Stone Blind

The Medusa-Narrator describes Poseidon’s capitulation to the Nereids, including his wife Amphitrite. He complained to Zeus about the Gorgons and currently sulks at the loss of his land to Euryale, who pushed away the shore of Ethiopia (Part 1, Chapter 10), and the Nereids suggest he flood Ethiopia on their behalf to punish Cassiope’s hubris. He considers the ramifications of goading Hephaestus to pursue Athene and his own sexual assault of Medusa. Returning to Amphitrite, Poseidon voices his hurt pride, and like the other Nereids, Amphitrite encourages him to punish Cassiope.

Andromeda suspects that tragedy will strike. Suddenly, Cassiope and Cepheus hear movement and screams.

Elaia, a female follower of Athene, narrates Poseidon and Athene’s contest for claiming Athens—one determined by the quality of their gifts. Poseidon creates a pond with his trident, and Athene plants an olive tree, while the other gods judge.

In the present, Andromeda’s hands are tied to trees, with her suspended between them. Recently, Ethiopia was flooded by Poseidon. Andromeda and her parents were visited by Poseidon’s priests, who told Cepheus that the flood was punishment for a transgression. Cassiope cried.

Elaia addresses the reader playfully, continuing Poseidon and Athene’s contest for Athens. She emphasizes the importance of olive trees to Greece, especially Athens. The gods serving as judges look into the future, see the benefits of olives, and then vote. Elaia announces a tie, so Zeus conjures Erichthonius—Athene’s son and the first king of Athens—to break the tie. He ensures his safety by Zeus and then votes for his mother. Poseidon leaves angry.

Poseidon’s priests wait while Cassiope sobs. They tell Cepheus that Cassiope’s pride offended Poseidon and Amphitrite. Cepheus bristles at their attitude, but Cassiope acknowledges her offense and offers to sacrifice herself for Ethiopia. The priests respond that Poseidon wants Andromeda.

Medusa reveals her petrifying power to Sthenno and Euryale. They suggest she experiment, but she fears harming them or other creatures. Euryale is pleased that Medusa can protect herself, but Sthenno reminds her that Medusa can’t control her power.

A thirsty Perseus slows in his travel and prays for Zeus’s help. Athene and Hermes appear, but he only hears Athene yelling. Realizing the gods are arguing over Athens, he listens. They then ask Perseus what he needs, and he confesses he doesn’t know what a Gorgon looks like. They are flabbergasted and explain Gorgon powers. Perseus becomes discouraged, but the gods advise that he kill the Gorgons’ mortal sister—Medusa.

Andromeda swallows her anger at Cassiope, and her uncle Phineas disappears; she assumes he abandoned the family. As she prepares to be sacrificed, donning an elaborate headdress, she notices that the younger of two priests has softened toward her. The older priest remains disdainful, and Andromeda refuses to look away from him as they walk toward Poseidon’s remade shore. Some of Cepheus’ people walk alongside her, without blaming her for Ethiopia’s destruction. Cassiope tries to bargain for Andromeda’s life, and Andromeda hopes for a blindfold. Like her mother, she resolves to die fighting.

Perseus learns of Medusa’s petrifying gaze and loses composure, while Hermes regrets not taking Dionysus’ bet against the mortal’s success. Athene tells him to avoid Medusa’s gaze by instead looking at her reflection, and Hermes reminds him of all the help that he has received thus far.

Medusa learns to supplement her blindness with other senses. The snakes on her head crave sunlight, so she continues to venture outside; Euryale convinces Sthenno to let Medusa navigate on her own. The sisters discuss Medusa’s growth and Athene’s curse.

Perseus approaches the Gorgons’ cave. The Medusa-Narrator rhetorically asks if the Gorgons’ parents, Ceto and Phorcys, will stop him. She claims that Sthenno and Euryale will kill him.

Zeus asks Athene to help Perseus again, and they argue about his helplessness. Zeus argues that she should care about her half-brother. Ordered to help Perseus because Zeus doesn’t want Danaë to marry, Athene makes a deal: He will allow her to help a mortal in the future, even if the other gods disagree.

Medusa’s snakes recount Perseus’ attack, arguing with one another and stressing that people should remember his cowardice. They claim that Medusa didn’t look at him because she didn’t want to kill him: She was sleeping when he struck.

The Medusa-Narrator describes a nonexistent statue of Perseus with Hermes’ sandals and Hades’ cap. The statue looks back, indicating Perseus was successful in beheading Medusa.