Special. The Gorgon’s Head
Perseus was the son of Zeus, God of the gods, and his mother was Danae, a beautiful daughter of the King of Argos. The king cruelly locked his own daughter and grandchild in a chest and set it out to sea because of a fearful prophecy that Perseus would one day threaten his life and kingdom. The chest, however, safely reached an island, and Danae and Perseus were saved.
When Perseus grew up to be a strong, handsome youth, Danae was still remarkably beautiful. They had been living peacefully enough when King Polydectes, ruler of the island, fell in love with Danae. Hoping to take Danae as his wife, the evil king resolved to send Perseus on a fatal enterprise that would be sure to get him killed.
The king lied to Perseus, “I am getting married to a princess, and it is customary to give the royal bride a special present. If you are as brave as people say you are, you can bring me the head of the Gorgon Medusa.”
The Gorgons were the most terrible monsters the world had ever seen, and Medusa was one of them. The Gorgons were three sisters, with only a remote resemblance to women. They were, in fact, frightful dragons. Instead of hair, a hundred snakes grew on their heads! While the monsters were a spectacle, people never looked at them. If a mortal saw one of their faces, he or she was certain, that very instant, to be changed into lifeless stone!
Perseus was far more likely to die than to return victorious, so he sat down in despair. He was not aware yet that two great gods, Hermes and Pallas Athena, were watching over him as he was the son of Zeus.
“Perseus,” called a voice, “why are you sad?”
Perseus lifted his head and saw a handsome young man, with an odd cap, a twisted staff, and a crooked sword. At this sight, hope must have entered Perseus‘ heart, for he knew this was none other than Hermes, the guide and the giver of good. Perseus answered that he had an impossible mission on his mind.
“You would make a handsome statue, but one would rather be a young man for a few years, than a stone image for a great many,” said Hermes, teasing. “Let us hope that this affair won’t turn out that badly.”
Hermes told Perseus that to attack Medusa he must first be properly equipped, and that what he needed was in the possession of the fairy people of the North. To find the fairies, they must go to the Gray Women who alone could tell them the way. These women dwelled in a land where all was dark. In that gray place three women lived, all gray themselves and in extreme old age. Hermes kindly offered to personally guide Perseus there.
The Gray Women were strange creatures indeed. They shared one eye, just like a pair of glasses. When one had kept the eye a certain time, she took it out and passed it to another, who clapped it into her own head and enjoyed a glance out at the world.
Perseus waited until he saw one of them take the eye out of her forehead. Then before she could give it to her sister, he swiftly took it out of her hand. It was a moment or two before the three realized they had lost the eye. Perseus explained he had taken it and that it would be theirs again only when they showed him how to find the fairies of the North. The women at once gave him full directions. They would have done anything to get their eye back. Perseus politely returned it to them and set out on a new journey.
The fairy land was impossible to reach either by ship or by land, but with Hermes as a guide, Perseus found the road open. The magical people with great kindness provided the gifts he sought―winged shoes, a magic sack, and, most important of all, a cap that made the wearer invisible.
Hermes then gave Perseus his own crooked sword, saying, “No other sword will answer your purpose. The sharp edge easily cuts through the Gorgon‘s steel scale.” Perseus thought, “This is a wonderful gift, but of what use would it be if I have to fight a monster that I am unable to look at?” At that moment, Pallas Athena, goddess of wisdom, appeared out of the blue and gave him a shield of polished metal, shining brightly. “Look into this when you attack Medusa. You will be able to see her in it as in a mirror, and so avoid her deadly power.”
Now, Perseus was ready for the Gorgons. By great fortune, the Gorgons were all asleep when Perseus found them. In the bright shield, he could clearly see their reflection, horrible creatures with golden wings and bodies covered with scales and a mass of twisting snakes instead of hair.
Athena was beside him now, along with Hermes. They told him which of the monsters was Medusa, for she alone of the three could be killed while the other two were immortal. Perseus flew above, looking, only at the shield. Then he aimed a stroke down at Medusa’s throat. With a single thrust, he cut through her neck and, his eyes still fixed on the shield with never a glance at her, seized the head. The small magic sack fantastically grew large enough to contain Medusa’s head. No sooner were the other Gorgons awake than they tried to take revenge. They rushed up into the air, but Perseus kept looking away, and the cap hid him. The winged slippers carried him straight home.
When he arrived, his dear mother was not there. Danae was compelled to flee from King Polydectes, who was furious at her refusal to marry him. The king was holding a big party in the palace and all his evil counselors were gathered there. Perseus instantly saw his opportunity. He went straight to the palace and entered the hall. As he stood at the entrance, all eyes were upon him. Then, before any could look away, he held up the Gorgon’s head. Not an eyelid had time to blink before the king, his evil counselors, and all his foolish subjects turned into stone. They were fixed, forever, in that moment! Perseus thrust the head back into his sack, and went to tell his dear mother that she needed no longer to be afraid of the wicked king.