The Myth Of Perseus In Homer's Odyssey

In the myth “Perseus”, Perseus is a young man who had to defeat Medusa, a gorgon. Perseus lacked a wedding gift for Polydectes, the ruler of the island (Hamilton 200). The guests were expected to bring a gift. “Each guest, as was customary, brought a gift for the bride-to-be, except Perseus alone. He had nothing to give,” (Hamilton 200). To make up for it, Perseus had to slay Medusa and bring back her head. In fact, it was Perseus who offered to venture out and kill the gorgon to compensate for his lack of a gift.(Hamilton 200). “He stood up before them all and and did exactly what the king hoped he would do, declared that he would give him a present better than any there. He would go off and kill Medusa and bring back her head as a gift,”

Venus, the mother of Cupid, despised Psyche because the mortals payed more attention to Psyche than they did Venus because Psyche was so beautiful (Hamilton 121). The mortals often compared Psyche to Venus. “They would even say that Venus herself could not equal this mortal,” (Hamilton 122). One day, Psyche accidentally burned Cupid with candle oil (Hamilton 129). Venus saw this as an opportunity to take out her anger on Psyche for always getting attention from the mortals and capturing the eye of Cupid (Hamilton 129). “She was determined to show Psyche what it meant to draw down the displeasure of a goddess,” (Hamilton 129). Psyche offers herself as a servant to Venus in order to make up for harming Cupid (Hamilton 130). Venus made Psyche complete many strenuous tasks, like going to the river Styx, going to the underworld, and collecting wool from sheep at a dangerous river (Hamilton 131-132). This part of the story is the perfect example of “the road of trials.” Psyche was faced with many trials, but was able to complete them with the help of supernatural

One time, Theseus and his good friend Pirithoüs ventured down to the Underworld because Pirithoüs wanted to take Persephone for himself (Hamilton 219). Hades knew their plan and had tricked them into sitting in the Chair of Forgetfulness (Hamilton 219). They were stuck on the chairs (Hamilton 219). “They could not arise from it. It was called the chair of forgetfulness. Whoever sat on it forgot everything,” (Hamilton 219). Luckily, Theseus’ cousin was able to free him, but Pirithoüs was stuck there forever (Hamilton 219). Hercules “He tried to do the same for Pirithoüs, but could not. The King of the Dead knew that it was he who had planned to carry off Persephone, and he held him fast,” (Hamilton 220). This is an example of “rescue from without.” Theseus was stuck in the underworld, but with the help of Hercules he was rescued and brought back to