#gorgons and heroes challenge

[regnumveritatis]

Quotes in common speech related to Arsinoe Athenide, peeress of sagacity, patron of the family as well as the neglected/forgotten.

1) Crocus and Mulberries: a term used for couples or things paired in general that no assumes will go well together but they do. This stems from the crocus being Lord Hermes sacred flower since it was created from the body of his dead lover whom the flower is named after and how the flower was associated with joy and cheerfulness whereas the mulberry that represented dedication and endurance was the garden plant sacred to Arsinoe. Despite them being completely different types of plants they not only grew well together but also helped mutually for weaving/textiles since crocus was used to make saffron which apart from being a spice was also highly sought after for dying clothes and mulberries were primarily cultivated for silkworms, with their leaves serving as the sole food source for the silkworm. So in that sense Hermes and Arsinoe together make richly dyed silk.

2) Watch out for the octopus: in reference to how in the courting challenge for Arsinoe set by Athena, Hermes sent his sacred animal the hawk to steal an object but the hawk lost to the octopus that stole it under their nose. It's basically an 'expect the unexpected' or 'be ready for anything' type of quote.

3) As pleasing as coral: A phrase meaning you've given a gift that will be treasured forever. In ancient Greece, coral was used as a medicine for sterility as well as protection from evil and the sea. Those living near the sea often used dried coral to pay tribute to Poseidon so by that logic he'd totally agree when people start using it to carve statues of his little girl. The first one is said to have been made by the Greek hero Perseus (named after Perseleia). According to the legend Perseus, after killing Medusa, goes to wash his hands in the sea and the drops of the Gorgon's blood (which had the power to petrify men), depositing on marine plants, create coral red. The hero saw the new material when looking for driftwood to carve a tribute towards Lady Loyalty in gratitude for her help slaying Medusa and cut off a piece thinking it might be useful in his journey. Perseus carved it into a figure of Lady Reason because the carmine reminded him of the goddess's vibrant red hair and left it for her at the altar. The goddess was so pleased by the gift she blessed Perseus' bloodline to never lose their wits and wore coral around her neck the rest of her days.

4) Laugh not at nettles: A quote telling us to look past the first impression and work with the tools at hand instead of dismissing them. Whilst often seen as a weed in modern times nettles were actually fiercely valued in ancient times because they provided a cheap and durable source of fibers that were often twisted into rope, sails and clothing. (Unfortunately the romans later consecrated the plant to Mars because its fabric was used to make legionnaire uniforms). Arsinoe taught the mortals to create the first sails and ropes out of nettles in answer to their pleas to have a means to fix their ship to go home after greedy merchants raised the prices leaving them incapable of buying rope or material to mend the wind sails. When the goddess arrived disguised as a kindly beggar pointing to the wild stinging nettles growing at the creeks and said this would be their sails the sailors laughed at the idea until they saw how the beggar turned into lady Arsinoe and showed them the process of turning nettles into fiber they promptly used for their vessels. They begged forgiveness and offered sacrifices that appeased the goddess, then they discovered fruits packed in nettle leaves retain their bloom and freshness because the figs they'd wrapped in the leaves for extra rations did not spoil.

5) When the otter tames the hare: A more polite say of saying 'It's never going to happen'. This alludes to how hares and otters are not happy in domestic settings as well as their patron gods since for the ancient greeks neither Arsinoe or Hermes would let themselves be 'domesticated' in the meek little tradwife way even if they did get married cause they were often exploring, working and changing the mortal world rather than staying at Olympus.

[warframestuff]

Howdy Dreamers,

Nightwave: Nora’s Mix Vol. 7 is coming to a close—ending on February 6th at 2 p.m. ET! Like the last few Mixes, Nightwave: Nora’s Mix Vol. 8 also begins on February 6th, roughly around 2:30 p.m. ET.

Like previous editions of Nightwave, we will include duplicate protection for rewards you have already unlocked. Identical to Nora Mix Vol. 7, Tenno can expect to be compensated with Nora’s Mix Vol. 8 Creds instead of the previous unlocked reward.

However, with Nora’s Mix Vol. 7 closing, you’ll want to cash in your remaining Nora’s Mix Vol. 7 Creds before the end date. Leftover Nora’s Mix Vol. 7 Creds can be sold for Credits afterwards!

Make sure to tune into Devstream #184 on January 31st at 2 p.m. ET for a sneak peek at all things Nightwave: Vol. 8, including the new goodies coming!

Changes Additionally, we’ll be retiring the Duviri daily Challenges from the Nightwave Challenge rotations due to these Challenges being inaccessible until after Uranus.

For the removed Daily Challenges specifically:

Your Move: Complete a game of Komi in Duviri.

Helping Hand: Rescue an animal in Duviri.

Feed Me More: Feed the Maw in Duviri.

Salutations: Visit Acrithis in Duviri.

No Mercy: Mercy Kill an Enemy

This Challenge is now ‘Executioner: Kill 10 Enemies with Finishers,’ which includes Mercy Kills.

New Rewards!

With Nora’s Mix Vol. 8, completing Nightwave acts can net you these new (and returning) rewards:

Big Bytes Pizza Sigil

Nightwave (Landing Craft) - Creds if owned!

Nightwave Atomicycle Livery

Heuris Polearm Skin - Creds if owned!

Lillian Floof

Jillian Floof

Vesper 77 Augment Mod

Battlecry Ink

Kubrow Boltor Armor

Aoi Origami Glyph

Tammpet Sugatra

Proto Necramech Skin - Creds if owned!

AX-52 Augment Mod

Glacia Syandana - Creds if owned!

Wireframe Ephemera

1999 Armor Set

New Cred Offerings Included with these new rewards will be hand-picked new and returning rewards from previous Nightwave Series.

Koumei Orihime Helmet Blueprint

Cyte-09 Espricor Helmet Blueprint

Eximus Advantage (Zylok)

Metamorphic Magazine (Gorgon)

Sentient Barrage (Battacor)

Orowyrm's Rage Sigil

Hero of Duviri Display

**All rewards listed above are subject to change or removal.

[tylermileslockett]

Monsters of Greek mythology

The Furies, or Erinyes, were relentless avengers of wrongdoing in Greek mythology.

Typhon, the deadliest monster in Greek mythology, challenged the gods of Olympus with his serpent-headed fury and storm-creating powers.

Hekate, the enigmatic goddess of magic and crossroads, held sway over the night and the spirit world.

Echidna, the mother of monsters, was a creature that gave birth to numerous legendary beasts.

Cerberus, the three-headed dog, guarded the gates of the Underworld, preventing both entry and escape.

The Greae, three ancient sisters who shared one eye and one tooth, were known for their wisdom and appeared in the myth of Perseus.

Cetus, a sea monster sent to ravage Ethiopia, was defeated by the hero Perseus.

The Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull creature, dwelled in the labyrinth on Crete and was vanquished by Theseus.

The Hydra, a multi-headed serpent-like monster, grew more heads when one was severed and was slain by Hercules.

Medusa, a Gorgon with snakes for hair, could turn onlookers to stone and met her demise at the hands of Perseus, who used her head as a weapon.

Support my book kickstarter "Lockett Illustrated: Greek Gods and Heroes" coming in early 2024. 

My self-published book on KICKSTARTER

Linktree:https://tr.ee/DcjSQDSEv3

[beef-brisket]

✨️Demigod!Au✨️

@things-arent-what-they-seem66 @fanofstuff01

If you two are interested, this is based on an ask I got. I'll link it below encase anyone would like a refresher lol

(Btw, ima made Adam a little feral in the beginning. I hope that's all good 😝)

-

Lucifer had travelled far from his home. He was used to voyages that took him across vast lands and horizons. But, to travel the great ocean? That was new, even for the bravest hero of many legends.

Crewman: Captain! I see land!

The hero looked over the railing, and there he saw it, through the distant cloud and ocean mist, a land so green, it put his homeland to shame.

Lucifer: Very good, full speed ahead!

As the ship sailed towards its destination, Lucifer couldn't take his eyes off the shore. A few miles away, there's meant to be a cave home to oma deadly, monstrous creature. Something neither Lucifer nor other heroes and adventures had ever seen.

And rumour has it, anyone that entered its home, were never seen again.

It is a perfect challenge for someone like Lucifer, who is the son of one of the mightest gods. If he couldn't behead the beast, then no one could.

Before the ship was tied down, Lucifer jumped off and into the frigid water and made his way towards land.

Crewman: C-Captain?!

Lucifer waved him off and started searching for the beasts lair. It's said to never leave, so walking around like this should be safe. For the most part.

Climbing to the top of the bank, Lucifer was Abel to see for miles and miles. And as his eyes dragged along the coast line, he saw it.

A cave that looked like it was made by the earth splitting apart. Like a gash or a wound. The jagged rocks clashed with the lush green grass, the black sand.m and the blacker water.

Lucifer: That has to be it...

Once the ship was docked, Lucifer grabbed his weapons and told his crew to set up camp. He felt more comfortable doing this alone.

The walk was calm, and it helped Lucifer keep his head. Not that losing it was a risk, but he preferred to be in his right mind for when he saw the beast. Most would drive hero's and adventures mad just by laying their eyes on it.

And this one he was hunting was practically deadly. A gorgon. A creature cursed and shunned by the gods themselves. Abominations so rare, the gods demand their severed heads.

No one was entirely sure what a gorgon was or how they wronged the gods so badly that they were transformed into something so horrifying it was often beyond human comprehension. But Lucifer could handle it, being a demigod.

As the man started to descend the hill, he stopped as he noticed a long, large creature in the water, swimming into the caves mouth. It looked enormous, but it didn't make Lucifer nervous, I'm fact, it hardened his resolve.

Lucifer: There you are...

Once he reached the jagged mouth of the cave, he noticed large gouges in the rock. They looked like claw marks.

As he walked deeper, he reached where the water lapped at the sand.

And there he saw his second piece of evidence. Large drag marks in the sand.

Looking forward, he followed the cave as it went deeper and got darker. The place was eerily silent, surely something as large as what Lucifer saw would make a lot of noise.

The cave tunnel got narrower and narrower, eventually making Lucifer duck down. And what's where he saw the rock edges look worn down, and some were even broken. It must have been a tight squeeze for the beast, Lucifer was surprised it could even fit.

Finally, the cave opened up into an enormous chamber. It looked like an old, ruin temple dedicated to some unknown God. Water and light trickled down from the mossey cave roof, and even some birds flew towards the exit.

As Lucifer's eyes followed the sun rays, he spotted it.

A large snake tail hanging over the edge of a circular ruin covered in vines and flowers. It's dark, opalescent scales still dripped with ocean water.

Moving forward, Lucifer was too focused on the beast. He knocked a ceramic pot, sending it over the edge and smashing on the floor.

With inhuman speed, the beast shot up, and its golden eyes were directly on Lucifer.

The creature was shrouded in shadow, so he couldn't see its face, not that he wanted to.

Staying perfectly still, he didn't move until it lunched towards him, taking only five seconds to be close enough to attack.

It was then that Lucifer saw the fury in its horrid eyes. Its teeth unfurled from its mouth, and its claws were ready to attack Lucifer.

But the demigod was too quick. He was gone before the beast took a swing.

Lucifer managed to its track his and managed to hide in a small room of the temple ruin.

The creature screamed and hissed. It was a horrible noise that Lucifer was sure was making his ears bleed.

Beast: WhErE- ArE- yOu?!

Strange. It sounded vaguely human. Bit that was impossible.

Lucifer whispered: Must be a mimic... I'm going to need to keep my witts about be.

[bitchy-craft]

What Mythological Creature Are You | Pick A Pile

Hello and welcome to this Pick A Pile! In here you'll find out what mythological creature you are and what is associated with said creature. I hope you guys enjoy and find this useful. Do make sure to leave comments down below on your experience! I do want to remind you all that this is a General Pick A Pile which means this is for a lot of people; therefore keep what resonates and leave what doesn't.

Masterpost > Questions > Paid Readings

Pick A Pile!

Pile 1:

The Phoenix is a legendary bird from Greek and Egyptian mythology. It is said to be a magnificent creature with colorful plumage and the ability to regenerate itself. According to the Greek myth, the Phoenix lives for centuries before igniting itself in flames and being reborn from its ashes. This cycle of death and rebirth symbolizes immortality and the eternal nature of life.

The Phoenix is often associated with themes of renewal, transformation, and resurrection. It represents the concept of rising above challenges and emerging stronger from adversity. The Phoenix's ability to rise from the ashes serves as a metaphor for personal growth, spiritual transcendence, and the cyclic nature of existence.

Pile 2:

Kitsune is a mythical creature from Japanese folklore, often depicted as a fox with magical abilities. These shapeshifting creatures possess intelligence and possess anywhere from one to nine tails, with each additional tail indicating greater power and wisdom. Kitsune are known for their mischievous nature and their ability to assume human form.

In Japanese mythology, Kitsune represents both positive and negative aspects. On one hand, they are associated with wisdom, cunning, and the protection of their chosen human companions. On the other hand, they are known for their trickery and illusions. Kitsune symbolize the complexities of human nature, the power of transformation, and the blurred line between reality and illusion.

Pile 3:

A pegasus is a winged horse from Greek mythology. According to the myth, Pegasus was born from the decapitated neck of the Gorgon Medusa when the hero Perseus slew her. Pegasus is often depicted as a majestic white horse with wings, capable of flying freely through the skies. It became the trusted mount of the hero Bellerophon, who rode Pegasus during his battles against various monsters.

Pegasus symbolize freedom, inspiration, and the power of the imagination. The ability to soar through the heavens represents the pursuit of higher knowledge, transcending earthly limitations, and reaching new heights. Pegasus is associated with artistic and creative endeavors, as well as the exploration of the divine realm.

[khaire-traveler]

⚔️ Perseus Worship Guide 🪽

~ Art by DocZenith on ArtStation ~

The great ancient Greek hero, Perseus - a hero so renowned that an entire children's book series was written inspired by him. He accomplished fantastical feats with the very gods themselves rooting for his victory. Many people admire him, but few seem to be aware that worship is not only an option for gods. Heroes, such as Perseus, can be worshipped as well, and have been throughout history. Explore the various ways Perseus can be worshipped in the modern day in the enlightening post that follows.

***I am not an educator or historian. This is solely being made for religious purposes, and I will be touching on UPG.**

°· Who is Perseus? ·°

As stated above, Perseus is an ancient Greek hero starring in his own myths. As a biological son of Zeus (NOT Poseidon) and a mortal woman, trials and troubles were a guarantee in his life. His mother, Danaë, was trapped in a tower before his birth, due to her father, Akrisios', fear of a prophecy that claimed her son would kill him. Despite her predicament, Zeus was able to enter her locked tower, taking the form of a golden rain shower, and Danaë became pregnant with his son (don't ask me, man; I don't know). Her father immediately cast her out upon discovering the child, placing both her and her son, Perseus, into a chest floating on the sea. However, the pair made it safely to the island of Seriphos, being sheltered by the fisherman Diktys, brother to the king of the island, Polydectes. Diktys would also raise Perseus as a father figure.

Perseus would grow to become the eventual slayer of the gorgon Medusa, arguably his most famous accomplishment, as well as the savior of Andromeda, an Ethiopian princess who had been chained to a rock to be fed to a sea monster. He also freed his mother from King Polydectes by turning him to stone with Medusa's head. Perseus' grandfather fled from him in fear, allowing Perseus to assume the throne of his kingdom. Although Perseus didn't purposely kill his grandfather, he was the cause of his grandfather's demise via an accidental discus throw (prophecy fulfilled 🔴).

He later fathered many children. With his lovely wife Andromeda, he had the sons Perses, Alcaeus, Heleus, Mestor, Sthenelus, Electryon, and Cynurus, and two daughters, Gorgophone and Autochthe. He's also said to be an ancestor of the famous Herakles, who is also a demigod son of Zeus. Unlike Herakles, however, there don't seem to be recorded myths of Perseus ascending to godhood, although he was still worshipped as a Greek hero and Founder of Mycanaea.

✿*Well-known myths *✿

His most widespread myth is that of slaying Medusa, which he did in an effort to protect his mother from the cruel King Polydectes, who had fallen in love with her. Perseus believed Polydectes wasn't worthy of his mother's hand in marriage (and he was absolutely right, in my opinion; Polydectes wished to enslave his mother), so as a plot to send Perseus away, Polydectes plotted to send Perseus on the impossible quest of slaying the gorgon Medusa. Before setting out on his journey, Perseus prayed to Zeus, terrified of the challenges that lay ahead, and his father answered by sending Hermes and Athena to deliver five gifts that would aid Perseus' quest. Hermes lent his brother the god's winged sandals and sword, providing him with Haides' helm of invisibility also (though some ancient people seemed to think this wasn't this case and were very opinionated about it lol). Athena lent Perseus her polished shield, able to reflect the gorgon's appearance without petrifying him, and a bag that he could safely store the head in, warning Perseus that Medusa's gaze would still turn others into stone, even in death. The pair then instructed Perseus to seek out the infamous Graia, sisters of the gorgons, to discover Medusa's location.

With cunning and quick-wit, Perseus was able to take the shared eye and tooth between the sisters, and hold them hostage until they revealed Medusa's location. Upon his arrival, he used the reflective shield gifted to him by Athena to avoid looking directly at Medusa, and sword guided by Athena's might, he beheaded the ghastly Gorgon in one swift maneuver of his blade. Her sisters attempted to avenge her, but donning Haides' helm of invisibility, Perseus was able to easily evade capture. After a few other misadventures along the way, he returned to discover that his mother had to flee from Polydectes while he was away, so out of vengeance for the bullshit Polydectes put them both through, Perseus slew him using the severed head of Medusa. A fitting death - that guy was an asshole. As a show of gratitude for sheltering him and his mother, Perseus also made Diktys the new king of Seriphos.

Another of his myths that he's well-known for is that of rescuing Andromeda from her fate. He came across Andromeda after slaying Medusa, on his way home from the adventure. The princess' father, King Cepheus, chained her naked to a rock surrounded by raging oceans and a ravenous sea monster, Cetus. Her father wished to appease Poseidon after his wife angered the God by claiming Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids (Sea Nymphs). An Oracle claimed that sacrificing Andromeda to Cetus was the only way to soothe Poseidon's anger. Luckily, using the winged sandals that Hermes gifted him, Perseus flew over the stormy waters to Andromeda and freed her, immediately earning her hand in marriage. Andromeda's original suitor, Phineus, was upset at the marriage, but Perseus turned him to stone with Medusa's head and carried on.

Although these are his most well-known myths, there are still other myths about Perseus that I didn't cover here. Overall, he is a widely recognized Greek hero, known for his quick wit, the love he had for his mother, and the founding of Mycanaea, considered by many ancient Greeks to be the father of all Mycanaea (after making Diktys king of Seriphos, Perseus went on to find the land known as Mycanaea). If you're interested in learning more of his myths (which I highly suggest), my resources will be listed at the end of the post.

·•✷ Sacred Symbols ✷•·

The sacred symbols featured below are pulled from his myths and historical depictions I found of him.

The severed head of Medusa

Swords (particularly sickle-shaped) and shields

Winged sandals/boots and a winged helm

The Helm of Invisibility

Snakes and sea serpents

Treasure chests/chests in general

Raging oceans (due to the Andromeda myth)

Rain made of gold; storm clouds (from his birth)

Discus (basically an ancient Greek frisbee-like thing)

Fishnets and fishing gear (due to his upbringing)

Fountains

A pegasus or horse

Wings (from the sandals and Medusa herself)

An eye and a tooth (from the three hags)

Broken chains/restraints (from Andromeda's rescue)

It's rather disappointing how difficult it is to find information about his worship in ancient times that isn't hidden behind a paywall. That said, I gathered some UPG from worshippers of his who were willing to share! A reminder that the below is based on UPG.

Overcoming challenges/obstacles

Feathers

Spears

Knives/other blade weapons outside of swords

Handcrafted arts and items

Boats/sailing

Mirrors/reflective surfaces

Wind, especially near or on the water

Rainfall on sunny days

The colors blue, lilac, dark gray, and gold

Eels, sea-snakes, and seabirds, especially sea-eagles

Clumps of snakes (resembles Medusa's head)

Freshly bloomed flowers; purple and blue flowers

Plants: lilac, sword lillies (dangerous to cats), peony, red hot poker (especially purples ones), foxgloves, lavender, gingko trees, and cedar trees

Herbs: Lavender, parsley, basil, lemongrass, and bay leaf

Myrrh, frankincense, sandalwood, jasmine, and ocean scents

‹-« Epithets »-›

The following is a list of titles I found for Perseus. Supposedly, they are historically attested, but if I'm going to be honest, I would take it with a grain of salt, as the sources on this were few and far between. I'll also include a short list of purely UPG/modern titles. First, however, is the historically attested list:

Godlike

Gold-begotten (referencing his birth)

Valiant

The Harvester (referencing his role in the births of Pegasus and Chrysaor, who came out of Medusa's neck after her head was cut off ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯)

The Horseman

The Warrior Chief (referencing his prowess in battle)

Deliverer of Andromeda (referencing rescue of Andromeda)

Slayer of Medusa/the Gorgo

The Eagle Son of the Golden Sire (referencing his divine lineage and birth, "The Eagle" being Zeus)

Father/Founder/King of Mycanaea (referencing the belief that he founded Mycanaea)

Perseus of Argos (referencing where he resided)

Son of Danaë

Son of Zeus

Now the UPG/modern epithets list:

Chain Breaker/Breaking (referencing rescue of Andromeda and his mother)

Starry-eyed (referencing his constellation)

Starry-footed (referencing his constellation and winged sandals)

Stone-shielded (referencing Medusa's head on the shield)

Wind-swift (referencing his winged sandals)

Courageous/Daring

The Cunning

The Resilient

The Shield-bearer (referencing the shield he uses)

The Unconquerable

The Wayfarer (referencing his many travels)

Brother of the Owl-eyed Warrior (referencing Athena)

Brother of the Silver-tongued Messenger (referencing Hermes)

Son of the Kingly Zeus

Son of the Rich-haired Danaë (based on an epithet of Danaë)

(Image depicts Perseus, Medusa, and Athena)

·✩· Perseus Worship in the Modern Day ·✩·

Within the modern day, worship may seem intimidating if you don't know how to go about it, but thankfully, it's much easier than it may seem. Before I continue, please be aware that there is no one way to worship any Greek entity, be it hero or deity. Worship varies from person to person, even when they worship the same entity, and that's both normal and historically supported. In ancient Greece, worship was different all across the land with some city-states not worshipping entire deities that others did. It's ok if your practice doesn't look exactly the same as someone else's; in fact, it probably shouldn't!

A common way of worshipping any Greek entity in the modern day is creating a custom altar. Some worshippers keep their altars outdoors, preferring for their space to be out in nature, while others keep their altars indoors, preferring their altar to be within the home. Where you keep your altar is entirely up to you, although indoor altars are typically more common due to their accessibility for most people. Being that Perseus is a hero who's traveled far and wide, going on daring adventures for the benefit of others rather than himself, a place to put his altar in the home could be near the door or window - a nod to the various journeys he's embarked on. An outdoor altar for Perseus could be located near a body of water - a nod to both the rescue of Andromeda and his escape to Seriphos with his mother as a young boy. If it's near water, be careful to keep it far enough away that it won't be swept away (make sure to keep flash floods in mind, too). I also don't suggest having anything that could be bad for the earth on an outdoor altar; it could harm the environment, should any of those items be lost.

It's important to note that you don't need an altar to worship an entity. That might be a hot take to some, but I've known many worshippers who either can't have an altar, due to living circumstances, or simply don't want to, due to personal beliefs. Worship however feels correct to you (though I highly suggest still being respectful). Religion and spirituality are very personal, and I encourage you to explore that personal connection. Don't be afraid to do things a little differently!

Many modern altars have a candle, meant to be lit in honor of the entity. If you don't want a candle on your altar, that's ok! Candle scents are typically based on things associated with the entity or things that simply remind the worshipper of them. For Perseus, some potential candle scents could be ocean, storm, rain (UPG after this), lily, lavender, lilac, or sandalwood. Feel free to choose a scent that calls to you, even if it wasn't mentioned!

Most altars have various objects dedicated to the entity they were made for - things that remind you of the entity, depict images of the entity directly, or sacred symbols of the entity. These are called "offerings". Some stay on the altar permanently while others may not - it's entirely up to you what you choose to do with your offerings! When it comes to food offerings, I advise you not to keep them on the altar for too long, since they're often susceptible to perishing. Throw food offerings away or, if they're good for the environment, you can bury them outside. Some people also choose to burn perishable offerings, but I don't personally suggest it if you're not sure what can and can't be safely burned. In the next section below, I'll include a list of modern offerings you can give to Perseus. The list has suggestions; you aren't required to give any of the items mentioned if you don't want to!

Outside of altar worship, you can also do "devotional acts" - actions you do in honor of Perseus and with him in mind. In order to make an entity aware that I'm about to do a devotional act, I usually pray to them beforehand or declare aloud that I'm about to do something for them. Daily activities, that you would've done anyway, are also ok to dedicate to an entity; devotional acts don't have to be something you go super out of your way to do if you don't have time or energy for that. Involving entities in your daily activities is actually a great way of welcoming their presence directly into your life and can help with bonding. Two sections down is a list of devotional acts you're welcome to try. Just as the offerings I mention aren't required, neither are the devotional acts.

When in need of communicating with Perseus, I suggest utilizing divination, prayers, meditations, or journaling. There are other ways of communicating with entities, but these are the most common that I see. Regarding divination, there are near endless methods of divination you can try, from tarot cards to pendulums to a normal deck of playing cards. Although prayer is likely one of the most direct ways to communicate, divination typically allows you to have a back and forth conversation, to some extent, which is partially why so many people engage with it. If you're unfamiliar with any divination, I'd recommend trying whichever method calls you the most and practicing often to develop a skill with it. Divination can take a lot of practice, but that's not a bad thing; everyone starts somewhere! If you're unsure how to pray, the following link leads to some suggestions. If you can't meditate, no sweat; it's not required! Meditation can be useful for some when trying to connect with an entity's energy, but for others, it's not helpful at all, and that's ok. For journaling, you can simply write to Perseus as if you're writing in a diary or write him stylized letters. Maybe keep your journal on his altar as well!

At first, it may be difficult to determine when Perseus has responded to something you've prayed for or communicated about. A few ways an entity might make their answer known are through dreams, conversations/words you overhear, frequently spotting their sacred symbols (animals included), having a flash of a relevant image in your mind, strong gut feelings to do/say something specific, sensing another presence with you, and, of course, communicating through divination. There are many, many other ways an entity might express their answer to you, but these are a few I see fairly commonly within the Hellenic Polytheist and Pagan communities. If you struggle telling when you've received a sign versus when you're just overthinking it, this link can lend a helpful hand in being able to tell. I also personally use the rule of three: once is noticeable 🤔, twice is a coincidence 🤨, and thrice is a certainty 🧐.

-

·✩· What is Perseus Like in Worship (UPG)? ·✩·

This is SOLELY based on UPG and SPG that I've gathered through various means. Out of respect, I will not be @ing the individuals who provided this information, unless they ask me to do so. Be aware that no one can definitively speak for the gods, heroes, or any other entity; everyone's experience with them will vary, even in seemingly small ways. Do not expect your experience to mimic the following experiences exactly.

I decided to gather people's experiences with Perseus in worship to hopefully provide a better feel for what Perseus may be like. I'll be numbering the experiences I was told of because each situation was expressly unique enough that separating them will be useful. Each experience will begin with two adjectives outlining the main point of the experience, as some of these individuals intentionally worship specific aspects of Perseus. Although your experience may vary, here are some things you may encounter with him:

⚔️ Young and Rebellious. 💥 This person told me that they explicitly worship a younger aspect of Perseus, before he became a king. They described him as spirited, determined, and bold. He encouraged standing up for oneself and others, and dislikes figures of authority. The way he was described reminds me of a typical "rebellious teen" stereotype (this is not an insult, just something I found interesting, as my experience strongly differed). He seemed to have more of a hands-on approach to lessons and problems, but that wasn't discussed further.

🐎 Humble and Kind. 🧡 This person only interacted with Perseus through their partner, but every time they did, they described him as being very modest and respectful. Despite his later status as a king, he seemed to regard everyone as an equal and tended to be very patient as well. This person stated that their partner said Perseus still knew how and when to put his foot down and often tried to pass that lesson along, since assertiveness was a struggle for their partner. Perseus was described as being a gentle guide as well, preferring for their partner to come to their own conclusions but still assisting them along the journey.

🪽 Swift and Smart. 🛡️ This person described Perseus as being kind and respectful, but being blunt when it was needed. He fully embraced both cunning and wit, and encouraged this person to solve problems by thinking outside of the box. Rather than giving away solutions immediately, he would prefer to let this person think through a situation. He aided a lot with thinking on their feet as well as asserting themselves in subtle yet effective ways. Something that remained consistent with the last experience was his hands-off approach to solving problems, preferring the person to listen to themselves first and foremost.

✨ My Experience. ✨ I do not worship Perseus, but a few times throughout the creation of this post, I felt his energy nearby. In my experience, he was very quiet, patient, and respectful. He respected my boundaries and seemingly regarded me as an equal. His modesty was striking, but despite this, he was still well aware of his talents. He was extremely clever and intelligent, and in some ways, he reminded me of an owl who observes his surroundings fully before he acts. He still made a point to assert himself when needed, however, and would jump in the moment he felt it necessary. Interestingly, he had a very hands-off approach to this post. When he did help, it was much appreciated, though. He was very different from other heroes I've interacted with, and overall, I enjoyed his company. c:

✧ ⟨Offerings ⟩✧

The following is a list of offerings you can give to Perseus as a show of worship. They're simply suggestions; you don't have to use them if you don't want to!

Decorated chests/boxes (maybe even keep his altar in a chest)

A candle that reminds you of him

Frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, or any other incense that reminds you of him

Sword and shield imagery

Imagery of a pegasus or horse

Imagery of Medusa's head; imagery of the Aegis (Athena's shield that she affixes Medusa's head to)

Feathers (for his winged sandals)

Snake and sea serpent imagery; a stuffed animal snake or sea serpent

Ethically sourced snake skulls, especially sea snakes; ethically sourced snake shed

Imagery of a raging ocean; imagery of rain made of gold

Seashells

Fishnets/fishing gear

Ethically sourced fish bones/shark teeth

Breaking/broken chains imagery; broken handcuffs

Gifts from your mom or a mother figure in your life to you (it's ok if you don't have anything)

Jewelry that reminds you of him

Water-based gems/crystals

Art/depictions of him and his ventures

Imagery of spears (as an acknowledgement of Athena and her aid)

Imagery of winged sandals (as an acknowledgement of Hermes and his aid)

Encouraging affirmations about pushing through, defying expectations, and overcoming obstacles

Fountain imagery

A mask of Medusa's face

Eye and tooth imagery; ethically sourced animal teeth (you can use human teeth, but I personally wouldn't)

Family heirlooms passed down from maternal (or parental) figures

Lost trinkets found at the beach/lakeshore

Imagery of an ancient Greek helm/the helm of invisibility

Toys/items from your childhood that mean a lot to you

Mirrors/reflective surfaces

Replica sail boats/toy boats

Flowers, leaves, or herbs that remind you of him

White wine with a bit of honey

Warm herbal tea with honey

A glass of water (or salt/sea water)

Energizing drinks - coffee, certain teas, energy shakes, protein shakes, etc.

Energizing foods - nuts, trail mix, vegetables, oatmeal, eggs, bananas, etc.

Breads, pastries, grains with honey, natural honey, tasty candies, fresh fruits, fish, or something you made by hand for Perseus specifically

｡◉* Devotional Acts *◉ ｡

The following is a list of devotional activities you can do in honor of Perseus. These are just suggestions; you don't have to do them if you don't want to!

Learn how to swim; go swimming

Go sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding; engage in water-related activities

Play frisbee with friends or pets

Go fishing (legally, please)

Be kind to/encourage yourself when going through a difficult time

Make a list of things you've overcome; acknowledge your accomplishments, no matter how small they seem

Learn how to ride a horse; go horse-back riding

Stay hydrated; drink water

Try eating a healthy diet or meal if possible

Try exercising; do some movement throughout your day

Spend time with a maternal figure in your life or with a mother you know (for example, a friend or sibling who became a mom)

Be kind to children; spend time with the kids in your life

Watch a comforting movie/show from your childhood

Learn about self-defense; carry self-defense items (knives, pepper spray, etc.)

If you have a personal mirror, decorate it with things you love or positive self-affirmations

Create a playlist of songs that remind you of him; listen to the playlist whenever you want c:

Create a Pinterest board for him; save pins that remind you of him

Play strategy games, competitive or not

Learn how to wield a sword; swords are objectively cool

Visit any local fountains (not a drinking fountain, but the kind that people throw coins in)

Offer someone a helping hand; engage in random acts of kindness

Send your loved ones a kind message; maybe tell them you love them, wish them a good day, or encourage them

Stand up for others, especially if you witness a wrong done against them

Attend protests that stand against corrupt governments/politicians

Support children-focused, anti-domestic abuse, young/single mothers, or international relief organizations

Support ocean conservation efforts

Donate children's and hygiene supplies to homeless shelters; hygiene kits, toys, child socks/shoes, child clothes, baby food, diapers, etc.

Pick up trash around bodies of water

Sing/dance to songs the empower you, lift you up, or encourage you to keep moving forward

Make a list of things you're proud of; even getting out of bed can be a point of pride

Light a candle in his honor; burn incense in his honor

Plant/care for flowers or other plants that remind you of him

Create something for him - a painting, drawing, piece of digital art, wood carving, crochet project, song, short story, collage, etc.

Take a salt bath (with bath salts specifically!!!!)

Engage in a mental challenging/stimulating activities

•★ Conclusion ★•

To cover every piece of information about Perseus that exists would be a difficult task, and one that would likely take years of hard work. I hope this can at least be a starting point for any prospective worshippers and can offer a more condensed view of who exactly Perseus is. It can be challenging finding a place to start, but once you take your first step, you're already well on your way. I wish you, the reader, luck in your future ventures. May Perseus walk beside you, if you wish him to. Take care.

-

-

-

Sources:

Theoi.com's entry on Perseus

Tufts University sources on the Medusa myth

History Cooperative's informed article on Perseus

Cults and Rites in Ancient Greece by Michael H. Jameson

Gods and Heroes - Perseus by Daniel Ogden

UPG was gathered from unnamed individuals, as well as my own very brief experiences with Perseus

[paracosmic-sims]

Orchid Gorgonia: Medusan

Abyssal is a mini-series of occasional posts that I'm making as a tribute for my first playthrough of @straussz's Gorgons and Heroes challenge. Unfortunately, the save still exists, but it's taken over by bugs in live mode, rendering it unplayable.

Orchid was a very powerful first generation, managing 9 babies in total, before disappearing from the world without a trace due to unfortunate circumstances. A very alluring sim, most of her targets were very influent.

[lunarforager]

Who is Athena?

Today's "Introduction to the Hellenic Gods" post is about the lovely Athena! She was the one I wanted to do next since I have a very personal connection with her. Athena is the deity I am currently trying to reach out to (so this post is acting as an offering of sorts) and she is also the deity I most associate most with my partner!

---

Athena is the name given to the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, and handicraft. Her Roman equivalent is Minerva.

---

Athena's birth myth has two versions that are very similar to one another. The first myth states that Athena was produced by Zeus' own thoughts and was 'born' by erputing from his forehead. In this myth there was no mother.

In the other version of her birth myth, Athena was instead a growing baby inside the goddess Metis who Zeus then swallowed. Athena then emerged fully formed from his forehead once again.

In both myths, Athena was said to emerge fully grown weilding both her spear and her shield and ready for battle.

---

Pallas Athena is the most commonly referred to epithet of Athena. There are many explainations to how this epithet came to be, but most agree that it comes from the Greek word πάλλω, which means "to brandish". Pallas Athena refers specifically to the warlike attributes of Athena, with her being depicted in her full battle armor with her shield and her spear.

Athena Parthenos is another commonly used epithet meaning "Athena the Virgin". Athena, like Hestia and Artemis was a virgin goddess, but unlike Hestia (or Vesta) was not worshipped in that capacity. It was simply an attribute commonly given to her.

---

Some interesting facts about Athena:

Athena is known to wield the shield Aegis, which is engraved with the face of the Gorgon, Medusa.

Athena was regarded as the patron goddess of heroic endeavours, hence why she continually helps the heroes of famous myths like Perseus, Jason, and Heracles.

Athena was often depicted in art wearing male battle armor and was treated similary to the male gods.

Athena created the first spider, Arachne, after challenging the woman in a weaving contest, which she lost, afterwards transforming her into an arachnid.

—-

My favourite literature and artwork depicting Athena/Minerva:

- The Iliad by Homer: In the first book of the Iliad, Athena is sent down by Hera to stop Achilles and Agamemnon from getting into a physical altercation. She grabs Achilles by the hair and warns him that fighting Agamemnon will lead him away from his destiny of greatness.

- The statue of Athena Parthenos (recreations) by Phidias: A statue of Athena meant to be housed in the Parthenon on the acropolis of Athens

- The Judgement of Paris by Lucas Cranach the Elder: Paris was asked to choose which of the three goddesses, Hera, Athena, or Aphrodite, he believed was the ‘fairest’. Each offered him a bribe to choose them, but Paris went with Aphrodite as the goddess offered him the most beautiful woman to wed, Helen of Troy. In this painting all three goddesses are depicted nude, which wouldn’t have been the case in ancient Greek art, as depicting any goddess, even Aphrodite, as nude was seen as sacrilege. This was painted in 1530, hence why the nudity wasn’t frowned upon.

---

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this post! I absolutely love Athena and all that she represents and so I was so excited to spend some time writing this up for you all. If you have any suggestions for who to write about next, feel free to DM me or leave me an ask! Also, feel free to reach out if you just want to chat! I love making new friends and would love to talk to anybody who wants to!

Valete, my friends! <3

[whencyclopedia]

Pegasus

Pegasus (or Pegasos) is a winged-horse from Greek mythology which was fathered by Poseidon and was born from the severed neck of the gorgon Medusa, slain by Perseus. At the same time and in the same way, Chryasor was also born. Poseidon gave Pegasus to his son Bellerophon who put Pegasus to good use in his famous battle with the Chimaera.

The myth of Bellerophon begins with the hero visiting Tiryns and enjoying the hospitality of the city's king Proitos. However, trouble started when Stheneboia, the king's wife, fell in love with the hero and made inappropriate advances. Bellerophon, being a good guest, politely rejected these advances but predictably, Stheneboia saw red and went before the king and accused the visitor of attempting to seduce her. In punishment, Bellerophon was sent by Proitos to serve his father-in-law Iobates, King of Lykia. On arrival, Bellerophon was set a series of dangerous and impossibly difficult tasks, chief amongst them being to destroy the fearsome and rather bizarre Chimaera. This fire-breathing creature was a terrible mix of a lion's body with a snake for a tail and the head of a goat sprouting from its back. To aid him in this task, Bellerophon was fortunate to have at his disposal Pegasus. In some accounts he found the horse at the fountain of Pirene near Corinth, and Hesiod suggests this fact explains the name Pegasus, derived from 'water'- pēgē. Taming the horse with the help of Athena, Bellerophon rode (and flew) Pegasus and managed to kill the monstrous Chimaera with his spear.

Bellerophon and Pegasus went on to enjoy further success with other challenges Iobates set the hero including a battle with the Amazons. However, becoming rather boastful and thinking he could fly high enough on his winged steed to take his place amongst the immortal gods, Bellerophon was thrown by Pegasus and fell unceremoniously back to earth. Meanwhile, Pegasus kept on going and on reaching Mt. Olympus, he was given to Eos who was responsible for bringing Dawn across the sky each day. According to Hesiod in his Theogony, Pegasus also brought Zeus his thunder and lightning whenever needed.

Pegasus is also credited with creating a number of springs with a stamp of his hoof. Most famous of these were the Hippocrene spring on Mt. Helicon, close to the grove sacred to the Muses, and the spring at Troezen.

Pegasus appeared on Greek pottery, the earliest being Corinthian wares from the 7th century BCE. Pegasus was also a popular design on coins, in particular from Corinth from the 6th century BCE. A famous representation in sculpture is from the pediment of the Temple of Artemis on Corcyra (c. 580 BCE). The Bellerophon and Pegasus myth was also a popular subject in Roman art - especially engraved semi-precious stone cameos and floor mosaics - where the horse became symbolic of immortality.

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[amorphousbl0b]

You should play Sarpedon

Sarpedon is a short, free Steam game about Medusa and... Perseus? Well, not really.

It's an experiment in narrative isolation. Can we separate Medusa from her Ovidian tragedy and still see her as a person? If she's born an ugly monster, if she's not beautiful and not punished, can she still be sympathetic? And if we remove her slayer from a heroic motivation, should turning men to stone still condemn her to die?

As someone often annoyed with repetitions of this particular tale that offer nothing new to the conversation, I commend this game enormously for saying something interesting and for challenging the uncomfortable tendency in Medusa stories to associate sympathy with beauty lost. I highly recommend it. As I said, it's free, it should run on any machine, and it takes about half to one hour to play.

Analysis under the cut, go play it now if you want to experience the story blind.

The story of Perseus has been recounted so many times in so many different versions, each of which seems to argue over the monstrosity of his foe. The main draw of Sarpedon, in my eyes, is that it refuses to take the easy way and spell out Medusa's origin for us. She's not a defiled, transformed maiden. She is a monster. But she is loved by her father and her sisters. She is her family's only mortal, and that makes her so, so lonely. And so, so afraid.

Our player character both is and is not Perseus. He carries the harpe and receives gifts from the gods, but he doesn't arrive with purpose; he washes ashore in a box like a baby onto Seriphos. He seems to be trapped in a sort of loop. The Graiai have seen a hero trick them before, Stheno and Euryale know you will return to the cave no matter what, and Medusa seems to know how it feels to die. When you are turned to stone or torn to pieces, you wake in your box again. You're not a confident hero; you're a frightened boy walking into the lair of something you couldn't possibly understand.

And this game's creator gets mythology. They've clearly thought a lot about this story and its wider world. Allusions abound, from the cameo of Phorkys to a reference to Crocus (Hermes's less-popular discount Hyacinthus). There's even a brief inclusion of a fleeting maiden as you are reborn at the dawn of every replay. Kore is often used as another name for Persephone, and it fits well; she oversees the transition between death and life. As you return from being killed, she is there to greet you.

But the theme of this game with which I most strongly resonate is a statement I feel absolutely necessary in the discourse about a monster whose chief feature is her ugliness.

See, even since the Classical period Medusa has long been sanitized and beautified by artists and authors who wish to make her more sympathetic. Feminist depictions of Medusa that seek to empathize with her are usually just a pretty lady with snake locs who may or may not be green. Not only is her monstrous form neutered by removing her monstrous features, her tragic backstory emphasizes her human self’s uncommon beauty and innocence. Meanwhile, the frightening tusked Archaic Gorgon is relegated to those portrayals uninterested in humanizing her.

There is an unspoken message with all this: the idea that visual appeal is a prerequisite to compassion. Medusa must remain beautiful even when transformed, and if not, she must be a beautiful thing despoiled. On some level we are expected to feel sorry for her because we mourn the loss of her prettiness.

Sarpedon doesn’t give a damn about beauty. The Gorgons are all taken straight from Archaic art, and they’re appropriately terrifying. But as previously mentioned, Medusa has no Metamorphosis backstory here. She’s not a maiden changed. She was always monstrous, always hideous, and she’s a person anyway. It is simply her fear of death that makes her worthy of life.

That’s why I think Sarpedon rocks.

[mythology-freaky-lady]

ATHENA

Athena, in Roman mythology known as Minerva, was a daughter of Zeus and Metis (Oceanid of good thoughts).

Patronage, symbols and epithets

Athena was a goddess of wisdom, fair war, warfare, crafts, intelligence, warcraft, strategy, protector and mentor of heroes and patron of the Athens

She was associated with owls, snakes and sometimes horses, olive tree. On ancient paintings and vases she was pictured with a spear, helmet, armor, Aegis (shield with Medusa's head) and chariot.

The epithets that were used to describe were:

Pallas (young woman or brandish) - connected with a friend Athena had while training with Amazons (in other sources they were childhood friends)

Glaukopis (bright eye) - connected with the owl that represented Athena

Parthenos (virgin)

Polias (of the city)

Hippia (of the horses) - connected with her creating bit, bridle and saddle

Family

Athena's father was Zeus and her mother was Metis. Due to those two, her sibling-uncle-aunt-cousin list was very long.

Zeus had many children so from his side it would look like this:

Siblings from Zeus's side: Ares, Apollo, Artemis, Hephaestus, Hebe, Hermes, Dionysus, Muses, Horae, Charities, Persephone, Eileithyia, Heracles and many more

Aunts/uncles from Zeus's side: Hestia, Hera, Demeter, Hades, Poseidon

In some sources, it's said that Metis also had a son, Porus. That makes him Athena's brother.

Siblings from Metis's side: Porus

Aunts/uncles from Metis's side: 49 Oceanides, Potamol

Children

Even though it's said that Athena was a virgin goddess, which is true BUT.....she was raped, by her own brother, Hephaestus.

When he let Athena out of Zeus's head, he immediately fell for her. He asked the father to let him marry her but Zeus was clever enough to notice that Athena, his favourite daughter, was very disgusted by Hephaestus and he said 'no'. God of Fire was very sad about that but he didn't give up. Whenever he could, he would try to seduce the Goddess of Wisdom. Athen was saying 'no' every time. One time, when she visited Hephaestus in his forge to request some weapon, he tried again. She stood high and left but he followed her and tried to rape her. She pushed him off but a bit of his semen fell on her skin. (In "Percy Jackson's Greek Gods" it's said that Hephaestus wiped his nose in her dress.) Athena wiped the fluids with a scrap of wool and threw it down on the Earth. That's how Erichthonius, future ruler of Athens was born.

Birth

Zeus, threatened by Kronos's words about the King's child taking his throne, decided to swallow pregnant Metis to get rid of the 'problem'. But, as an Oceanid of good thoughts, Metis gave birth to Athena then turned herself into a thought and moved into Zeus's head then somehow left. Baby Athena followed Metis's steps and travelled to King's head, where she grew up and became a big, annoying headache. Zeus, tired from the pain, asked his son, Hephaestus, to open his skull to see what was wrong. He listened and how surprised everyone was when a fully armored goddess jumped out of Zeus's head.

Myths

1. Arachne

Arachne was a Libyan princess who was saying that her weaving was better than Athena's. The goddess was pissed and accepted Arachne's challenge. Unluckily for Arachne, Athena couldn't find any flaw in the princess's work so she destroyed her work in anger. Arachne was so ashamed that she hung herself. Athena then turned her into a spider and let her weave for the rest of her life.

2. Medusa

Medusa, one of the three Gorgons, was a very beautiful woman, some say she was an Athena's temple maiden. One day, after the competition between Athena and Poseidon about patronage over Athens, Sea God was so angry at his nephew, that he decided to make her feel the same. So with his natural flirt going, he approached Medusa and started to mess around. After some time he led unaware Medusa to Athena's temple that she was working at and started to indicate a sexual act. She was very opposed to that, that was Athena's sacred place and she knew that it was risky. Poseidon was pressuring her, saying that Athena was busy and she wouldn't mind or so. Still, she didn't agree to anything, as many may agree, she was raped. Athena, who wasn't so busy, saw what was happening in her temple. Blinded with anger, she turned Medusa into a monster we know her as, the woman with snakes on her head and the eyes that turn into a stone. But was it really Medusa's fault?

3. Athens

Poseidon and Athena were rather enemies when it comes to patronage over the city. They both wanted to be patrons of Athens so they set a contest. Who will give the best gift to the city? Poseidon gave the city salt water and horses, Athena gave them an olive tree. Well, Athenians chose the tree. That's how she got the patronage.

Those are just a few myths with Athena in them, I can provide a little more if you're interested.

Art

Credit to the artists (IrenHorrors on DeviantArt, two others I couldn't find the author)

Author's talking

Hello! I decided to start with my favourite goddess and my protector as a pagan.

I hope you like my work here, if you have any questions, advice or want to say anything, just let me know or say so.

If you want to see any specific god, goddess, creature or deity, just let me know, either in the comments, anon asks or DMs.

Have fun!

[strangelittlestories]

The three girls were sitting outside the McDonalds by the dingy underpass beneath the A-road that circled the town. They wore grey hoodies and seemed to be arguing.

Cee checked the map she had been given by the Hermes courier. It was still there in her hand, even here in the dream. She had followed the route as best she could.

1) Head north until you reach the country club. 2) Steal a rowboat and head out onto the lake. 3) When the storm descends, bargain with the spirit at the centre for passage, 4) When you are spit out you’ll find yourself in a forest pond, at which point you must turn twice widdershins and pass under the mushroom arch. 5) Take the footpath until you’re back on the main road, then take a left past the Gregg’s. 6) Look for the golden arches on Argyle Street. 7) Fall asleep there and dream: in your mind, they shall be there.

Here she was. And these must be the ladies.

She sidled over and began to hear their argument:

“Dana, give it. You know I cannot read the thrice-cursed menu without the i.”

The girl who spoke was reaching for a battered old iphone, which the second girl was currently using to record a video.

“Shut up, Enya, you are distracting me. You can have the i once I have used it to complete the Oracle Challenge on TikTok.”

The third girl snatched the iphone away, while the first two bickered and began scrolling it with one hand.

“Oh my gods, Freddo, you already have the tooth! Stop hogging!”

The third girl grinned and produced a small off-white bluetooth speaker from her hoodie. She tapped the iphone screen and the speaker began playing Despacito.

“It is almost out of charge, sisters. I must have my jams - my jams! My jams! - before it is fully depleted.”

Cee cleared her throat, so as not to surprise them.

“Um, excuse me.” The three girls all swung their heads to face Cee at the exact same time. “I was told that you three would know where to find the gorgon?”

The three replied at once, speaking over each other in one fluid and deeply creepy rush.

“Oh for-” “-the sake of-” “-Zeus’s golden showers-" “-another would-be hero-” “-approaches us to- “-accomplice another monster murder-” “-get-” “-to-” “-fudge.”

“Oh no,” Cee replied. “You’ve misunderstood. The gorgon is my girlfriend. I think … an ancient king or god or something … kidnapped her?”

“Hmmm.” said Dana. “That’s new. I don’t know if I like it yet.”

“Oooh, a queer retelling,” said Dana, “BookTok is gonna flip their shit about this.”

“No. A fully unadulterated, manifested, healthily boundaried ‘no’.” said Freddo, “I am not gonna be a part of burying this gay. And I will gatekeep the flip out of you if I must.”

Cee thought for a moment.

“I get where you’re coming from,” she said, “but perhaps I could offer you something in exchange? I notice you just have the one dying iphone and one dodgy speaker between you?”

“One i and one tooth, yes. That is the way of it.”

“Well … I could offer you this power bank and a couple of USB/lightning cables? Then you could keep your stuff charged and you might not have to argue over the last dregs of power?”

The three girls huddled and whispered for a moment. The sound of the cars on the circular road above - each roaring with the sound of a thought tearing through Cee’s subconscious - drowned out their deliberations. Once more, they looked up at exactly the same time and all spoke as one.

“Very well, we shall tell you what you seek.”

Cee was glad she had brought the charge brick with her. She supposed it was true what they said: In the ring-road of the mind, the charged iphone is king.

---

With thanks to Anne V McClure for the Word of the Month prompt ‘Kingdom’. Want to submit your own prompts for tortured puns? Become a supporter on Ko-Fi! https://ko-fi.com/strangelittlestories

[riveramorylunar]

Nemuri Kayama Fic Titles -

Echoes of Elvenvaris: Moon Elf Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

Beyond The Dojo: Karate Teacher Nemuri Kayama x Student Reader

Love In Hyrule: Sheikah Nemuri Kayama x Princess Reader

A Gym Leader's Challenge: Pokemon Gym Leader Nemuri Kayama x Trainer Reader

A Lesson In Love: Professor Nemuri Kayama x Student Reader

Behind The Masks: Villain Nemuri Kayama x Pro-Hero Reader

From Broke To Spoiled: CEO Sugar Mommy Nemuri Kayama x Broke College Student Reader

The Heart Of A Vampire: Vampire Queen Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

A Wild Attraction: Werewolf Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

Two Worlds Collide: Witch Nemuri Kayama x Vampire Reader

Behind The Scenes: Bodyguard Nemuri Kayama x Famous Reader

Between Blood And Love: Mafia Boss Nemuri Kayama x Rival Mob Boss Daughter

The Midnight Killer: Serial Killer Nemuri Kayama x Reader

Bound To The Devil: Demon Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

A Mortal's Sacrifice: Goddess Of Seduction Nemuri Kayama x Mortal Reader

A Soul Sold For Love: Succubus Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

A Siren's Call: Siren Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

A Nine-Tailed Beauty: Kitsune Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

Dance Of Love: Nightclub Owner Nemuri Kayama x Dancer Reader

A Serpentines Hold: Naga Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

A Moth's Light: Moth Humanoid Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

A Deadly Embrace: Jiangshi Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

Caught In A Gorgon's Gaze: Gorgon Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

A Love In The Heavens: Angel Nemuri Kayama x New Angel Reader

Meal Made For Two: Dark Chef Nemuri Kayama x Reader

The Allure Of A Kirin: Kirin Nemuri Kayama x Hunter Reader

A Frozen Love: Yuki Onna Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

Murder Mystery: Detective Nemuri Kayama x Assistant Reader

An Oni's Protection: Oni Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

A Djinn And Her Apprentice: Djinn Nemuri Kayama x Apprentice Reader

A Hybrid's Captured Heart: Supernatural Hunter Nemuri Kayama x Hybrid Reader

A Captain's Loyalty: Royal Guard Captain Nemuri Kayama x Princess Reader

Love That Defies The Court: Mistress Of Spies Nemuri Kayama x Princess Reader

Love Between Rival Nations: Air/Mist Bender Nemuri Kayama x Fire Bender Reader

Twisted Cure: Dark Doctor Nemuri Kayama x Patient Reader

A Love Unearthed: Necromancer Nemuri Kayama x Human Reader

Relationship Leveled Up: Gamer Nemuri Kayama x Girlfriend Reader

Leather And Love: Biker Nemuri Kayama x Girlfriend Reader

Threads Of Fate: Fashion Designer Nemuri Kayama x New Designer Reader

Love On The Farm: Country Nemuri Kayama x Farmer's Daughter Reader

Hearts In Gear: Mechanic Nemuri Kayama x Girlfriend Reader

Pit Of Passion: Race Car Driver Nemuri Kayama x Pit Crew Girlfriend Reader

A Need For Speed, For Love: Street Racer Nemuri Kayama x Mechanic Reader

A Duo On Ice: Skater Nemuri Kayama x Skate Partner Reader

Home Run Love: Softball Coach Nemuri Kayama x Softball Player Reader

A Blend Of Chemistry And Affection: Chemist Nemuri Kayama x Assistant Reader

A Leap Into Love: Gymnastics Coach Nemuri Kayama x Student Reader

Sticks And Hearts On Ice: Hockey Coach Nemuri Kayama x Hockey Player Reader

[tylermileslockett]

Week 12: Master Plan Monday Art Piece: The Quest for the Gorgon Head

Every Monday, we unveil the grand design for the week’s new art piece. This week’s image is The Quest for the Gorgon Head.

I am Perseus, born of Danae and Zeus. Cast into the sea as a child, I grow to challenge fate. Sent on a deadly quest to retrieve Medusa’s head, I journey with divine gifts: flight, invisibility, and an unbreakable blade. I face the Gorgons, rescue Andromeda from a sea serpent, and wield Medusa’s stony gaze to defeat the tyrant Polydectes.

Lockett Studio dives into the creation of an epic image that captures the key moments of this myth. From initial sketches to the final artwork, we share the process through time-lapses, close-ups, and exclusive teasers. We're excited to unveil the Parallax art on our website, offering an immersive viewing experience. Stay tuned for a captivating week filled with artistic inspiration and mythological wonder. ❤🤟🏛

Check out our website via the link tree

—we’ve just launched and can’t wait to hear your thoughts on our interactive art pieces and narrations from the heroes.

[dragontamer05]

A big reason why I love Class of the Titans is because sometimes they'll have episodes where things from the gods' past will get brought up / Cronus will try and use something against them.

In one episode we deal with Sybaris- which admittedly what the show did is a very very loose interpretation they def take some liberties with Hera having been the one who killed her in the past (opposed to the hero Eurybarus) but they make it work fine.

One that I'm quite fond of is the one that involves Orion and Artemis. Cronus calling forth Orion from the stars and kind fueling anger of how well Artemis killed him doesn't he want revenge or whatever.

But by the end has a sweet reconciliation with Orion coming to understand it was an accident and Artemis truly did love/care about him. Artemis didn't know it was him in the water unable to refuse the challenge of trying to hit the object in the water.

Which is one version of the myth - without Scorpius-

(I believe the whole moral/idea behind the episode was not letting competitiveness not get in the way of ones friendship more or less)

--

They actually do bring in Medusa and her sisters but seem to take more of the Gorgon monster route with them

[dgrailwar]

Round 12, Day 3 - Ruler / Alter-Ego

The order was simple- strike first, and strike fast. The Alter-Ego and the Ruler darted forward, their forms blurs as they surged in for a joint strike.

The Ruler swung her banner, and the Alter-Ego's bladed legs spun like saws, both weapons striking against the massive shield that Medusa held. The gorgon roared, thrusting the shield forward, pushing the two Servants backwards.

"...'Slaughter the monster as fast as you can'. That's simply the nature of those who call themselves 'heroes'. Do not worry, I'm not naive to this outcome. In fact, I was expecting it."

Her sword gleamed as she pointed it forward.

"Fine. I've been called to protect that girl's wish- so, I'll do as such. My head will not be removed so easily, and you will not crush that child's dream. If she'll damn humanity for 'love', then I'll put in that much effort as well."

The eyes of the gorgon began to burn with mana as she slowly shut them, a curse, ancient and terrible, beginning to manifest.

"Now! Attack!"

"Don't rush me!"

Medusa's eyes snapped open as the two Servants went for another attack, a wave of horrible magic emanating from them. The Alter-Ego felt her limbs stiffening, while the Ruler held fast, her hands gripping tightly around her banner.

--Behold, the progenitor of monsters. The cursed goddess of the Shapeless Isles. She who had taken the scorn of the gods, and rendered the flesh of those who stood in her path inert eternally as stone. Great divinity of the Earth, the fallen youngest of the triple goddesses. Witness, the great gorgon of legend, who swallows all those who fall within her gaze!

The Extra-Class of Atavistic Might, Ancient God!

You're challenging an 'Ancient Extra Class'! The stakes are much higher!

One option will result in the Ruler taking a wound, one option will result in Alter-Ego taking a wound, and one will result in both taking a wound, and one will avoid damage altogether!

However, this is still a battle! Some choices may land a critical blow on the Ancient God!