Stone Blind

Now a severed head, Medusa acknowledges that she has been the narrator of the novel. She recounts the aftermath of her murder: Shrieking in grief, Euryale chases the invisible Perseus (wearing Hades’ cap), and Sthenno holds Medusa’s body. Athene pushes Perseus out of the way, saving him from Euryale. He complains about Athene hurting him.

The Medusa-Narrator offers the origin of the flute: Noting Euryale’s shriek, Athene tries to replicate the sound. Sitting by a riverbed, she hears wind passing through reeds, cuts one, and invents the flute.

Perseus travels with Medusa’s head in his golden bag. Arriving at the Titan Atlas’ kingdom, he speaks to a shepherd. The shepherd tells him to speak to Atlas and ask for food and shelter. Irritated at these confusing directions, Perseus uses Medusa’s head to turn him to stone. A second Titan maintains an orchard of golden apples and heard it will be targeted by a son of Zeus. Perseus announces himself as a son of Zeus, and Atlas bars him entry. Enraged, Perseus wields Medusa’s head again, and Atlas becomes a mountain.