Greek Mythology question.

**Loot** · 10-25-2005, 08:23 PM

During Mythology today, we were reading four myths of Perseus, Peresphone, Bellerophon, and Psyche. Now, my question is on Perseus. In the story, after slaying Medusa, he turned Atlas to stone due to Atlas being hostile towards Perseus. However, there seems to be a bit of a rut here. Perseus was Heracles' great-grandfather, and his eleventh labor was to gather the golden fruit of Hesperides. Prometheus advised Heracles to hold up the sky for Atlas so he could easily retrieve the fruits. There's the problem that's got me stumped. How did Atlas return to normal, despite the fact that his great-grandfather turned the Titan into Mount Atlas? If both of these events did happen, then Perseus couldn't of been older than Heracles.

Kil'jaeden · 10-25-2005, 08:48 PM

Try this.

Should help some.

Princess Zelda of Hyrule · 12-13-2005, 04:35 PM

Well, in the Aeneid, Atlas is depicted as a stone mountain. I guess, since he's a god, he's still animate.

Joker · 12-14-2005, 09:36 AM

Actually the Romans are the ones that adjusted the myth of Atlas in the Tweleve Labors of Heracles. It was believed that after the head of Medusa was disposed of by perseus who (depending on the source of the tale/myth) tossed the head into a fire and burned it. When the head was destroyed all those that were affected by medusa's stare were reverted back to normal.

**Loot** · 12-14-2005, 06:04 PM

The only problem with that is I thought Athena affixed the head to her shield for quite a while, despite I never heard anything more of her shield.

I did talk to my Mythology teacher, and he said it's possible that since Atlas was immortal, the effects of the stone eventually wore off, because I believe the only vulnerable parts in some immortals was the ichor (Only time I saw it killing the immortal was in the Jason myth with the Bronze Knight running around Crete.)

I have yet to read the Aeneid as well.

Princess Zelda of Hyrule · 12-14-2005, 07:44 PM

It's good stuff.

10-25-2005, 08:23 PM	#1
Loot Apparently I'm a mod? Join Date: May 2001 Location: LEGITIMATE BUSINESS Gender: Posts: 13,208 Thanks: 236 Thanked 1,237 Times in 659 Posts	During Mythology today, we were reading four myths of Perseus, Peresphone, Bellerophon, and Psyche. Now, my question is on Perseus. In the story, after slaying Medusa, he turned Atlas to stone due to Atlas being hostile towards Perseus. However, there seems to be a bit of a rut here. Perseus was Heracles' great-grandfather, and his eleventh labor was to gather the golden fruit of Hesperides. Prometheus advised Heracles to hold up the sky for Atlas so he could easily retrieve the fruits. There's the problem that's got me stumped. How did Atlas return to normal, despite the fact that his great-grandfather turned the Titan into Mount Atlas? If both of these events did happen, then Perseus couldn't of been older than Heracles.

10-25-2005, 08:48 PM	#2
Kil'jaeden Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: in your mind Gender: Posts: 2,134 Thanks: 21 Thanked 146 Times in 99 Posts	Try this. Should help some.

12-13-2005, 04:35 PM	#3
Princess Zelda of Hyrule Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Hyrule Castle Gender: Posts: 6,128 Thanks: 35 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts	Well, in the Aeneid, Atlas is depicted as a stone mountain. I guess, since he's a god, he's still animate.

12-14-2005, 09:36 AM	#4
Joker Lord of Vampires / God of Vengeance Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: The Planet of Eternal Darkness Gender: Posts: 11,117 Thanks: 3,273 Thanked 580 Times in 364 Posts Blog Entries: 6	Actually the Romans are the ones that adjusted the myth of Atlas in the Tweleve Labors of Heracles. It was believed that after the head of Medusa was disposed of by perseus who (depending on the source of the tale/myth) tossed the head into a fire and burned it. When the head was destroyed all those that were affected by medusa's stare were reverted back to normal.

12-14-2005, 06:04 PM	#5
Loot Apparently I'm a mod? Join Date: May 2001 Location: LEGITIMATE BUSINESS Gender: Posts: 13,208 Thanks: 236 Thanked 1,237 Times in 659 Posts	The only problem with that is I thought Athena affixed the head to her shield for quite a while, despite I never heard anything more of her shield. I did talk to my Mythology teacher, and he said it's possible that since Atlas was immortal, the effects of the stone eventually wore off, because I believe the only vulnerable parts in some immortals was the ichor (Only time I saw it killing the immortal was in the Jason myth with the Bronze Knight running around Crete.) I have yet to read the Aeneid as well.

12-14-2005, 07:44 PM	#6
Princess Zelda of Hyrule Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Hyrule Castle Gender: Posts: 6,128 Thanks: 35 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts	It's good stuff.