Summary

In Part Five, “Stone,” “Gorgoneion,” the Gorgoneion was born “the moment [Medusa] died” (291). The Gorgons were furious. Perseus realized it would be difficult to escape.

Perseus put the Gorgoneion into a sack and flew away, discovering Hermes’s shoes gave him flight.

In “Reed,” Athene “invented the flute” (299). Its sound was “inspired by the sound Euryale made” she found Medusa’s body (299).

In “Gorgoneion,” Perseus escaped the Gorgons with the gods’ help. When he encountered a shepherd, Perseus held up the Gorgoneion. The shepherd was petrified. The Gorgoneion feared she was becoming a monster. The next day, when Perseus encountered Atlas, he held up the Gorgoneion again. Instead of petrifying, the god turned into a mountain.

In “Andromeda,” Andromeda waited for her death. When she saw a creature arising from the water, she “began praying” (314).

In “Gorgoneion,” while flying in search of...