![]() ![]() Of all her charms - A friend declared to me Was famed for beauty, and the envious hope Perseus replies with a summary of the story of Medusa’s rape by Neptune in the temple of Minerva, and how that goddess transformed Medusa’s hair as ‘punishment’ for her rape: He is finally asked how Medusa came to be the only one of the three Gorgons who had snakes in her hair. Perseus then gives a summary of his escape and flight around the world before discovering Andromeda in distress. įrom her blood which emerged, the winged horse Pegasus and his human brother Chrysaor were born. I struck, and took her head sheer from the neck. “When she was helpless in the power of sleepĪnd even her serpent-hair was slumber-bound, He found her in a deep sleep, and working with her reflection he cut her head off: This was distinguished by abundant figures of animals and people who had been turned to stone by the sight of her face.Īs he approached Medusa, Perseus was careful to look only indirectly, via the reflection in his polished shield, so that he did not view her face directly. As they were then unable to keep watch, he travelled on to the land where Medusa lived. He first went to the two Graiae, the sisters who guarded Medusa, and stole the single eye which they shared between them. Perseus then gives a short and fairly detached account of how he beheaded Medusa. When the banquet is over, Perseus asks about the kingdom, and King Cepheus, his new father-in-law, asks Perseus how he acquired Medusa’s head. As the Princess, this is celebrated in grand style in her parents’ palace. Once Perseus has made appropriate thanks to the gods, he takes Andromeda to their wedding feast. It is then, at his wedding feast, that Ovid has Perseus tell the story of his encounter with the Gorgon Medusa, which brings Book 4 of the Metamorphoses to a conclusion. Having rescued Andromeda from the sea-monster Cetus, Perseus makes offerings to the gods, and prepares for his wedding to his newly-won bride.
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