THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO

FABULA VIII.
CRINES MEDUSAE IN SERPENTES MUTANTUR.
Perseus, having killed the sea-monster, marries Andromeda. At the feast he
is desired to relate the manner in which he slew the Gorgon. After this re->
lation, he describes to them the prior transformation of Medusa's hair into
serpents.
EXPLICATIO.
t
GREAT diversity of opinion exists in relation to the Gorgons. Diodorus
says they were female warriors that inhabited Libya, who inspired their
enemies with great terror, but were at last conquered hy Perseus, and
their queen, Medusa, slain. Pausanias says, that after the death of
Phorcys, his daughter Medusa reigned over the people that inhabited
near lake Tritonis, and caused great terror by her incursions, that her
flying camp was destroyed by Perseus, and the queen herself killed
among the throng. Others have regarded them as princesses possessing
great wealth and a golden statue of Minerva called Gorgon. The one
eye of the Graire, their guard, they consider a minister of theirs, whom
Perseus forced to disclose the secret of their wealth. Two of the sisters
consented to surrender this, hut Medusa, refusing, was slain, when he
obtained the Gorgon or golden statue. Pegasus and Chrysaor may then
be considered ships which they had, for Artemidorus tells us, that by
" the horses of Neptune are meant ships, for the analogy is strict between
a horse on land, and a ship in the sea."
The Graise and the Gorgons are personifications of the terrors of the
sea ; which are thus said to transform beholders to stone: the former are
the white crested waves that dash against the coast: the latter the strong
billows of the wide ocean. The Graice were the half-sisters of the Gor
gons, and are themselves called Gorgons hy some. Their one eye is the
disk of the moon, which influences the tides, for the moon was anciently
called yopyaiwv. By the stealing of this eye, we are to understand that
Perseus learned the nuture of the tides. The Gorgons were Stheno, Ike
powerful, meaning the force of the waves ; Euryale, wide-rolling, their
fluctuation; and the Medusa, directness, their course as altered or affect
ed hy TV imls, or the seasons of the year. The force and fluctuation of the
waves remain the same, hence then Stheno and Euryale are said to he
immortal; while Medusa, denoting change in the course of the billows,
is said to he mortal. Since a serpent moving in a wary manner denoted
water, the serpents of Medusa's head, disposed as they are, represent the
undulations of the ocean. See note on Serpenfis, p . 02, and the plate
which accompanies it. By learning to command wind and tide, and thus
direct his vessel at will in the ocean, Perseus is said to have cut ofF the
head of Medusa. Probably he is regarded, or the expedition which he
represents, as making the first voyage in the open ocean. Pegasus and
Chrysaor are ships, which were built in consequence of having overcome
the terrors of navigation.
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IS tribus ille focos totidem de cespite ponit;
Lffivum Mercuric ; dextrum tibi, bellica virgo;
Ara Jovis media est: mactatur vacca Minervse ;
Alipedi vitulus; taurus tihi, summe deorum.
Protinus Andromedan et tanti premia facti 5
Indotata rapit: tsedas Hymenasus Araorque
NOT-flE.
1. Dis tribus. Three gods had assisted him, and he erects in con
sequence an altar to each. Help from heaven should always be grate
fully recognised. Thus Samuel acknowledged the assistance of God
in conquering the Philistines, by setting up a pillar for sacrifice:
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Miipeh and Shcn, and called
the name of it Kben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.
1 SAMUBL, vii. 12
2. Bellica virgo. Minerva, the goddess of war. Minerva had given
him a shield, which, like a polished mirror, reflected every thing. He
looked on the head of Medusa as reflected in this shield. Minerva
also guided his hand as he struck the Gorgon. By this shield we are
to understand that prudent circumspection and counsel which are
so necessary in war.
4. A lipedi. Mercury, so called because
he has wings to his feet. Mercury fur
nished him with his winged shoes, and the
faulchion (Itarpe). By the winged shoes we
are to understand swiftness of execution in
general. Here, most probably, it means
a ship.
6. Indotata: dowerless. Her only
dower was her beauty and her innocence.
Though Cepheus had offered his kingdom.
the brave deliverer loved her for herseli
alone.
Dos est magna parentium
Virtus—HOBAT. Lib. iii. Od. 24.
6. Tcedas prtccutiunt : shake theii
torches. The torches of Hymen were
those that were anciently carried before
the bride, as she was led to the house ol
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