Summary of “Perseus’s feats”
The oracle predicted to King Argos, Akrisia, that he would perish at the hands of his grandson. To avoid such a fate, Acrisius imprisoned his daughter Danai in the underground chambers, so that no one saw her, but Zeus fell in love with Danae and penetrated her as a golden rain. From this marriage Perseus was born. The king hammered his little grandson, Perseus, along with his mother, into a barrel and threw them into the sea.
But Zeus protected them, and they were thrown by a wave on the shore of the island of Serif, where at that time one of the kings of the country, Diktis, was fishing with his brother Polydectus. Both of them friendlyly met the poor rejected queen and brought into their home. Soon she became the wife of Polydect, and Perseus was carefully brought up in the palace.
When he grew up and from the child turned into a hungry feats young man, his stepfather invited him to go on a trip to cut down the head of the terrible Medusa, which brings a lot of evil
The young hero immediately set out on his journey, and soon arrived in the accursed country where the monster’s father, Vorkis, reigned. Here he met three of his daughters, called Grays, and took from them their only eye, which these disgusting creatures alternately shared with each other. He did not give it to them until they pointed out the way to the nymphs from whom he could get winged sandals. Appearing to the nymphs, he received from them sandals, a bag for the head of Medusa and a helmet made from dog skin, which makes a person invisible. Having attached to all this another sharp sickle, presented to him by Hermes, Perseus took off on his air sandals and flew across the ocean to the country where the other daughters of Forkis, the Gorgons, lived.
One of these Gorgons was Medusa, whose head was to be cut down by Perseus. In contrast to her sisters, she was mortal, but no one could approach her, for anyone who looked at her turned into a stone. Perseus knew this and therefore, without looking at her, he approached her the minute she was asleep, and reflected her image in her brilliant
At that very moment, the giant Chrysaor grew up from the body of Medusa and, so famous later, the winged horse Pegasus. Grabbing the head of a terrible monster and thrusting it into his bag, Perseus fled, pursued by the Gorgons. But they could not catch up with him, for a wonderful helmet made him invisible. The winds carried the highly fledged youth through the sandy deserts of Libya, to the kingdom of the giant king Atlas, where he sank to the ground to rest. But he asked in vain for a haven. The Tsar, who was afraid for the golden fruits in his grove, refused him any shelter. Then anger seized Perseus: – Ah, you do not want to give me anything, so then, my gift to you! And with these words he lifted the Gorgon’s head and handed it to the stubborn king. At that moment the giant turned into a rock. He is lifeless and cold now, there, high up to the clouds, lifting his proud head,
Vengeance on the giant, Perseus again spread his wings and flew into the air. Soon he flew to the shores of Ethiopia, where Cefei reigned. And suddenly, on a high rock, hanging over the sea, he saw a young girl of marvelous beauty, firmly riveted to her. If the wind had not moved her curls, and her eyes were not shining with tears, he would have mistaken her for a marble statue.
“Oh, beautiful maid,” he said to her, “why are you chained here?” What is your name and what is the name of this country?
Confused girl through tears replied, to him: – I am Andromeda, the daughter of the Ethiopian king. My mother boasted once before the sea nymphs that I am more beautiful than all of them. The Nereids were angry with this and their father, Nereus, at their request sent a flood to the country and a monstrous shark. Then the people compelled my father to turn to the oracle of Apollo, and he predicted to him that only then will the country be freed from the disasters that have been sent, when the royal daughter will be given to be eaten by predatory fish. And after that, my father was forced to pin me on this rock.
Before she could finish her speech, a monster emerged from the depths of the sea and, opening its terrible jaw, rushed to her. The girl screamed out loud, and Perseus saw how her parents came running, how bitterly they mourned their daughter, not being able to save her. Then he loudly shouted to them from a height: – Stop grieving! Salvation is near! I am Perseus, the son of Zeus, I have cut off the head of the Gorgon and now I will save your daughter if you promise to give me the liberated wife for this.
The happy parents immediately promised him not only a daughter, but the whole kingdom together with her.
Meanwhile, the monster swam closer and was almost at the very rock. Noticing this, Perseus flew high into the air to rush out to the animal. But it saw the shadow of the hero in the water and furiously threw himself at him. Then the fearless youth, like a wild eagle, rushed to the back of the monster and thrust his sharp sword into it with the very hilt. The wounded animal at first jumped high into the air, then heaved heavily into the depths, rustling there like a wounded boar. When it reappeared on the surface, Perseus continued to inflict a wound over the wound until a dark wave of blood rushed from his mouth, and it turned over on its side, not exhaled.
This battle ended in time, as the young man’s sandals were soaked with water and blood, and he was already struggling to keep himself in the air, at the risk of perishing every minute. Now, having won, he joyfully jumped on the rock and freed the girl from the chains. Then he gave it to the happy parents, and the royal palace joyfully accepted the young betrothed couple.
The wedding feast had already begun, and the guests were about to sit down at the tables, when suddenly the courtyard of the royal castle was filled with armed people.
This was Feeney, the adoptive brother of the king, who had been betrothed to his niece before, but left her in her misfortune.
With a raised spear he entered the hall and with a menacing look exclaimed, addressing the astonished Perseus: “Look, this is the real Andromeda fiance!” Neither your wings nor your father Zeus will not help you, the despicable adventurer, to take my bride from me!
And with these words he grabbed a spear and threw it at full force into Perseus, but the blow was wrong, and the spear stuck into the chair seat. Perseus, in turn, threw his spear and pierced through Phineas, if he did not quickly hide behind the high altar. It fell into one of his companions, who was behind, and he fell dead.
From that moment a general battle ensued. The victory did not know for a long time who to choose, but Feeney and his comrades were in the majority, and Perseus soon saw himself surrounded on all sides. Leaning his shoulder to the column and covering his back, he defended himself with incredible courage, plunging all the attackers to the ground. But when he saw that he still had to conquer a myriad of numbers – he decided to resort to the last saving means.
“You force me to turn to the help of my old friend!” he shouted and, with these words, pulled the head of the Gorgon out of the sack and held it out to the crowd around him. With the speed of lightning, they all petrified. Hands, swords, spears, who were about to rise, froze in this nascent movement and turned into marble.
When Feeney saw the transformation of his brave men, terror seized him, and proud stubbornness was replaced by cowardly pleas.
“Oh, leave me only life,” he prayed, kneeling, “and let the bride and the whole kingdom get to you!”
But Perseus did not know pity. He threw back his head, so that he could not help looking at him, he showed him the horrible head of the Gorgon. The neck and body of Phineus stretched out, the imploring gaze was petrified. So he remained forever in this slavish pose.
Perseus married Andromeda and lived with her for many years in happiness and joy. Now the prediction of the oracle about his grandfather Akrisia was to be fulfilled.
The old king, out of fear of this prediction, moved to the land of Pelasgians. There he constantly participated in festive games and competitions. Once Perseus undertook a trip to Argos and, also appearing on these games, took part in them. And so it happened that the grandson, throwing the disc, accidentally got into his grandfather, whom he, however, did not recognize, and killed him. With deep sorrow, he later learned who the old man was, and, having buried him with all the honors, moved to his kingdom, which he inherited.
Since then, fate no longer pursued him. Many nice sons gave him Andromeda, and the glory of his father again came to life in them.
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)