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To kill the monstrous Medusa.

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Q: What task did Polydectes give Perseus to perform?
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Why did Perseus bring back Medusa's head?

Because he had to show King Polydectes that his task had been fulfilled.


Why was perseus given such herculean task?

I'm not sure that Perseus' task could be called Herculean. By definition, a "herculean" task is one that requires great strength. Perseus' task, while daunting and certainly dangerous, didn't require any amount of strength to accomplish. He needed cunning and a strong wit, something Hercules seemed to lack. As to your question "WHY"... the king of the land in which Perseus and his mother lived greatly desired to make Danae his wife. Perseus always prevented it. So, to be rid of him, Polydectes held a feast, and asked that all those attending offer up a horse as a gift, knowing that as a fisherman, Perseus would have none to give. Offering up an apology, Perseus offered to the king anything else his heart desired. Polydectes asked for the head of the mortal gorgon, Medusa, thinking that Perseus would never return.


Why did persus kill Medusa?

Sure did! Cut her head off and walk around (sometimes flew with his winged sandals) with it in his bag. Kind of gruesome but that's the way the old-folks were like in those days. Oh you asked Why! His soon to be step-father Polydectes didn't like him and sought to get rid of him by sending him on an impossible task. So when the time came for presents Perseus offered his services, (the present of the day were horses but being employed as a fisherman Perseus had no horse to give.) And Polydectes asked for the head of Medusa. And being the brash young man that he was Perseus accepted even thought he had no idea how he was going to accomplish such a deed. Now the story on Medusa is kind of complex. She was the center of a controversy that involved Poseidon (one of the big three of the Olympians). The Olympians wanted to put Medusa out of her misery and retrieve the 'dangerous' articles of power that Athena had (in a rage) bestowed upon her as a curse but to do so would be to incur the wrath of Poseidon. So the Gods (including Zeus) stayed out of it. But then along comes Perseus and the Gods thought they saw a chance working through him. Athena gave him a shiny shield and a means to accomplish his task. Hermes gave him the winged sandals so he could get around the great distances involved. And Hades (the real power behind the operation, another one of the big three Olympians) gave Perseus the Helm of Darkness.


What is the myth of Medusu and Perseus?

Perseus, was the son of Zeus and Danae, who was the daughter of the king of Argos. The king, greedy of his power, feared that he would be overthrown, so he visited the oracle regularly. He was told that his own grandson would kill him and claim his throne. To prevent this, he locked his daughter in a tall tower and killed anyone who came to claim her hand. Zeus, seeing her plight, visited her as a shower of gold, and eventually impregnated her. Her father, fearing the prophecy, put her and her child in a cask and set them onto the sea to die. Poseidon took pity on them and placed them gently on the shores of Seriphos. The king of that land wanted Danae for himself, but she did not want him, and Perseus acted as her protector. SO to get rid of the meddlesome boy, Polydectes had a massive feast, inviting everyone, on the condition that they bring a horse. Since Perseus and his mother and foster father were fishermen, they had no horses to give, so the rash Perseus offered the king any gift he asked for. The king, wasting no time, asked for Perseus to deliver to him the head of the Gorgon, Medusa. With some help from his divine family, Perseus was able to slay the monstrous Medusa by using the mirrored back of the Aegis to see her with. Then he used Hades' Helm of Invisibility to escape from the remaining immortal Gorgons (Medusa was the only mortal). On his way home (using the winged sandals of Hermes), he saw a beautiful woman being sacrificed to the Cetus (a giant fish). Her name was Andromeda and she was being sacrificed because her mother, Cassiopeia, claimed she was more beautiful than the Nereids (inciting Poseidon's wrath). Perseus slew the monster and claimed Andromeda for his bride. Phineas, the man to whom Andromeda had previously been promised, challenged Perseus. The hero produced the head of the slain Gorgon and turned his challenger to stone. On his return to Seriphos, he discovered that Polydectes, the king, had taken his mother as a slave and was forcing her to work against her will. Polydectes was surprised that Perseus lived and refused to believe that he had accomplished his task. So Perseus produced the head of Medusa and turned Polydectes and his court into stone as well. He placed Dictys, the brother of the king, on the throne and he took Danae as his wife and consort. Perseus did eventually slay Acrisius, king of Argos, but he did not claim the throne. Instead he went on to found the kingdom of Mycenae, and he is considered by many to be the progenitor of the Classical Greeks. Many references to later Greeks called them "Danaans" after his mother Danae.


What presents did perseus receive in greek gods?

To complete his task of slaying Medusa, Perseus received Hermes winged sandals, Hades helm of invisibility and the Aegis of Zeus from Athena. He also received a sack from the Hesperides for holding Medusa's head.