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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.

Related questions

What adventure did polydectes suggest that perseus under take?

Polydectes suggested that Perseus undertake the quest to bring him the head of the Gorgon Medusa. This was a dangerous task as whoever looked directly at Medusa would turn to stone.


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.


Does Medusa hate men?

No, it is either all that met her gaze turned to stone; or that Perseus killed her because King Polydectes said that if he did he could claim his lands and it was thought a impossible task more likely do get Perseus killed then Medusa slayed.


Was perseus rewarded for killing Medusa?

Indirectly. You see, he was given the task by Polydectes, King of Seriphos, with the intention that the Gorgon would kill him, and then Polydectes could have his way with Perseus' mother, Danae. But he was able to kill Medusa, and in turn was able to save Andromeda from the Cetus, slew her intended huband, then returned to Seriphos where he slew Polydectes and saved his mother. He made his foster father Dictys king and he made Danae his queen. Later, he returned to Argos where he fulfilled the prophecy that he would kill his grandfather, Acrisius, making himself king of Argos.


Which task does Word not give you the ability to accomplish?

creating a web page


What is the situational archetype for the story of Perseus?

The situational archetype for the story of Perseus is the "journey" archetype. Perseus goes on a quest that involves numerous challenges and trials, ultimately leading to his transformation and growth as a hero. This archetype highlights themes of personal development, overcoming obstacles, and achieving a goal through perseverance.


What heroic task does Collins want to perform?

what heroic task does Collins want to perform ?


What is the necessity of time base generators?

to give clock signals to digital circuits operated by microprocessors, it give a time to perform a task


Are there any variations on the localhost option that perform the same task and What are they?

From my understanding there are no variations on the localhost option that perform the same task though a cytoplasm or remote host can perform similar task.


What does the order of the bases give the cell?

The "program" that tells the cell how to perform every task it must do to survive and reproduce.


What does can do mean?

Perform the task