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Perseus

The son of Zeus, Perseus belongs in the first rank of Greek heroes. Indeed to some he was a greater hero even than Heracles. With the help of Hermes and Athena he slew the Gorgon Medusa, conquered a mighty sea monster and won the hand of the beautiful princess Andromeda. This volume tells of his end...

Full description

Main Author: Ogden, Daniel.
Format: Book
Language: English
Published: London ; New York : Routledge, 2008.
Physical Description: xxiv, 194 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm.
Series: Gods and heroes of the ancient world.
Subjects:
Perseus -- (Greek mythological character)
Table of Contents:
  • Why Perseus?
  • 1. Introducing Perseus
  • Key Themes
  • 2. The family saga
  • The family saga on stage
  • The impregnation of Danae
  • The chest and its mythological comparanda
  • Acrisius' motivations and the feud with the line of Proetus
  • Perseus' childhood
  • Polydectes' trick
  • The war against Dionysus
  • The death of Perseus
  • Overview
  • 3. Medusa and the Gorgons
  • The origins of the Gorgon-head and of the Medusa story
  • The development of the quest narrative: Aeschylus and Pherecydes
  • Perseus' equipment
  • Where did the Gorgons live?
  • Gorgon weaponry
  • The corruption and punishment of Medusa
  • The female groups: Gorgons, Graeae, Nymphs, Hesperides and Nereids
  • Athena, Perseus, Bellerophon and the dragons
  • Perseus and Jason: quest narrative and myths of maturation
  • Overview
  • 4. Andromeda and the Sea-monster
  • The origins of the Andromeda tale
  • The tragic Andromeda
  • The imperial Andromeda
  • The catasterisms
  • Eros and eroticism
  • From Arcadia to India: Black Andromeda?
  • The kētos: a natural history
  • The Andromeda tale in context: Hesione and the dragons
  • Folktale comparanda
  • Overview
  • 5. The use and abuse of Perseus
  • Perseus in the Argolid
  • Perseus in Seriphos and Larissa
  • Perseus in Athens and Sparta
  • Perseus in Persia
  • Perseus in Egypt
  • Perseus in the Macedonian and Helenistic dynasties
  • Perseus in Rome and Italy
  • Perseus in Roman Asia Minor
  • Perseus rationalised
  • Overview
  • Perseus Afterwards
  • 6. Perseus after antiquity
  • From Fulgentius to Freud: three ages in the allegorisation of the Medusa tale
  • The Christian Perseus: St George and Princess Sabra, Roger and Angelica
  • Burne-Jones' Perseus Series
  • Overview
  • Conclusion: The personality of Perseus.

In Prospector

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