The Gorgon’s Head

From Ancient Greece

Anne Terry White

Acrisius, King of Argos received a dreadful oracle from Delphi. According to the priestess of Delphi, he will not have a son but a
grandson from whose hands he will be killed. Frightened, King Acrisius hid his only daughter Danae from the sight of all men.
Danae was locked up inside a house of bronze sunk underground.

But Acrisius forgot to take the gods into account. Part of the roof of the house was open to the sky. Zeus entered into the
underground chamber in the form of the shower of gold through the roof partly opened. He appeared in front of Danae andin an
instant Danae conceived a baby.

Later, Danae had given birth to a boy named Perseus. She kept her baby a secret from her own father. But days have come and
King Acrisius learned about her secret. The King ordered his people to have a chest built for Danae and child Perseus. Danae and
her child were put inside the chest and sent adrift the sea

It bobbed in the waves until it reached the Island of Seraphos where a fisherman named Dictys noticed the chest and took it. When
he opened, he saw Danae and Perseus. The kind Dictys let them in their house to live together with his wife.

Dictys‟ brother, King Polydectes was captivated with Danae‟s beauty and married her. Polydectes felt jealous over the love that
Danae was giving to Perseus. Perseushas grown into a fine tall youth. The King hated the youth just because Danae doted on him
and sought some way to get rid of him.

To get rid of Perseus, Polydectes sent him to a dangerous adventure that put his life in peril. The mission was to kill Medusa, one
of the three Gorgons. She has snaky hair and metal-scaled skin. Looking straight in Medusa‟s eye can turn mortals into stone.

Despite the danger, Perseus agreed to embark on the adventure in order to get his own name a glory. Hermes gave him a sword.
He was also given a shield by Athena. Hermes added that Perseus needed also the winged sandals, the helmet of invisibility, and
the magic wallet. Those three essential things were all in the possession of the Nymphs of the North. Getting there was not easy.

In order to get to the Nymphs of the North, Perseus has to go first to the Gray Women who only could tell the direction. Perseus
went to the Gray women, he snatched the eye of the women and threatened not to return it unless they give him the direction
pointing to the Nymphs of the North. As soon as the direction was given, Perseus headed to the Island of Gorgons.

Fully equipped now, Perseus lightly sped through the air over land and over sea to the fearful island of the Gorgons. As he
approached, he could see scattered in the fields and along the roads, statues of men and beasts whom the sight of the Gorgons had
turned to stone. He was instructed by Athena, telling him that Medusa was the one lying closest to the seashore.

With one swift of his sword and with the help of his shield as mirror, Medusa was beheaded. Then, springing into the air, he thrust
his prize, all writhing and hissing into the magic wallet.

Up leaped the Gorgon sisters, for they heard the rattle of Medusa‟s scales as the severed body thrashed about. In fury, they turned
their snaky heads and set off in pursuit of Perseus. But they could not outstrip the winged sandals.

While Perseus was making his way back home, he noticed a beautiful lady chained on the cliff. He asked her name and why she
was hanged. No reply was given by the lady. Perseus insisted the lady to respond. She said her name was Andromeda, daughter of
Ethiopian King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia.

Andromeda told Perseus that her mother boasted that she was the most beautiful than 50 lovely daughters of Nereus. As a revenge
to her mother Cassiopeia, Andromeda suffered the punishment. At any moment, then, the serpent was on its way to devour
Andromeda. Perseus told Andromeda‟s parents that he would save their daughter on a condition that they will allow him to marry
her. The king and queen agreed at once. Perseus killed the beast and Andromeda was saved from death.

And that very day the wedding was celebrated. While the marriage feast was at its height, Andromeda‟s uncle Phineas stormed in
to avenge the theft of his promised bride. He hurled his javelin at Perseus, but it stuck in the couch.

Then a riot ensued and the feast turned into a battle. Perseus killed many of Phineas‟ followers as he struck down one man after
another. But at last he realized that valor could not withstand the numbers against him. He drew Medusa‟s head out of the wallet
and two hundred men became stony statues including Phineas.

When at the year‟s end, Perseus sailed home with Andromeda. King Polydectes was furious that his stepson had returned, and
refused to believe that he had actually slain Medusa. As a proof, Perseus showed the Gorgon‟s head to cruel Polydectes.

That was the last time Perseus ever used the horrible head. He gave it most willingly to Athene, who kept it ever after.

Now that Polydectes was dead, Danae yearned to go home again and be reconciled with her father. So Perseus made the fisherman
Dictys King of island and sails with his mother and Andromeda to Greece.
But it happened that when they came to Argos, King Acrisius was away from home. At that time, a discus-throw competition was
going on at Larissa. There at the game it was that the oracle which Acrisius had received at Delphi was strangely fulfilled. Perseus
joined in and when it was his turn to throw the discus, he threw it mightily and accidentally hit an old man in the audience. It was
learned that his grandfather, King Acrisius, was the one hit by the discus. He had gone to such cruel lengths to avoid the fate
which the gods had ordained.
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4 Causes of Family Conflict

by K. Lee Blanks
Family harmony provides a sense of belonging and a feeling of security unlike many other types of relationships. When conflict
arises, it threatens that security. Whether the disharmony initiates from within the family unit or from external sources, individual
family members and the family as a whole can experience a range of negative emotions and consequences. Unresolved conflict
may irreparably damage a marriage and the entire family, if family members do not seek help.

One major source of family conflict is within the area of finances-specifically, the lack of money to pay bills, maintain the
mortgage or rent, buy sufficient food and other necessities and have any remaining money for recreation, job or career may
contribute to conflict within a family. If a parent’s job keep him/her away from home most of the time, the spouse at home with
the children often feels neglected or overwhelmed. Conversely, if the parent becomes unemployed, this causes its own form of
stress and conflict.

Another cause of family conflict is the inevitable rivalry that occurs between siblings. Children typically seek their parents‟
attention and approval, even if this requires tattling on, or sometimes causing harm to a sibling. Whether a child expresses
jealousy to a sibling, competes with him/her or teases him/her non-stop, it is destined to cause conflict. Each child deserves an
equal amount of parental love and acceptance, yet sometimes a parent may favor one child over another. This merely intensifies
the conflict.

While mutual agreement on the subject of child discipline is crucial, the lack of consensus opens up another potential area for
family conflict. If one parent acts as he „disciplinarian,” the other typically becomes the “consoler” to whom the children turn –
this often pits one parent against the other.

Jokes and movies abound regarding conflict with in-laws (especially mothers in law); however, when you actually become
involved in disagreements with your in- laws or extended family, it is no laughing matter. While it is preferable to respect your
elders-parents and grandparents on both sides equally – this can prove to be challenging. If relatives routinely interfere in your
family’s decision and lifestyle, conflict frequently results.

GROUP ACTIVITY
A. My Coat of Arms. In his quest, Perseus used items/objects that helped in defending himself. Identify what these
defenses are through the coat of arms diagram. Write one or two sentences explaining the value of each of those defenses
as Perseus faced his challenges.
B. Venn Diagram. Compare and contrast the characters of Perseus and Medusa. Give two descriptions in which they differ
and one characteristic that they have in common.

Perseus Medusa

C. Transcode Me. Fill in the diagram with causes of family conflict. Write one or two sentences describing each
conflict.
 Part A
GROUP __________
LEADER: ________________________________________ Part B
MEMBERS:
Part C
TOTAL