The Legends of Perseus water water everywhere Characteristics

The Legends of Perseus: water, water everywhere

Characteristics of Greek Hero: most stories have many of these elements mortal remarkable birth innately superior alienated somehow

Characteristics of Greek Hero: most stories have many of these elements confrontation with monsters confrontation with mortality protected by a divinity in conflict with a divine antagonist fragmentation and re-integration of identity remarkable death seeks everlasting fame -- kleos -- in pan-Hellenic poetry that can appeal to audiences all across the Greek speaking world honored in a cult centered on his grave in one particular place

A Comparative Approach Gilgamesh: part divine, part mortal has a close friend (Enkidu, who he fought with then became friends with) (like Achilles and Patroclus) broke a taboo -- cut down the forbidden forest of Humbaba, killed Humbaba, provoked fury of storm god Enlil (like Odysseus vs the cyclops) mourns for companion Enkidu, who died as punsihment for killing the Bull of Heaven and offending Ishtar (we will see that this is like Achilles mourning for Patroclus)

A Comparative Approach Gilgamesh: makes a journey to the underworld (as Greek and Roman heroes do) the divine beer maid Siduri tries to tell him not to, to just enjoy life, but Gilgames insists on going. Uses special magical poles to get his boat there (we can compare Aeneas' use of golden bough) "There is no picture of death" (compare to the meaning of the name Hades 'the invisible one)

1. Zeus + Io -> birth of Epaphus Io, daughter of River Inachus Zeus pursues her, keps them hidden in a cloud transformed into a cow

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arrival of Io in Egypt birth of Epaphus

Decendants of Io – The 50 Danaids • reject marriage with 50 sons of Aegyptus • flee to Argos from Egypt • 49 brides murder 49 husbands on the wedding night • fill leaky jars in the underworld

Acrisius (descendant of Io) | Danae • prophecy: your grandson will kill you • hiding Danae • arrival of Zeus in a shower of gold

Danae as The Girl’s Tragedy • prohibition - • seclusion - father hides her in a bronze chamber • violation of the prohibition -- Zeus in the form of a shower of gold coins impregnates Danae -> birth of Perseus • threat of punishment or death -wooden chest put out to sea • liberation

arrival on island rescue by Dictys (Mr. Net) Diktys’ brother Polydectes pursues Danae

Perseus promises to get the head of the Gorgon Medusa as a present for Polydectes visits the Graeae to find out how to find the helpful nymphs direct him he has shield and sword from Hermes winged sandals, cap of Hades, leather satchel

Perseus beheads Medusa

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Perseus rescues Andromeda from the sea monster

Perseus rescues Andromeda from the sea monster

Perseus rescues Andromeda from the sea monster

Perseus rescues Andromeda from the sea monster

Perseus’ return to Argos • Acrisius flees, remembering the prophecy that his grandson would kill him • Perseus accidentally kills Acrisius with a discus at a competition • note: Athenians had special laws about accidental deaths-bydiscus

1. The daughters of Danaus were punished in the underworld by a) having to push giant stones up hills b) having to keep filling jars that leaked c) having to spin thread and weave cloth d) having to sing

2. The daughters of Danaus were punished in the underworld because a) they opened boxes that should have been kept closed b) they had sex outside of marriage c) they revealed religious rituals that were supposed to be secret d) they killed the men they were supposed to marry

3. Io was transformed into a cow because a) she loved bulls b) Zeus wished to punish her for marrying a mortal c) Zeus wanted to hide Io from Hera d) she was trampled by a herd of Hermes' cattle

4. The woman whom Zeus visited in the form of a shower of gold was named a) Demeter b) Dione c) Dorcas d) Danae

5. Perseus had an unusual childhood because a) his father shut Perseus and his mother inside a chest and sent it out to sea b) Demeter hid him in a cornfield c) he was hatched from an egg d) an eagle snatched him up and brought him to a mountaintop

6. Which magical object was not one of the things that Perseus carried with him? a) cap of Hades b) winged sandals c) cloak of invisibility d) satchel (=leather pouch)

7. Medusa was distinctive because a) she could turn someone to stone by looking at them b) she had only one eye c) she had eyes in the back of her head d) her eyes cried rivers of tears

8) Which was not part of the quest of Perseus for the gorgon Medusa's head? a) holding up the sky for Atlas b) having the winged horse Pegasus spring up from Medusa's dead body c) boasting to a man annoying his mother that he (Perseus) could obtain the gorgon's head d) giving the head of Medusa to Athena

9. Andromeda was tied to a rock because a) Zeus had sex with her b) her father became angry when she ran away to be with Perseus c) an oracle said that only by sacrificing Andromeda to the seamonster would it be possible to stop the destruction that the gods sent after her mother boasted she was more beautiful thant the Nereids d) Hera hated her

10) Which of the following is not a typical element of the folk tale pattern of the GIrl's Tragedy a) liberation: the girl is freed b) prohibition: the girl is prevented from marrying c) seclusion: the girl is hidden d) murder: the girl kills a monster

1. b 2. d 3. c 4. d 5. a 6. c 7. a 8. a 9. c 10. d

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