08.06.25: Level 3; Ritchie; Fābulae Facilēs; Perseus [2]: Contrā Medūsam

Listen to the recording without looking at the transcript and answer the questions.

abscīdō, -ere, -cīdī, -cīsus [3]: cut off

aes, aeris [3/n]: bronze

anguis, -is [3m/f]: snake, serpent

contegō, -ere, -tēxī, -tēctus [3]: cover

continēns, -entis [3/f]: mainland

dīmittō, -mittere, -mīsī,  -missus [3]: send away

dūdum: a short time ago; not long since

falx, falcis [3/f]: sickle

ictus, -ūs [4/m]: blow, strike

ignāvus, -a, -um: lazy

praestō, -stāre, -stitī [1]: show

quō usque …?

tālāria, -ium [3/n/pl]: winged sandals

turpis, -e: (here) shameful

[A] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia1_iT--_lo

[Perseus igitur multōs annōs ibi habitābat, et cum mātre suā vītam beātam agēbat. At Polydectēs Danaen magnopere amābat, atque eam in mātrimōnium dūcere volēbat. Hoc tamen cōnsilium Perseō minimē grātum erat. Polydectēs igitur Perseum dīmittere cōnstituit. Tum iuvenem ad sē vocāvit et haec dīxit: "Turpe est hanc ignāvam vītam agere; iam dūdum tū adulēscēns es. Quō usque hīc manēbis? Tempus est arma capere et virtūtem praestāre. Hinc abī, et caput Medūsae mihi refer."]

In which order are the following referred to?

a blissful life

bear arms

how long Perseus had been staying there

how long Perseus would stay there

leading a lazy life

Perseus now a young man

Perseus told to bring back the head of the Gorgon

Perseus told to leave

Perseus’ dislike of Polydectes’ plan

Polydectes decision to send Perseus away

Polydectes’  wish to marry Danae

show courage

[B] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFwsgNFPAl0

[Perseus ubi haec audīvit, ex īnsulā discessit, et postquam ad continentem vēnit, Medūsam quaesīvit. Diū frūstrā quaerēbat; namque nātūram locī ignōrābat. Tandem Apollō et Minerva viam dēmōnstrāvērunt. Prīmum ad Graeās, sorōrēs Medūsae, pervēnit. Ab hīs tālāria et galeam magicam accēpit. Apollō autem et Minerva falcem et speculum eī dedērunt. Tum postquam tālāria pedibus induit, in āera ascendit. Diū per āera volābat; tandem tamen ad eum locum vēnit ubi Medūsa cum cēterīs Gorgonibus habitābat. Gorgonēs autem mōnstra erant speciē horribilī; capita enim eārum anguibus omnīnō contēcta erant. Manūs etiam ex āere factae erant.]

[i] When did Perseus leave the island? (1)

[ii] When did he start to look for Medusa? (1)

[iii] Why could he not find Medusa? (1)

[iv] How did Apollo and Minerva help him? (1)

[v] Who were the Graeae? (1)

[vi] What did he receive from them? (2)

[vii] What did he receive from Apollo and Minerva? (2)

[viii] When did Perseus start to fly? (1)

[ix] Who did Medusa live with? (1)

[x] Describe them using short phrases:

[a] appearance __________ (1)

[b] heads __________ (1)

[c] hands __________ (1)

[C] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGdJacKQGn8

[Rēs difficillima erat caput Gorgonis abscīdere; eius enim cōnspectū hominēs in saxum vertēbantur. Propter hanc causam Minerva speculum Perseō dederat. Ille igitur tergum vertit, et in speculum īnspiciēbat; hōc modō ad locum vēnit ubi Medūsa dormiēbat. Tum falce suā caput eius ūnō ictū abscīdit. Cēterae Gorgonēs statim ē somnō excitātae sunt, et ubi rem vīdērunt, īrā commōtae sunt. Arma rapuērunt, et Perseum occīdere volēbant. Ille autem dum fugit, galeam magicam induit; et ubi hoc fēcit, statim ē cōnspectū eārum ēvāsit.]

[i] Why was it very difficult to behead Medusa? (2)

[ii] What had Minerva given to Perseus? (1)

[iii] How did this gift help him? (2)

[iv] When did he approach Medusa? (1)

[v] How did he behead her? (2)

[vi] How did the other Gorgons react when they saw what had happened? (3)

[vii] How did Perseus manage to escape? (2)

[D] Find the Latin either by listening or from the transcript:

[i] bring (me) back (the head)

[ii] go away ¦ from here

[iii] he wanted to marry her

[iv] with [by means of] one blow

[v] out of sight

[vi] the Gorgons were of horrible appearance; ablative of description:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/300425-level-3-beasts-in-egypt-and.html

[vii] it was a very difficult matter / thing

[viii] their hands were made

[ix] their heads were covered

[x] the Gorgons were moved (i.e. emotionally)

[xi] the Gorgons were woken up [ = were aroused from (their) sleep]

[xii] men were turned into stone

____________________

[A] a blissful life [2]; bear arms [9]; How long Perseus had been staying there [1]; how long Perseus would stay there [8]; leading a lazy life [6]; Perseus now a young man [7]; Perseus told to bring back the head of the Gorgon [12]; Perseus told to go away [11]; Perseus’ dislike of Polydectes’ plan [4]; Polydectes decision to send Perseus away [5]; Polydectes’  wish to marry Danae [3]; show courage [10]

[A] Perseus igitur [1] multōs annōs ibi habitābat, et cum mātre suā [2] vītam beātam agēbat. At Polydectēs Danaen magnopere amābat, atque [3] eam in mātrimōnium dūcere volēbat. [4] Hoc tamen cōnsilium Perseō minimē grātum erat. [5] Polydectēs igitur Perseum dīmittere cōnstituit. Tum iuvenem ad sē vocāvit et haec dīxit: "Turpe est [6] hanc ignāvam vītam agere; [7] iam dūdum tū adulēscēns es. [8] Quō usque hīc manēbis? Tempus est [9] arma capere et [10] virtūtem praestāre. [11] Hinc abī, et [12] caput Medūsae mihi refer."