_Wherein the hero slays the Gorgon, and has other adventures._
Perseus gave back to the old women their only eye and tooth, on
condition that they would tell him where the Medusa lived.
The oldest woman said, “You must go on until you come to the
country of King Atlas, called Mauretania. Here you will find a
garden guarded by a dragon. If you get by the dragon you will find
trees with golden apples. After you have walked a great distance
you will come to a lake where the Gorgons live.”
Perseus set out on his journey and traveled many days. Finally
he came to the country of King Atlas, and found a vast garden
surrounded by a high wall. At the gate sat a terrible dragon.
Perseus put on his helmet so that the dragon could not see him, and
passed into the garden.
After a long while he came to the lake and took off his helmet
to get some water to drink. While he was drinking a mighty rush
of wind sounded in his ear, and looking into the water he saw the
reflection of the terrible Medusa, flying overhead. He just had
time to put his helmet on so that Medusa could not see him, when
she settled down on the ground near Perseus.
Perseus was careful not to look at her for he knew he would be
turned into stone if he did. So he put the shield on his arm and
looked at her reflection in the polished steel. She was a terrible
monster enough to frighten a much braver man than Perseus, but the
young hero drew his dagger and thrust at Medusa’s head without
fear. After a few strokes the head fell off. The snakes stopped
hissing, and the Medusa was dead.
Perseus using the polished shield as a mirror tied the head of
Medusa to a cord and swung it over his shoulders. Stepping into the
magic sandals he rose into the air and flew away. At last he came
down to earth in a strange country. He looked around and did not
know where he was, but was careful not to glance at the Medusa’s
head on his back.
Soon a giant came towards him roaring in great rage. “How did you
come into this country and who are you?” cried out the giant, who
was none other than King Atlas himself.
Perseus was not at all alarmed at the giant, and said, “I am
Perseus and have come to get some golden apples from your garden.”
This made the giant so angry that he raised his arm to crush
Perseus, but as he did so Perseus turned around and the giant
looked into the face of Medusa. As he did so, his arms stiffened,
his feet grew stony, and all his body turned into a vast mountain.
And people to this day call it Mount Atlas, but it is no other than
the giant who was turned into stone.