The Sacrifice of Andromeda
According to mythology, Perseus (with a little help from Hermes) flew from Greece to Egypt, carrying Medusa's head in the magic bag. From Egypt, he then flew on above the northern coast of Africa, heading back to Greece. As he was passing the coast of Joppa (modern day Ethiopia), he saw a beautiful woman chained naked to a rock and fell instantly in love with her.
Andromeda and the Sea Monster
She was Andromeda, the daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia. Her mother had boasted that both she and her daughter were more beautiful than the sea nymphs and the nymphs, furious, had complained to their protector Poseidon. Poseidon had sent a flood and a female sea monster to destroy the city. When the king and queen consulted an oracle about how to get rid of the sea monster, they were told that their only hope lay in sacrificing Andromeda, so their subjects chained her to a rock to be devoured. As Perseus flew towards Andromeda, he saw her parents on the beach and alighted beside them, saying that he would rescue Andromeda on the condition that she would become his wife and return to Greece with him. The King and Queen agreed and Perseus took to the air again. He lay Medusa's head face down on a patch of sea weed (which instantly turned to coral) and, using the magical sickle that Hermes had given him, beheaded the monster as he had Medusa. Cepheus and Cassiopeia grudgingly welcomed their new son-in-law (they had wanted Andromeda to marry another) and, at their daughter's insistence, the wedding took place immediately. The ceremony was interrupted when Agenor, the man who had been promised Andromeda by her parents, appeared and demanded Andromeda's hand and Perseus's death. Cepheus and Cassiopeia agreed and a battle ensued. Perseus managed to fight off many of his opponents, but was eventually forced to pick up the Gorgon's head and turn 200 of the to stone. Perseus then flew back to Greece, his new wife willingly by his side.
The movie version is very, very different. Perseus emerges as the only survivor from Medusa's prison and is greeted by a clearly over-joyed Io. Their joy is short lived, however, as Acrisius appears and stabs Io in the back, preparing for a fight to the death with Perseus. Acrisius is eventually defeated and, the curses of Hades draining out of him, he returns to the form of a man and leaves Perseus with a message, telling him not to become like the Gods. Perseus returns quickly to Io's side, and she dies in his arms. Looking up, Perseus notices that the eclipse is starting and Argos will fall if he does not return quickly. As if by magic, the Pegasus appears and, mounting it, Perseus flies to Argos. Meanwhile, Hades releases the Kraken and Zeus finds out that his brother as tricked him and that Argos will be destroyed, along with everyone in it and that the Kraken will continue its destruction until all of humanity is destroyed.
The Kraken
In Argos, not knowing that Hades will destroy them anyway, the people are preparing to sacrifice Andromeda. Deciding that no one should have to die for her, Andromeda goes willingly to her death, and is tied up from a wooden platform to await being devoured by the Kraken. As the Kraken rises from the water, Perseus appears on the Pegasus, Medusa's head still in it's bag.
The Sacrifice of Andromeda
Hades, who has been told by Zeus that Perseus is still alive, also appears in the form of (five? seven?) demons and snatches Medusa's head from Perseus. Perseus desperately tried to get it back and is eventually successful, wounding demon-Hades and snatching back the head. He then climbs to the wooden platform where Andromeda is being sacrificed, and reveals the Gorgon's head and kills the Kraken by turning it to stone. As the Kraken turns to stone, it breaks apart, knocking Andromeda into the water and killing some of the spectators.
The Aftermath
With Andromeda by his side, Perseus flew back to Greece, to find his home town in turmoil. King Polydectes, who had never intended to marry Hippodameia, was threatening to harm Perseus's mother Danae and his own brother, the fisherman Dictys, who had found Perseus and Danae in the wooden ark. Perseus arrived at the court of Polydectes and said he had brought the promised gift.Greeted with insults and jeers, Perseus revealed Medusa's head to the court and turned them all to stone. He then set Polydectes's brother, Dictys, on the throne. He gave Athena the Gorgon Medusa's head and she fixed it to her aegis (a type of breastplate) and Hermes returned the magic bag, winged sandals and the helmet of invisibility to the Stygian nymphs. Then he sailed with Andromeda and Danae to Argos. Acrisius, who heard they were coming, was terrified and fled to Pelasgian Larissa, but Perseus was invited there for the funeral games of a friend and, during the discus throw, Perseus's discus was blown off course by the wind and the will of the Gods and struck Acrisius in the head (some sources say the foot), killing him. Perseus, greatly grieved, buried his grandfather in Athena's temple and then, not wanting to rule Argos, did a kind of kingdom swap with a neighboring king of Tiryns where by the king received Argos to rule and Perseus became king of Tiryns.
Hollywood's version isn't as graphic, surprisingly. Perseus dives into the water to rescue Andromeda and, after bringing her to the surface, both pass out on the beach. Perseus is awakened by the Pegasus, who kicks water in his face, and he and Andromeda get up. Andromeda notices boats coming and asks Perseus to come back with her to Argos and rule. Perseus says he cannot be a king, and that Andromeda will make a fine queen for her people. He then leaves on the Pegasus, flying to the cliff where his family were killed by Hades. As he stands looking out over the water, Zeus appears. Zeus says that he didn't want this battle to cost him a son and, if Perseus insists on continue his human existence, he shan't be doing it alone. In keeping with this promise, Zeus resurrects Io.
Well, there you have it. Perseus vs. Clash of the Titans. Personally, I like them both and I am really looking forward to Wrath of the Titans, which is coming out next year. Hope you have enjoyed my mythological ranting, there will be a lot more coming, I assure you.
Until next time!
~ Australian Kiwi
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