Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
XV: The Graeae or Gray-Maids—Perseus—Medusa—Atlas—Andromeda explained
This chapter recounts the myth of Perseus, son of Jupiter and Danaë, who is sent to slay the Gorgon Medusa.
What happens
This chapter recounts the myth of Perseus, son of Jupiter and Danaë, who is sent to slay the Gorgon Medusa. With aid from Minerva and Mercury, he beheads Medusa while she sleeps. Later, he turns Atlas to stone using Medusa's head, rescues Andromeda from a sea-monster, and defeats the jealous suitor Phineus at the wedding feast, turning him and his followers to stone.
Themes in this chapter
Heroism and the Quest
Perseus undertakes a heroic quest to slay Medusa, aided by divine gifts, and later rescues Andromeda.
Hubris and Divine Retribution
Medusa's vanity in competing with Minerva leads to her transformation; Cassiopeia's boast brings a sea-monster.
Fate and Free Will
Prophecies drive the actions of Acrisius and Atlas, yet Perseus actively shapes his destiny through courage.
Characters to notice
- Perseus
Hero son of Jupiter and Danaë; slays Medusa, turns Atlas to stone, rescues Andromeda, and defeats Phineus.
- Medusa
Gorgon with snaky hair; once a beautiful maiden who vied with Minerva; slain by Perseus.
- Atlas
Giant king turned to stone by Medusa's head; becomes a mountain supporting the heavens.
- Andromeda
Daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia; chained to a rock as sacrifice to a sea-monster; rescued by Perseus.
- Minerva
Goddess who lends Perseus her shield and later receives Medusa's head for her Aegis.
- Mercury
God who lends Perseus his winged shoes for the quest.
- Jupiter
Father of Perseus; his son is prophesied to rob Atlas of golden apples.
- Cassiopeia
Queen of Aethiopia; her boast of beauty leads to Andromeda's sacrifice; later placed among the stars.
Key passages
“She was once a beautiful maiden whose hair was her chief glory, but as she dared to vie in beauty with Minerva, the goddess deprived her of her charms and changed her beautiful ringlets into hissing serpents.”
Medusa was originally a lovely girl with beautiful hair, but because she challenged Minerva's beauty, the goddess turned her hair into snakes.
Explains Medusa's origin as a punishment for hubris.
“Perseus, favored by Minerva and Mercury, the former of whom lent him her shield and the latter his winged shoes, approached Medusa while she slept, and taking care not to look directly at her, but guided by her image reflected in the bright shield which he bore, he cut off her head and gave it to Minerva, who fixed it in the middle of her Aegis.”
With Minerva's shield and Mercury's winged sandals, Perseus beheaded the sleeping Medusa by looking only at her reflection, then gave the head to Minerva for her Aegis.
Describes the method of Medusa's slaying.
“Atlas, with all his bulk, was changed into stone. His beard and hair became forests, his arms and shoulders cliffs, his head a summit, and his bones rocks.”
Atlas was petrified into a mountain, his hair turning to forests and his limbs to cliffs.
Describes Atlas's transformation into a mountain.
“As Perseus looked down from his aerial height he beheld the virgin chained to a rock, and waiting the approach of the serpent. She was so pale and motionless that if it had not been for her flowing tears and her hair that moved in the breeze, he would have taken her for a marble statue.”
From above, Perseus saw Andromeda chained to a rock, so still and pale she seemed a statue except for her tears and wind-blown hair.
Describes Perseus's first sight of Andromeda.
“Phineus, the betrothed of the virgin, with a party of his adherents, burst in, demanding the maiden as his own.”
Andromeda's former fiancé Phineus and his followers stormed the wedding feast, claiming her as his bride.
Sets up the conflict at the wedding.
