiful Andromeda, credited with founding the city of Mycenae and Perseid dynasty.Medusa symbolizes disgusting horrible creature, the embodiment of fear and death, but at the same time - the unfortunate beauty, by the will of evil fate became the innocent victim of a divine curse.The myth of Perseus and Medusa left its mark in literature, music and art, not only of the ancient world, but also the Middle Ages and modernity.
Origin
Medusa According to legend Medusa was the youngest of three sisters born to the deities of the water element Fork and Keto, in turn, the former children Pontus (god of the sea) and Gaia (earth goddess).Senior Gorgon - Stheno and Euryale - inherited from the parents of immortality, the Medusa was the only one who has not got a priceless gift.
Initially these characters mythology of ancient Greece were presented in the form of sea maidens, proud and beautiful.Beauty Jellyfish, winner of a slim figure and gorgeous hair, seemed born was to captivate the hearts of men.However, according to one version of the legend, she became a priestess of Pallas Athena, goddess of war, and gave eternal vow of celibacy.
Curse Athens
Vow, the Medusa, Poseidon had not stopped - the almighty god of the seas.It was a beauty right in the temple of Athena, and Bedazzled, took her by force.On hearing this, the goddess was furious.However, guilty of the incident, as well as the desecration of shrines, it is not considered Poseidon and Medusa unfortunate.Uncontrolled anger Athens has fallen at the same time on both older sisters girl.
As a result of the curse of the goddess of beauty, the sisters turned to the monstrous winged creatures.Their skin is covered with hideous wrinkles appeared on the body scales, rose terrible claws and fangs, and her hair turned into balls of poisonous snakes.Moreover - this time with all the unfortunate, who had the imprudence to meet eye contact with any of the Gorgon, immediately applied to the stone statue ...
Realizing that the more they have no place among the gods and men, the Gorgon sisters went into exile on the western tipinhabited earth, where settled on a remote island in the world River Ocean.However, soon they fell short of terrible rumor that went for them around the world, ruined a lot of unfortunate souls.It is the youngest of the sisters became the most brutal and bloodthirsty.
Many heroes tried to deal with the terrible monster - because the one who killed Medusa, was not only get all the glory, but also a priceless trophy: her head.The strength of the Medusa's gaze continued to draw the creatures to stone even after her death.However, no one has succeeded - so far as to perform the feat did not go the young Perseus, ironically not for trophies or fame.
Who is Perseus
Legend of Perseus says that the ruler of Argos named Acrisius was the only daughter Danae.Believing predicted that Danae's son was destined to become the cause of his death, terrified Acrisius locked daughter in the tower, intending to kill her hunger and thirst.However, the beauty noticed Zeus himself, the head of the Olympian gods.He entered the prison to Danae in the form of golden rain, and made her his wife.From this marriage was born a boy, named Perseus.
Mythology says that once Acrisius heard the laughter of a child, went up to the tower, and the daughter was depressed and amazed, but to kill the little demigod own hand still did not dare.Instead, he took a monstrous decision: ordered to put Danae and Child in a wooden box and thrown into the waves of the sea.
However, Percy's mother was not destined to die.After some time the drawer pulled to shore fisherman named Diktis - the brother of the king of the island serif, Polydectes.At the court Polydectes and raised a small Perseus, famous afterwards as the one who killed Medusa.
Preparation hero to campaign
But life Perseus and his mother, too, was on Serif difficult.After the death of his wife Polydectes planned to take in the beauty-wife Dana.However, she strongly opposed to this, and Perseus was the mother of reliable protection.Having decided to lime youth, treacherous Polydectes gave the young hero mission: to bring him the head of the monster known as the All Greece Medusa.
and Percy went on a journey.However, residents of the immortals of Olympus were unable to prevent the death of the son of Zeus.Swift-winged messenger of the gods, Hermes and Athena warrior took his side.Hermes gave the boy his sword easily minced any steel.Pallas also gave Perseus a copper shield, shining like a mirror, and blessed journey.
long been a hero travels to distant lands.Finally he reached the gloomy country in which they lived Gorgon guard the way to the old Gry, who had all three of one tooth and one eye.With tricks Perseus managed to steal at Gry their "treasures", leaving them blind and toothless.In exchange for the return of stolen items Gry had to tell the hero, how to find Gorgon.
road in the right direction ran over the edge, inhabited by nymphs.Find out who Perseus and where he should be, nymphs, wanting to help, gave him three magic things.It was a bag that can hold anything, winged sandals, allows you to fly through the air and slam the lord of the underworld, Hades, who grants invisibility to those who wear it.Thanking for the support and gifts, Perseus flew straight to the island, which took the Gorgon.
Death monster
Fate and the gods favored hero.Perseus was in the den of monsters at a time when they are sound asleep and could not notice it.Copper shield donated by Athena, proved to be very useful: looking at a reflection on him, as if in a mirror, the young man was able to see well three sisters, and most importantly - guess which one is Medusa.
and Persians rushed to the attack.Enough only true impact sword - and be cut off the head of Medusa appeared in the hands of the hero.On the ground gushing red blood monster from which emerged dazzling white horse Pegasus and the golden onion chrysaor, without delay, poised far into the heavens.
howled in horror awakened two Gorgon.They rushed up to find and devour the man who killed their little sister.But in vain they flew over the island in search of Perseus - winged sandals thanks to the young man was already far away, carrying the bag terrible head of Medusa.
Rescue of Andromeda
On their long journey back Perseus was in Ethiopia, in the territory of the kingdom of Cepheus.There, on the beach, he saw his daughter, the beautiful princess Andromeda, chained to a rock.The girl told the hero that she left here to sacrifice sea monsters, Poseidon sent down from the depths of the sea.This gigantic fish kingdom ravaged by order of Cepheus god of the seas due to the fact that the mother of Andromeda, Cassiopeia, angered the sea nymphs, saying that her beauty is much more perfect.Oracle told the king struck by grief Kefeyu that atone for his wife can only be sacrificed monster of their only daughter.
struck by the sad history and the beauty of Andromeda, Perseus did not leave a poor girl in trouble.Wait for the monster, he killed him in a difficult battle and saved the princess averted after the palace to her parents and said that he wanted to take her as his wife.
Return Perseus
celebrate a wedding, Perseus and Andromeda Serif returned to the island, where they found Danae hiding in the temple of Zeus on the stubborn harassment Polydectes.In anger Perseus hastened to the royal palace, where Polydectes feasted with his friends.He was not expecting to see the boy alive, and began to laugh at him: "Big Mouth! So, you have not kept my order? Well, where's your Medusa?"
and Persians, not just an insult, in a fit of rage snatched the bag Medusa's head and showed the king.At the same moment the king and his friends turned to stone.
Perseus, however, remained at Serif.Transfer power on the island Diktisu, brother of the former king, he and his mother and Andromeda returned to his native Argos.After hearing about the return of the hero, his grandfather, King Acrisius, he fled to Larissa, to the north of the country.Perseus also ascended the throne and rule happily.
