CLA 2323 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Sea Monster, Serifos, Medusa
30 Jan 2015
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* an area rich in history, myths and archaeological finds. The oracle was given to acrisius, king of argos: his grandson will kill him. * atrempt to bypass the oracle: imprisoned his daughter danae in a subterranean chamber. Zeus takes the form of golden rain and penetrates the ground [metamorphosis/hieros gamos] * acrisius shuts mother and child in a chest and casts them to the sea. They end up on the island of serifos and are saved by dictys, the king"s brother. * his quest to behead medusa and bring her head to his king. * motif 1 compelled to seek an object and overcome a terrifying enemy/monster. Perseus seeks the head of medusa, but she has a petrifying glance so he must decapitate her. The three gorgons were sea monsters; medusa was their mortal sister with a petrifying glance. * motif 2 to overcome the monster, he needs the assistance of divine beings, magical weapons or devices.
