Lecture 16: the adventures of Perseus

recap: what cities and mythological figures are associated with the lineage of the hero Perseus

• figures: Agamemnon, Heracles, Zeus, Danae, and Io

• cities: Argos, Mycenae, and Tiryns

explain: the lineage of Perseus

• Lynceus + Hypermnestra = 2 sons, Proteus and Acrisius

  • the twins fought → Acrisius to Argos and Proteus to Tiryns

• Prophecy: Acrisius’ grandson will cause his death (motif, divine succession)

• Acrisius imprisoned his daughter, Danaë

• Zeus comes to Danaë as a golden shower and impregnates her (motif, miraculous birth)

• Danaë and Perseus locked in a chest, wash up on Seriphos — saved by Dctys, menaced by King Polydectes

the story of danaë can be thought of as what? (hint: ___ tragedy)

the “girl’s tragedy” or parthenos in peril

• coined by Walter Burkert

  • mortal woman has sex w/a god

  • conceals her pregnancy

  • discovered by her parents

  • threat of punishment or death

  • liberation

• EX. Semele (Dionysus’ mother) and Io

• modern depictions— Snow White and Sleeping Beauty

who are the 3 gorgons

Stheno, Euryale, (Eury-) Medusa

who advises Perseus to seek out the 3 graeae

Athena

what gifts does Perseus receive from the nymphs

cap of hades, winged sandals, and kibisis (magic knapsack)

what gifts does Peseus receive from Hermes

sword and shield (as mirror)

what does Perseus do after defeating Medusa

returns to Seriphos and turns Polydectes and his henchmen to stone

explain: Perseus and Andromeda

• (first Ancient Greek love story?)

• Perseus flied to Ethiopia (ruled by Cepheus)

• Sees princess Andromeda chained to a rock, menaced by a sea monster (Cetus)

• Perseus offers to marry Andromeda and kills the sea monster with his sword

• Perseus uses the head of the Gorgon to turn Phineas (Andromeda’s bethrothed) and his henchmen to stone

why was Andromeda chained to the rock in the first place?

• her mother, Cassiopeä boasted that she was more beautiful than the Nereids

• the nymphs complained to Poseido and he send a flood with Cetus

• Oracle: only a sacrifice of the king’s daughter would prevent destruction

explain: the death of Acrisius

• Perseus retuns to Argos to meet his maternal grandfather Acrisius

• fearing the oracle: Acrisius flees to Thessaly

• at funeral fames in Larissa, Perseus accidentally kills Acrisius with a discus

what does Perseus trade kinship of Argos for

Tiryns

• he found Mycenae and Athena makes him and Andromeda into constellations