CLA 2323 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Minos, Venomous Snake, Sea Monster
Document Summary
Zeus visited danae (perseus"s mother) in the form of golden rain. Acrisius shuts danae and perseus in a chest and casts them to the sea because an oracle informed him danae"s son would kill him. They end up on the island of serifos and they were saved by dictys, the king"s brother. The king fell in love with danae and to get rid of perseus, he sent him to fetch medusa"s head. Perseus is assisted by the goddess athena, the god hermes and nymphs and he is given several objects. The nymphs give him: cap of invisibility, winged sandals and a pouch. From the severed head of medusa, sprang chrysaor, a man with a golden sword and the winged horse pegasus. Perseus gave medusa"s head to athena who put it on her aegis or on her shield. Perseus accidentally kills danae"s father with a discus at a sporting event, fulfilling the prophecy.