What is the story of persues and Medusa?

Answer 1

Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae. Danae was locked up by her father to prevent her having a child because the child was prophesied to kill him. Zeus appeared to Danae as a golden shower and she had Perseus. Her father had them both thrown into a chest into the sea, they washed up on Seriphos. Perseus grew up there. The King of Seriphos fell in love with Danae but couldn't marry because Perseus was grown. The King summoned all his friends (inc. Perseus) and claimed he was to marry a girl called Hippodameia and asked everyone for a marriage offering. Perseus said he would not deny him even the Gorgon's head. The King asked for horses off his friends and asked Perseus for the Gorgon's head. Guided by Athene and Hermes, Perseus went to see the Gorgons' sisters: Enyo, Pephredo and Deino. They had been born old women and between them only had one eye and one tooth which they shared. Perseus took the eye and tooth. They asked for them back and in exchange they took him to the nymphs. These nymphs had possession of winged sandals, a kibisis (a wallet in which to put the head) and Hades helmet of invisibility. Hermes also gave him a sickle. He flew to the ocean and caught the Gorgons asleep: Stheno, Euryale and Medusa. Only Medusa was mortal. The gorgons had snakes coiled around their heads, large tusks like a swine's, hand of bronze, and wings of golds. Anyone who beheld them were turned to stone. Perseus used the reflection in his shield and Athene to guide his hand and cut off Medusa's head. From the body emerged Pegasus(the winged horse) and Chrysaor. Perseus put the head in the Kibisis and fled as the others woke. But they couldn't see him because of the helmet. On his return he flew over Ethiopia where the king's daughter Andromeda was tied to a rock as prey for a sea monster. Perseus fell in love with her and saved her, killing the monster and using the Gorgon's head to turn her other suitors to stone. When he returned to Seriphos he found his mother hiding at the altars to escape the kings advances. Perseus went to the palace and turn the king and his followers to stone with the head. He then returned the helmet, wallet and sandals to Hermes and gave the head to Athene who put it in the centre of her shield. Perseus, Danae and Andromeda then set off to see Danae's father who fled from his city in fear of the oracles prediction. Danae's father went to an athletic competition, Perseus went there to compete not knowing his grandfather was there. He threw his discuss and struck Danae's father killing him. He was to ashamed to return home and claim his inheritance so swapped his kingdom of Argos for that of Tiryns.