Tales of the Greek Heroes Read online

  ‘Good,’ said Hades, and bound himself by the same oath to release Semele. ‘Now for your best beloved!’

  ‘My best beloved is here!’ cried Dionysus, and he struck the thin rod, or thyrsis which he carried in his hand into the barren ground. At once it took root, sent out leaves, and grew great clusters of grapes.

  ‘The vine is my best beloved!’ he exclaimed in triumph.

  Then Hades nodded his head, and Semele was given up to her son.

  At the command of Zeus a chasm then opened in the earth, so deep and mysterious that no bird ever dared fly over it, and through this Dionysus passed up to Olympus, leading his mother by the hand. There the other Immortals welcomed him, and even Hera smiled and forgot her jealousy.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  PERSEUS THE GORGON-SLAYER

  Led by Athena I won from the grey-haired

  terrible sisters

  Secrets hidden from men… They showed me

  the perilous pathway

  Over the waterless ocean, the valley that led to

  the Gorgon.

  Her too I slew in my craft, Medusa, the beautiful

  horror;

  Taught by Athena I slew her, and saw not herself,

  but her image.

  CHARLES KINGSLEY

  Andromeda

  7

  Perseus was not the Hero for whom Zeus waited, though when he was born Zeus may not have been sure about it: prophecies were uncertain things, or why should he think that the Hero would be an Argive from Argolis? This was the fertile triangle of land through which the river Inachus flows down to the blue bay of Nauplia, and in it the sons of men built three fair cities, Argos, Mycenae, and Tiryns, aided by the Cyclopes, those giant servants of Zeus who had each but one eye, in the centre of the forehead. The huge stones which they raised to form the city walls may be seen, still in place, even to this day.

  In Tiryns lived King Acrisius, who had one child only, a lovely girl, called Danae. Being very anxious to have a son to succeed him, Acrisius sent to ask the oracle of Apollo what he had done that this was denied him. His question was not answered; instead the oracle warned him that his daughter would have a son who would kill him.

  ‘We’ll see about that!’ cried Acrisius, and, vowing that Danae should never marry, he shut her up in a tower at Tiryns which was plated all over with brass so that it shone in the sun like gold. The brass plates have gone from it today, but you can still see the brass nails embedded in the stone which once held them in place.

  But Zeus visited Danae in a shower of golden rain, and spoke with her out of the shining mist, and they had a son called Perseus who was born there in the prison-tower at Tiryns.

  When Acrisius heard that, in spite of all his precautions, he had a grandson, he was filled with anger and fear, and these passions made him cruel. He would not believe that Zeus was the child’s father, but said that it was Proteus, his brother, whom he hated, who had stolen the key of the brazen tower and married Danae in secret.

  He had a great wooden chest made, and he set Danae in it with the baby in her arms, and pushed it out on to the rippling waters in the Bay of Nauplia.

  ‘It would be a terrible crime to kill my daughter and my grandson,’ he said, ‘and the Immortals would send a curse upon me. No, I am merely dispatching them across the sea – and if the waves chance to fill the chest and make it sink, I am not to blame!’

  Away floated the chest over the blue sea and out of sight of land; and presently the waves began to rise and the wind to blow, and Danae wept with fear and clasped the baby Perseus close in her arms:

  ‘Oh what a fate is yours,’ she sobbed, ‘and yet you do not cry but sleep as peacefully as ever, feeling no terror of the dreadful place in which we are. You do not fear the heaving sea, nor the salt spray on your hair… Oh, perhaps it is because you know that Father Zeus will protect us… Then sleep on, sweet babe, for the waves swell only to rock your cradle, and I will pray to Zeus that we may come safely to land.’

  All night the chest floated over the sea, and in the morning it was washed up on the shores of the island of Seriphos where Polydectes was king. And there Dictys, the king’s brother, who was a fisherman, found Danae and her child, and took them to his home and looked after them.

  There Perseus grew up, a strong and noble youth skilled in all manner of things, from the craft of the fisherman to the use of the sword. In time King Polydectes heard of them, and fell in love with Danae; but she would not marry him, for he was a cruel and wicked tyrant. At length he decided to take her by force; but this he dared not do because Perseus was always there to guard her.

  So he devised a scheme to remove Perseus without incurring any blame for killing him. He held a great feast to which he invited the young men of Seriphos, including Perseus, and they all came bringing rich gifts to the King.

  But Perseus had nothing to give, and he alone came empty-handed, so that all the young men mocked him, until his cheeks burnt with shame.

  ‘I’ll bring a finer present than any of you!’ he cried fiercely.

  ‘That cannot be,’ said cunning Polydectes, ‘unless you bring me the Gorgon’s Head!’

  ‘That I will!’ shouted Perseus, ‘I’ll bring it, or die in the attempt!’

  And with that he rushed out of the palace amid the loud laughter and jeers of Polydectes and his friends, and went down beside the quiet sea to think what he should do.

  While he sat there, deep in thought, two Immortals came to him: Athena, tall and stately in her shining helmet, with her polished shield upon her arm; and Hermes with kindly laughter in his eyes, slim and quick of limb, with the winged sandals on his feet.

  ‘Do not grieve, Perseus,’ said Hermes, ‘for, by the will of Zeus, we are come to help you. See, here I lend you the sharpest weapon in the world, that very sickle of adamant with which Cronos wounded the Sky, and which Zeus used in his battle with Typhon. No lesser blade will smite the head from Medusa the Gorgon.’

  ‘And I,’ said Athena in her calm, sweet voice, ‘will lend you my shield with which I dazzle the eyes of erring mortals who do battle against my wisdom. Any mortal who looks upon the face of Medusa is turned to stone immediately by the terror of it: but if you look only on her reflection in the shield, all will be well.’

  ‘Rise now,’ said Hermes, ‘your mother will be safe until your return, for the good fisherman, Dictys, will protect her – and you have far to travel. First you must visit the Grey Sisters and learn from them how to find the Nymphs who dwell at the back of the North Wind: they will lend you all else that you may need, and will tell you how to find the Gorgons, and how to escape from the two who are immortal, when you have slain Medusa.’

  So Perseus hastened away, his heart beating with excitement at the thought of the high adventure which was his, and the great honour which the Immortals had done him.

  He came, as Hermes had instructed him, to the lonely cave in the dark north where the three daughters of the Titan Phorcus lived, the Grey Sisters who had been born old women with grey hair, and who had only one eye and one tooth between them.

  Perseus stepped quietly up behind them as they sat near the mouth of their cave; and as they passed the single eye from one to another, he took it from an outstretched hand, and then cried aloud:

  ‘Daughters of Phorcus, I have your eye! And I will keep it and leave you for ever in darkness if you do not tell me what I wish to know.’

  The Grey Sisters cried aloud in alarm: ‘Give us back our eye, and we will swear by Styx to tell you truthfully all you ask. But do not leave us for ever in this terrible darkness!’

  So Perseus learnt the way to the magic land at the back of the North Wind and, returning the eye, hastened on his journey.

  When he reached the lovely garden of the Northern Nymphs, he was welcomed kindly by them, and he rested for a long time in the paradise where they dwelt for ever young and happy.

  But at length he said: ‘Fair Nymphs, I must hasten away to kill the Gorgo
n Medusa and carry her head to wicked King Polydectes. Tell me, I beg of you, where the Gorgons live, and how I may kill Medusa.’

  ‘We will lend you the Shoes of Swiftness,’ answered the Nymphs, ‘so that you may escape from Medusa’s terrible sisters. And we will lend you this magic wallet in which to carry away the head. There is but one thing wanting, and that is the Cap of Hades, the dog-skin cap which makes its wearer invisible.’

  Then one of the Nymphs went swiftly down to the Realm of Hades, for she had been Persephone’s favourite companion on earth, and could visit the Queen of the Dead whenever she wished, and returned at will.

  She brought back the Cap of Darkness, so that Perseus now had all things needful, and was ready for his dreadful task.

  He bade farewell to the kind Nymphs, and set out on the way which the Grey Sisters had told him, and he came at last to the stony land of the Gorgons. As he drew near to where they lived, he saw all about in the fields and on the roads, the statues of men and beasts which had been living creatures until turned to stone by the deadly glance of the Gorgons.

  Then he saw the three terrible sisters lying asleep in the sun with the snakes which grew instead of hair writhing about the head of Medusa, and the dragon-scales which covered her sisters’ heads. They had white tusks like pigs and hands of brass; and great golden wings grew from their shoulders.

  Wearing the Cap of Darkness, and stepping cautiously, Perseus drew near, looking only at the reflection in Athena’s polished shield. Then he trembled indeed as he saw the terrible face of Medusa pictured on the bright surface; but he did not draw back. Still looking only at the reflection, he drew the adamantine sickle and cut off the terrible head at a single blow. Then, quick as could be, he picked it up and dropped it into the wallet which the Nymphs had given him.

  But the hissing of the snakes on Medusa’s head woke the other two Gorgons, who could not be killed, and they sprang up, eager to avenge their sister.

  Perseus leapt into the air and sped away on the Shoes of Swiftness as fast as he could go. After him came the Gorgons, screaming with rage, but Perseus fled away and away out over the dark ocean, south, ever south until his terrible pursuers were lost in the distance behind him.

  Then Perseus turned east and flew over Africa, across the great empty desert where there was no green thing, and no drop of water. As he went the blood soaked through the magic wallet and dripped behind him, and wherever a drop touched the thirsty sand, it became a green oasis.

  Night came, and in the morning as he flew over the sea-shore he beheld what at first he thought was a wonderful statue of a fair girl hewn from the rock just above sea-level.

  Swooping down, Perseus found that it was no statue but a living maiden chained naked to the face of the rock, with the little waves creeping up to her feet.

  ‘Chained maiden!’ said Perseus gently. ‘My heart bleeds for you!’

  ‘Who speaks? Who is it pities poor doomed Andromeda?’ she cried wildly.

  Perseus had forgotten that he still wore the Cap of Invisibility. Now he removed it swiftly, and hovering above the waves he said:

  ‘Lovely Andromeda, why are you chained here?’

  Then, weeping bitterly, she told him how her foolish mother, Cassiopea, had offended the sea-nymphs by her ridiculous boastings, and they had sent a monster to ravage all the sea coast, until King Cepheus, her father, chained her there as a sacrifice, hoping thus to satisfy the creature’s fury.

  ‘If I can save you, will you at least remember me?’ asked Perseus, who had fallen in love with Andromeda at first sight.

  ‘Do not make me weep, dreaming of deeds that can never be done!’ she sobbed.

  ‘Deeds that men deemed impossible have been accomplished, none the less,’ he answered. Then he turned quickly away, for he had noticed a ripple in the sea drawing nearer, ever nearer. Perseus, still hovering just above the waves, got ready; and in a few moments the monster raised its head above the water and opened wide its fierce jaws. Then, while Andromeda screamed, and her parents on the cliffs above wept and prayed, Perseus drew the Gorgon’s head from his wallet and held it in front of the savage eyes. And the monster sank back, still and cold and silent, a long ridge of jagged stone.

  Then Perseus returned the head to the magic wallet, cut Andromeda’s chains with the adamantine sickle, and carried her in safety to the cliff top.

  There was great rejoicing at the rescue of Andromeda, and King Cepheus readily agreed that Perseus should marry her. So there Perseus stayed for many days, and there was a noble feast at his wedding. But as they sat at the great table, the door was flung suddenly open, and a great man strode in followed by a band of desperadoes all armed with drawn swords:

  ‘Yield up Andromeda to me!’ shouted the leader of this band, who was a prince named Phineus. ‘She was promised to me, and unless I get her, I’ll slaughter every man here, burn the city and carry off the women to be my slaves!’

  Then Perseus strode down the hall until he stood in front of Phineus, and taking out the Gorgon’s head he turned him and all his followers to stone on the instant.

  Not long after this, Perseus and Andromeda set sail for Greece and came at length to the island of Seriphos. Here he found that his mother Danae had been made a slave by Polydectes, while Dictys his kind friend languished in prison.

  Leaving Andromeda on the ship, Perseus went alone up to the palace and found Polydectes sitting at meat with the same band of followers who had jeered at him once before.

  ‘Well, if it isn’t that landless boaster, Perseus!’ cried the king scornfully, while the others laughed and jested at him. ‘Have you, by any chance, brought me the present you promised?’

  ‘Yes,’ answered Perseus quietly. ‘I come, according to my promise, bringing the Gorgon’s head.’

  ‘Boaster and liar!’ jeered Polydectes. ‘Do you think to frighten us with empty words? Show us this wonder – if you can.’

  Perseus answered nothing, but pulled the Gorgon’s head out of the wallet and held it up for all to see. And afterwards the stone lumps which had once been men were dragged out and dumped on the hillside.

  That evening Hermes came to Perseus and received back from him the Sickle and the Shield and with them the Cap, the Shoes, and the Wallet. He also took the head of Medusa, which Athena set in the centre of her shield to strike terror into the hearts of the Giants when the long-expected invasion should take place.

  After this Dictys became King of Seriphos, and married Danae, while Perseus and Andromeda set sail for Argolis. But on the way he stopped at Larissa and took part in the great games which the king of that land was holding.

  Perseus distinguished himself greatly in these; but when it came to throwing the round iron disc, he hurled it so hard that it struck an old man who sat watching, and killed him instantly. This, it turned out, was Acrisius, who had left Tiryns in fear that Perseus, on his return, would kill him and so fulfil the oracle.

  Sorrowing deeply, Perseus went on his way; and he and Andromeda ruled over Argolis for many years and had numerous children. Among these were Electryon and Alcaeus. The first of these became the father of Alcmena and the second was the father of Amphitryon; and these two cousins married, and went to live in Thebes. And there was a third son called Sthenelus, who late in life had a son called Eurystheus, who ruled over Tiryns and all Argos.

  Perseus perished after his battle with Dionysus, and Zeus set him among the stars, with Andromeda beside him: but the son of his granddaughter Alcmena was destined to be the Hero who was to surpass all others in strength and mighty deeds, and who was to help Zeus in his war with the Giants. For this child was Heracles, whom the Romans called Hercules.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THE BIRTH OF HERACLES

  The lay records the labours, and the praise,

  And all the immortal acts of Hercules.

  First, how the mighty babe, when swathed in

  bands,

  The serpents strangled with his infant hands.
>
  VIRGIL

  Aeneid (Translated by John Dryden)

  8

  Electryon, the son of Perseus, had an only daughter called Alcmena, whom he promised in marriage to his nephew Amphitryon. All his sons were killed while fighting a band of robbers who had stolen his great herd of cattle, and Amphitryon was to marry Alcmena and become king of all Argolis when the cattle were recovered and the dead princes revenged.

  Amphitryon began by repurchasing the stolen cattle for a large sum of money, which he suggested that Electryon should pay.

  ‘I’ll pay no money to regain my own cattle!’ shouted Electryon. ‘If you’ve been fool enough to buy back stolen property, you yourself must suffer the consequences of your folly.’

  In a moment of temper at this rebuff Amphitryon flung away the club with which he had been driving the cattle, and by an evil chance it struck a horn of one of the cows, rebounded, and killed Electryon.

  After this, Sthenelus, youngest son of Perseus, banished his nephew Amphitryon from Argolis on a charge of murder, and ruled in his place.

  Amphitryon fled to Thebes, and Alcmena went with him:

  ‘I know you only killed my father by accident,’ she said, ‘so I will still marry you: but on one condition. You must first punish the robbers who killed my brothers.’

  At Thebes, King Creon was now ruler. He had come to the throne after the banishment of the famous King Oedipus who saved Thebes from the terrible Sphinx. The Sphinx was a monster, with a lion’s body, eagle’s wings, and a woman’s head; she sat on a great rock near the city and asked everyone who passed to answer a riddle. And what she asked was this:

  ‘What creature, with only one voice, has four legs in the morning, two at midday and three in the evening; and yet is weakest when it has most?’