Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses Part B

Perseus and Medusa

Story source: Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000).

Medusa by Matt Rhodes

Perseus manages to kill the sea creature by attacking from its back. Everyone claps from Perseus, Cassiopeia and Cepheus rejoice and welcome him as their son-in-law. Perseus sets the head of Medusa on some leaves, which harden at the touch; the ocean nymphs notice this and try it with other leaves and seeds and scatter through the waves, creating corals which also harden when taken out of the water. Perseus then erects three temples, each for Minerva, Mercury, and Jupiter, he then takes Andromeda as his wife. He then proceeds to tell the story of how he slew Medusa. 

In a cave below Atlas lived the Graeae, the sisters that share only one eye. He took the eye to receive their help. He then went to where the Gorgons live, and he saw the men and animals turned to stone by Medusa. He only saw Medusa through the reflection on his polished bronze shield, and he slew her as she slept. From her neck, Pegasus and Chryasor were born. He then tells the story of how Medusa came to be; having been violated by Neptune in Minerva's temple, the goddess turned her into a Gorgon and her beautiful her into snakes.