Perseus vs. Medusa

So beautiful and vain was the Gorgon Medusa that she made plans to take the place of the gods. When Minerva learned of Medusa's plans she turned her hair into hissing snakes. Then she made Medusa so ugly that anyone who looked at her was turned to stone. Next she made Medusa's breath poisonous so no man could ever kiss her. Finally, Minerva cursed Medusa's skin so that anything she touched was burned to a crisp.

But Medusa's vanity grew. Because the gods, in punishing Medusa, had created a monster more powerful than before. Medusa was invincible. Her enemies were turned to stone or burned to a crisp and those who tried to capture her were poisoned by her breath. Medusa planned to take over the world.

Perseus, son of Jupiter and the mortal virgin Danae (who Jupiter courted in the form of a golden shower), offered to fight the Medusa. Perseus was grateful for his father's many blessings and wanted to show his gratitude. Jupiter permitted the young boy to duel with Medusa.

To help him, the gods brought many weapons. Pluto gave his magic cap which makes the wearer invisible. Mercury gave his winged sandals, winged hat and magic wand. Apollo gave Perseus his silver bow. Minerva contributed the awesome shield Aegis, Jupiter's own. Mars loaned Perseus Strife, Pestilence, Fear, Dread and Terror. Vulcan made knives, swords, chariots, spears and lances. Neptune gave earthquakes. Pluto sent the three-headed dog Cerberus up from Hades. Bacchus gave wine, the sweet poison which kills cruelly. Diana gave her quiver of flying arrows which laid low the children of Niobe. Finally, Jupiter gave Perseus command of his thunder and lightening bolts made by the Cyclopes.

Perseus looked at this arsenal of the gods. Of what use were these things against a monster like Medusa? After much thought, Perseus went to hunt the monster Medusa armed only with the wits he inherited from his mother Danae, a mere mortal.

As he approached Medusa's cave, he began to walk backwards so he would not see the beast. When he heard Medusa stir, he taunted her then ran toward a cliff. Medusa chased him. Perseus jumped off the cliff. Medusa stopped at the land's end, looked down, saw her reflection in the lake below and turned to stone.