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[alaknog]

Just semi-random idea

Hermes Trismegistus thing is result Hermes attempt to impress his girlfiend - Hecate.

He start learn magic and somehow become very good in this.

Yes, I ship Hermes and Hecate (because "Orpheus" and "Hermes" rock operas).

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Just small thing that I discover recently

Ariadne and Medea was cousins (through Helios) - not like this really big thing in Greek mythology sweet home... but still fun idea to think about family talks.

Ariadne: And this damn "hero" just dump me on island! After all I do for him!

Medea: He dump you on island just after you leave home. He can live with you for ten years and dump you after this. You essentially dodge a bigger spear.

Ariadne: well, maybe you right.

Medea: I also try kill this Theseus, but his survive.

Ariadne: Thanks anyway.

Also daughters of Helios have tendency to be witchy - Pasiphae (mother of Ariande) curse her husband to kill his mistresses.

So now I have headcanon that Ariadne have her share of witch abilities.

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Iirc in Ovid version Medusa is not priestess and not victim of Poseidon (at least not rape).

Persseus are unproblematic as hero, unlike modern interpretations.

Note about Ares - Dionysica have a part about how cool Ares in Giantomachy and how he kill giant that "designed" to survive Zeus's thunderbolts.

Perseus was far from coward and he was really good fighter. Beating god is not small achievement. Especially to do this without support of another god.

[alaknog]

Ehh, I little bored, so I want throw few bits from another Oldie book

Abour Bellerophon. Book about Bellerophon, quotes is more complicated

Hermes and Athena

When the gods, fearing the battle of Zeus with Typhon, fled to the Black Land, Hermes escaped first. Not because he was the fastest, but because he took off before the others. He was the first to return, retaining his natural mockery. The youngest of the Olympians could laugh at himself no worse than at others.

"The shortest way is not always the safest," he told Athena after finding his sister near Delphi, in a sacred olive grove. Hermias' eyes glittered with a pair of black agates, and his mouth stretched into a smile from ear to ear, but the goddess clearly saw that his brother was dead tired. "The corridors between our lands and the Black Earth have been laid for a long time. They are worn inside and out, so we decided.… Do you already know that the whole family is heading in the same direction? How did you conspire, huh?!" Athena knew.

"It's one thing when you stop by for a visit, bring gifts, and soon disappear. It's quite another thing when you want to settle here, and even without permission. Safetyy? Typhon will seem like the cutest creature compared to the masters of the Black Earth whom you are bothering. In addition, their air… He works wonders. Did you know that I've grown a jackal's head?"

No, Athena didn't know that.

"I'm telling you, it's grown up. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't regain my former appearance. The local divine jackal was willing to take me into his service, even gave me a broom. Can you imagine, a broom? Hermes, the son of Zeus, sweeps the realm of the dead, and so on until the end of time! I took the broom, thanked him, and left the same day. Don't you need a broom? I'm changing to a spear, with an additional payment..." *** In the family, Hermes was called Crafty One, and there was a reason. The kid was rightfully considered the most cunning of the gods, just as on earth his uncle Sisyphus, the ruler of Ether, was considered the most cunning of mortals. *** —My son Pan,— Hermes introduced the satyr. — We once got together with one perky nymph.… When it's over, I'll introduce him to Family. Don't worry, he don't desire Olympus, and don't ask the palace. The little brat is fine in the woods, he's his own king there. Do we really look alike, yeah? He really like me, one face. Horns, again. I just curious from who he's got everything else in him except his face.…

The surroundings of the Korikian Cave are a bad place for jokes. The pain for his father, who was mutilated by Typhon, does not contribute much to laughter. Nevertheless, it was very difficult for Athena not to burst out laughing. *** Sisyphus himself (meet his grandson Hipponous) A tall, sturdy man walked in front. His chiton is long, knee—length! It was painted in expensive overseas purple, and a gold border snaked along the hem. Two shepherds were timidly huddled behind the man. No doubt they wanted to run away, but they were afraid. Try it, disobey, yeah! I forgot about the shepherds right away - I was staring at the leader with all my eyes. He walked as if he was the owner here, not Dad. He's so... confident, that's it! A real basileus, and not because he's a chiton. Gait, posture, gaze. His beard is gray, but it looks like silver. Neat, curled, ringlet to ringlet — better than Dad's.

Wrinkles on the face? Well, wrinkles.

No, I couldn't call him an old man. Even to myself. I couldn't, that's all! What kind of old man is he?! I remembered Grandfather Sisyphus vaguely. He died when I was about three years old. And now I'm six! Well, almost. It will be fulfilled in the autumn. Like, Grandpa. Or maybe not. And if it's still a grandfather, what is he like?

Alive? Dead?!

The solar chariot of Helios rolled across the sky. It was very hot today. Just like yesterday and the day before yesterday. The stone slabs of the courtyard burned my bare feet. But I suddenly felt cold. If it's Grandpa Sisyphus, with a beard and a chiton, he's hardly a monster. On the other hand, if he's dead, maybe he's no better than a monster? Or is it better? Or is he still alive? In Hades, the dead become disembodied shadows, everyone knows that.…

I devoured my grandfather with my eyes. He didn't look like a shadow at all. By the way, he had his own shadow: it regularly trailed after him. A shadow can't have a shadow, right? Or maybe?

Oh, I'm really confused!

Meanwhile, Grandpa-not-grandpa had already crossed the entire courtyard. He stood in front of Dad, looking up from below. No, not from the bottom up. They seem to be standing on a par.

"You're wearing your best chiton, Father,— said Glaucus of Ether. "We buried you in it. I hope you were satisfied."

He spoke softly, but in the silence his words sounded like thunder.

"I'm satisfied," the unexpected guest nodded. "Why would I be angry? This is my favorite chiton. The purple was brought for him from fat Abi-Baal from the Crimson Country[6]. The damned tradesman! A measure of paint for three measures of silver, isn't that a robbery? Lord Hades also appreciated it. He would not have refused such a chiton himself."

And Sisyphus laughed.

One of the maids screamed so hard that my ears hurt. The other one silently fainted. *** And with Hermes "They brought me a memorial sacrifice today. Me and the boys. I don't know about Alkmene, but we'll share it with him. With him and with you. My wife and son are no longer late with the victims. What is it! All my children, wherever they are, just shower me with offerings. Empty heads! Are they going against Zeus' will? If I get fat, grow a belly, how can I work?!"

He winked at God.:

"There is a ram: black, as you like. We'll make a fire and roast some meat. We have flour, we'll bake tortillas. The water is in the stream, it's been taken care of. Your job? Excellent water, fresh. There is sacrificial blood. There is wine."

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"Aaand then girls rip them! Blood everywhere! Everyone scream, run! Fun time! Amazons and meanads is best!"

I'll have what they're having

[alaknog]

Just funny and sad about modern retelling of mythology

When you read about people complain about quality of retellings and that they don't do X or Y, and you just "Wait, but there book exactly about...oh well, it's not on English, so they can't read" Like, yes, about Oldie again. Even small bits like Hera feed Hydra. Language barrier, lol

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Well, you maybe laugh, but H.L. Oldie have two books about Bellerophon - "Golden Bow". Start from his childhood (like 5 years, maybe). Don't read second yet, but first is good. Catch is usuall - they probably don't translated into English. Oh, and Oldie, like always, put some VERy obscure myths in book. And made them big part of story, lol. Can bring few bits in rough translation if someone interested.

Any Bellerophon recommended readings?

No not yet lol

If anyone’s got some good Bellerophon’s books (with fictional or academic) pls let me know.

[alaknog]

After play a Hades 2 again I return with headcanons, wishes and theories

Theories: 1) Mel can't persuade Athena to uncurse Arachne, so she go into "twisitng" way. She use her own goddess power and magic skill to curse Arachne again - transform her into something that not spider. Maybe Medea was involved. 2) Unseens group have some plans that not aligined with "main" Olympus view. There to much "they don't need know about us" and so lines. Wishes: 1) Meet Scylla in some friendly manner. I really want them on Crossroads, but it's unlikely. Maybe on Dionysus party? Or maybe Mel can become agent for Scylla and Sirens. Headcanons: 1) Heracles pretend to dislike witches to much. He don't have much bad experiences with them and Medea heal him from madness in Thebes. 2) Alcides and Medea have some form "friends with benefits" relationship. 3) Dionysus don't want to fight directly because he don't want open this box again. Also, his party trap probably nearly as effective as other gods actions.

[alaknog]

Eh, another bit's from Perseus' Grandson. Mostly not serious

There small bits I find a little funny. Mostly some less central characters, but throw Dionysus and Perseus (not serious)

Cephalus just learn some information about his future wife

— The rulers of Athens are from the snake—legs. Everyone saw old Erichthonius tail, and he didn't hide it. We will also be recognized by our names…

— And my bride? Gods, have mercy!

Cephalus imagined utter horror. Cephalus with his young wife on the marriage bed, extinguishes the lamp, hugs Procris… He holds a lithe, slippery body in his arms. Instead of velvety skin, there are cold scales under my fingers. Snake coils entwine the young man, contracting; the forked tongue tickles his lips, slides inside, penetrating deeper…

—You don't like snakes? You fool! Snakes are the best wives!

— You're lying!

— Slender, cool-headed; never jealous…

___ The usual gloom reigned in the temple of the Peon. Few people came here. Even the priest, a deaf old man, cleaned the temple two days later on the third. The Argosians did not trust the healing god at home. It's another matter to go to Kos or Epidaurus! There are covered galleries for dreams sent down by the deity, and master interpreters, and sacred snakes in a pit of black and white marble; walks in a pine grove, a statue made of gold and ivory... And here? A wretched hut and a cypress idol. Look, the woodworms have gnawed idol's ears — shame!

No, you can't heal at home. You can't even die properly at home.

"Don't be offended by them," Melampus said to the statue. "They're like children. For them, all medicines across the sea are honey. When Zeus gave them health, they found it hard. They loaded him onto a donkey. Is it any wonder that a stupid donkey gave their health to a snake?

___A bit of Dionysus

Palms as heavy as cliffs pressed down on his back. Lower, lower; to the loins. The last of the air hissed out of the Cephalus chest. A sweet crunch ran along the ridge. Bliss was strangely mixed with horror. If the young man had moved out of place, the Shaggy One would have easily wrung his neck. But if he hasn't turned off yet, he's let the living escape from the shore.…

If he is a god, then a broken neck is not the worst thing.

—Why are you pusue me?

—Me?— the Shaggy One was amazed. — Artemis the Huntress is in pursuit. The Apollo Shooter is in pursuit. You pursue the game by going out to hunt. I'm just waiting around any corner. You find me by yourself. And then you complain: you've lost your mind. So I can ask: why didn't you go with Perseus? There's a fun hunt, and you're hanging out in the sauna. When you can run, dirty and smelly, after rabid girls… That's life!

___ And Perseus

—One day fang became a man. Now the man has become a fang again. I'm ready to bite. But I'm not ready to choose my words to please you.

Echion stepped closer:

—Why are you shaving your head, Perseus? Challenging the conventional faison, right?

— I lost my hair early. Those bushes behind the ears… That's better.

Note Echion is one of Spatoi

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Thinking about chtonic Persephone and interaction with Hades

Like her "original" version. I just like imagine how Dread Ruler of Dead once discovered that there *another* ruler of Underworld. And he put *bureaucracy* in her cozy chaotic Underworld!

Well, I just want some palace romance (like office romance, but Bronze age palace economics) between Hades and chtonic Persephone.

[alaknog]

About Perseus and his training. Another bits from Perseus' Grandosn

Small note - Perseus was drunk in this scenes

-The priestess taught me her craft. Hymns, prayers; dressing the statue in a new peplos… I still remember that peplos. Yellow, like onion husks. I was a bad student. The priestess was angry. She beat me with a wet cloth. And then Athena appeared. The priestess wet herself with fear at the sight of the goddess. And I threw a rock at my sister. I said I would never be her priest. And if she tries to force me… Gods, how she laughed! "Who do you want to be?" asked Maiden.

—A hero! — The boys shouted in unison.

—You guessed right,— Perseus nodded. There was a sadness in his voice that the children couldn't understand. — All right, — Athena said. Dad wants you to be a hero too. And she hit me with a spear.…

—With a spear?— The guard gasped. He was looking at his own spear as if he were Athena, and any minute now he was going to attack the Gorgon Slayer.

— The blunt end. I fell to the ground. It was very painful. Get up, she ordered. If you don't get up, you'll be a priest. I stood up, and she hit me again. "You should see the punch! Not a weapon, not an enemy. Blow!" And so it went on day after day. She hit, I fell. It's continued until I haven't figured out the main thing yet.

— That the gods always win? — The guard sighed.

Music was pouring from the palace. This is how Chios wine, redolent of mastic resin, pours into the darkness of the crater. The "Art of the Muses" was heavily diluted with drunken hubbub. The nasal avlos of reed and bone was echoed by the stringy rumble of a lyre. A pipe was cooing faintly. Someone clattered bronze cymbals at random. Laughter was the answer to a fool. And again — aulos, lyre, pipe.

Breathing, fingers, breathing.

— No. That I always get up. The next time, I didn't dodge. As soon as Athena swung, I rushed at her. I was everywhere, like rain. Like A Golden Rain. Is it possible to strike the rain? Is it possible to stay dry? Since that time…

—She didn't hit you anymore? Yes, Grandfather?

— No. Since then, she has been hitting me with the sharp end of a spear. At first, holding back. Then — as it turns out. When my rain turned into a downpour, and later into a thunderstorm, the Crafty One came.

—Did he beat you with a staff?"

—I was the one who beat him. With a spear, a sword, a fist. I threw javeilins at him. And he disappeared at the last moment. And he laughed at me. Damn, how he could laugh! Every sound is like a pair of pincers tearing at your ass. One day I freaked out. I've forgotten who he is. And he threw a stone not at god, but at the target. A stone split his cheek. The wound immediately healed, and he laughed again. It was a completely different laugh. Remember, he said. Stop seeing the impact. Learn to see movement. Feel it, hear it, absorb it with your skin. Reject the very idea of a miss. Any thought goes to Tartarus! Strike like a father with lightning — without thinking. A year later, I fought both Athena and Crafty One at once.…

***

from some chapter little later

—Everyone must fight with their weapons,— Perseus intervened. — Spear, trident, water… Your own! You can't take a weapon that an enemy puts in your way. Fate give it to you? Refuse! Know which weapon is yours.…

—Oh, come on! — the grandson was indignant. — you need use any weapon!

—Any?

—Whatever comes up, use it to strike!

—Give him the spear,— Perseus told the guard. —Now!

Amphitryon, perplexed, took the spear from the guy. It was heavy and too long for his height, and it weighed down his arms. The tip glittered dully, reflecting the disk of the full moon.

—Strike! — Grandfather barked. — Hit me!

The boy took the spear at the ready, point back. He pointed at Grandpa slowly, looking at Perseus with apprehension. The shaft stopped at the elbow of the Gorgon Killer's chest. Perseus did not move.

— I said: strike!

The boy struck.

—Hey! Stop it! — the guard yelled. —Are you crazy?

When Amphitryon swung, the spear almost stuck the guy in the stomach. Grandfather laughed offensively. The audience backed away, just in case.

—Strike!

Is it possible to spear the rain?

—More!

Rain doesn't come drunk. Even if wine is gushing from the clouds.

—Strike!

The spear came alive. The tip of the tip was pushed forward. A predatory laurel leaf, forged from bronze, tossed in the twilight. He screamed with hunger. He was looking for a victim, forgetting who was the grandson, who was the grandfather. With each blow, the spear became heavier. Zeus' thunderbolt; Olympus, stretched into a string.

—Strike!

The spear flew at the grandfather. It's like throwing a stick to a laughing friend — with two hands, gripping it across. Weapons are thrown differently. Mechanically, amazed by the strangeness of the throw, Perseus grabbed the sudden gift — and his grandson, taking advantage of a moment of respite, took off running. With a run, he jumped on the big Triton — obeying not reason, but animal instinct, the Tyrrhenian put his palms up like a step, pushing Amphitryon forward and up onto the nearest column. Wrapping his legs around the "trunk", grabbing the carving of the capital, the boy climbed higher. A desperate tug, fingers clinging to the ledge of the ledge — and now he was on the roof of the temple. Running, on all fours, thundering with bare heels on slabs of marble, pitted by the weather, on terracotta tiles, further, on the other side…

—It's a shame! — The guard shouted cheerfully after them. — Shame on you!

—Idiot,— the Gorgon Slayer said, and the guy shut his mouth, not doubting at all who the idiot was. — My grandson has learned his lesson. Running is also a weapon. You chose it yourself, and the spear was offered to you. The one who screams: "Coward!" is a fool and tomorrow's dead man.

[alaknog]

Can't not notice that both Oldie and Imme Dros overlap in interesting faishon. Oldie also point about Acrisius think that Perseus was son of his brother and also have Athena and Hermes train Perseus to fight (but Oldie have different angle about both things). Maybe just coincidence, but maybe both inspired by some obscure myth version.

About"why interesting adoptation not on English" - I probably say that English fantasy scene for some reason strangely insulated, compare to others, so they less opened to ideas outside their "pool".

And another reason - well, there also different levels of quality, I think. Maybe I bit harsh, but from my perspective most of adoptation in English written by relatively new authors, without much skill (and from different generation compare to Oldie or Imme Dros).

Long post so not sure wheter or not you will read it, but there's a retelling of the myth of Perseus for kids by Imme Dros: De huiveringwekkende mythe van Perseu. The book is in german, so I will point put some bits from it that I liked and some rough translations of the fragments by me.

1) Here it's said that Acrisius thought Perseus is the son of his twin brother, not of Zeus. This is the first time for me when I see a book aimed for kids about Perseus that mentions Proteus too. Also, it is mentioned that Acrisius imprisoned Danaë back when she was only 13.

"King Akrisios heard him crying under his feet. Furious, he had Danaë taken from her prison.

'Who is that child? Whose child is that and who is the father?'

'This is Perseus, I am his mother and Zeus is his father.'

'Zeus the father? You must mean my twin brother. Of course he seduced you. To take my land! He is not satisfied with his own area, he wants everything. He has sons and now he is also claiming my grandson.'

(King Akrisios and his brother were born fighting, already fought in their mother's womb, already hated each other before they saw the light and they didn't trust each other for a fathom.)"

2) Danaë wants to educate child Perseus, but all he thinks about is fishing. She wants him to know about the gods, to which Perseus tells her that the only god he has to know about is Poseidon. Danaë then tells him that he will be the King of Argos one day so he must know about the gods too. Little Perseus's favorite god is Hermes, so he constantly asks his mom to tell him more about him:

"Diktys taught young Perseus all about ships, sails and oars and everything he needed to know about water, wind and current to become a decent fisherman. Danaë wanted to teach him everything about the gods. Perseus had no patience for that. He protested:

'I go to sea and I only need to know Poseidon, that is the god of the sea, that is the god of fishermen.'

'But you will not remain a fisherman, Perseus. You will be a king! King of Argos. Kings should know the gods.'

'Well, then tell me the adventures of Hermes. Hermes is also a god and he always wins, that's exciting,' Perseus demanded, but his mother kept trying.

'Soon from Hermes. Listen now, Perseus. First there was Chaos. Everything came from Chaos... Say, are you listening, Perseus?'

'Yes, I hear it. But now from Hermes. Now from Hermes again.'

'Soon from Hermes. This is important. You need to know this. Everything comes from the great, fierce, dark Chaos...'

3) When Polydectes saw Danaë for the first time he thought she's Artemis and started to worship her for a moment:

"A powerful king ruled on the island of Serifos who oppressed and sucked his people, Polydectes. He was Diktys' brother and just as bad as he was good. About the time Perseus became a man came Polydectes meets the lovely Danaë during a hunt through the forest. At first he thought she was Artemis, the goddess of hunters, and he fell down before her. When he noticed she was human, he demanded that she become his lawful wife.  Danaë didn't want to."

4) At the beginning of his journey Perseus arrives for the first time in Athens, where he starts crying because of how beautiful the city was:

"Who stood shouting loudly in the middle of Athens could just reach a man near the walls with his voice. So the city was not allowed to get any bigger, that would be a danger. Perseus cried his eyes out. What a square, what houses, what a beautiful temple, what a mighty theater. That such a thing could exist. And oh, what people. He would get an answer to his question here, that was certain. But in the busy market of Athens no one could help him.

'Did you say Gorgons?'

'Gorgons? No, I wouldn't know.'

'No, you shouldn't be with us.'

'Go ask that in Delfi. Everyone goes there and that's why it must be good. Anyone who has a question and wants an answer always goes to Delfi.'

'Delfi, go to Delfi.'

5) They go by the version where Medusa was a beautiful mortal woman once. The difference is that here she willingly has sex with Poseidon in Athena's temple, and when she asks her how dare she do such thing Medusa tells her that Poseidon loves her and wants to marry her and she will soon become her aunt, so she should be nice with her from now on. This is the moments when Athena gets angry and turns her into a gorgon.

"[Medusa] made no apologies and bragged about her affair.

'If Poseidon marries me then I will be your aunt, Athena. He has more power than you, so don't worry about that temple.'

Pride comes before a fall, let people realize this very well! No matter how one excels, modesty is always required. They will never become gods, they just don't want to understand that. [...] A single bad trait can undo all the good that a mortal received. Gods hate pride and it was for her pride that Medusa had to pay, even though she was a nymph and the daughter of Forkys, the sea god."

6) We get to see the moments where Athena teaches Perseus how to fight while looking and his shield, whereas Hermes teaches him how to fly with those sandals:

"With the shield in her hands, Athena came to Perseus and she said to him, the goddess with the sea-green eyes:

'Never look directly at a Gorgon, look into this shield and look for her image, just remember that the right is the left in it.'

Perseus practiced diligently for the battle with Medusa, aimed in the shining shield at trees and rocks. Hard enough, it took him days to hit anything. He also had to learn to fly. With trial and error. Hermes held his hand and it took a while before he managed to keep his balance during take off and descent, before it flew straight and could make a quick turn. Flying seemed so easy when you saw birds flying,

but Perseus would never become a swift or a seagull. When he became more confident in floating and not every nymph anymore was crooked with laughter as he sailed past, Hermes announced that it was time to leave. And the merry nymphs wept loudly at parting."

7) The Perseus and Andromeda moments are sweet but cute. Also, here Andromeda and her family live in Joppa:

"Now Joppa was in charge because Perseus demanded the bride, but the man with the oldest rights came with an army.

To make a long story short: Medusa's head

served well again because every enemy petrified. Perseus and Andromeda were married that same day. He loved her and she loved him so they were happy The celebration of the great wedding in Joppa lasted ten days."

"King Cepheus made the cupbearer go round again, then each guest left for his own house to sleep. But the king slept in the palace next to Kasiopeia, and Andromeda shared her bed with her bridegroom Perseus."

8) Perseus also traveled in the Underworld before arriving in Joppa. At his wedding he tells the quest about what he saw in the realm of Hades and even tells the myth of the seasons at one point for some reason (but I won't include it as well because it's too long):

"Nowhere is the water as deep as where the water is separates the living from the dead. Five rivers flow between us and the poor, unfortunate shadows. When I looked at the grave lily meadows it seemed as if I

just like the Gorgons looked into a mirrored shield, but outside that shield was none of what was reflected. I saw the

images of people, but the people themselves were nowhere. And I saw those shadows of people nowhere present stagger across the meadows and report to the entrance where the Dog sat.  He let the shadows pass, but when one wanted to go out he shook his three heads. Whether they were old, whether they were young, inside was inside. There in the depths Haides and Persefoneia rule."

"On the edge of Tartaros, that is the deepest depth, houses the goddesses of revenge, who continue to persecute people if they have committed crimes. Their faces and claws, horrible to see, something I will never be able to forget. The Harpies are also monstrously ugly, fast as the storm wind they fly about to torment the dead, to provoke the people. They have heads like women, bodies and wings like birds, claws like tigers. When a man has insulted a god come the cruel Harpies. They pollute his food, shit on his plate and piss in his cup.

Until he dies of hunger at crowded, smelly tables. And I saw Sleep and his brother Death far away walking at the gates where all dreams come through."

"...daughters of my father Danaus, bear water to a great and bottomless barrel in leaking jars.These women killed their husbands the night after the wedding day. When I saw the poor shadows dragging the leaky jars my eyes became blind with tears, I couldn't bear it. And I became afraid of everything that could happen to myself. Suddenly I wanted to leave and I would prefer to forget everything what I saw there under the dark earth."

9) There's a short moment where, turning back to Argos, Danaë visits the chamber where she was imprisoned years ago:

"King Akrisios heard the news and his bad conscience drove him away from Argos to a city in the north. He had friends there in Larissa, he was safe there. So when Perseus arrived with his wife and his mother, he found in Argos an empty palace and no one could say where old king Akrisios had gone, whether he was alive or perhaps dead and under the earth. Danaë showed her son the underground dungeon,

dark and gloomy with bronze doors and no windows. And she visited the places where she had played as a girl. When they were on the beach of the sea just like a long time ago laid flowers of pebbles, she cried bitter tears. Because her life had turned out differently than she had hoped."

Why are all the interesting Perseus adaptations not available in English?

[alaknog]

A bits of Dionysus from Perseus' Grandson

With my attemps to put some literature to machine translation, lol

"Don't be afraid,— the Shaggy One repeated. "You're too handsome for violence. I was…"

He licked lips.

"I would be the same if I hadn't been raised by a woman. Can you imagine? Only women, no men. First the mother of this idiot, then the nymphs of Nisei…"

The third figure flashed before the Phocian — a young man with girlish habits, really similar to the Cephalus itself — flashed and disappeared. There only adult - god? mortal? - which had nothing of a woman in it.

"I like you, Prokrida's fiance. We always like those who we could have become, but didn't. It's a pity that you adore Perseus, and you don't adore me. Why? After all, Perseus and I are so similar! We're practically twins.…"

"You don't have even drop of similarity with him!"

"Do not measure the similarity by drops. Time passes quickly, Big Head, and we weep over yesterday's delusions. Look: we are both the sons of Zeus. Both are unwanted by their relatives. Perseus was hated by his grandfather Acrisius. I was hated by my grandfather Kadm. Both of us, along with our mothers, were nailed into a chest and thrown into the water.…"

"That's a lie!"

Cephalus knew that he was arguing with a drawn sword, ready to strike at any moment.

"You weren't thrown into the sea!" The lord of the gods carry you, sewn into your thigh!

"In the thigh?" Oh, how nice! How close to the crucible of passion! You fool, you should go to the seaside Brasias. Previously, this hole was called Oreyat. There they will tell you how a chest washed up on the shore, where Cadmus the Dragon Slayer imprisoned his daughter Semele with her newborn bastard. The memory of the unfortunate is alive among the Brasians. When my mother died, her sister Ino found me and nursed me in a cave. You see, the superstitious people of Oreyat were afraid to give us shelter under the roofs of their houses.… We are very similar to Perseus. We grew like thistles. As soon as we grew up, we were sent on campaign — him to the west, me to the east."

"No one sent Perseus!" He decided to save people from the Medusa himself.…"

"Well, yes, of course. Save the Danaians from Medusa, who lives on the edge of the Ecumene! If you believe the gossip, kid, your Perseus was sent to a feat by basileus Polydectes. And if you believe the voice of reason, Zeus sent him. As a father send adult son into battle; as a ruler send best warrior. Perseus went to the west and found Medusa there. A little later, I went east…"

***

"I want to be your friend," said the Shaggy One.

Cephalus was silent. The young man was back on the shore, alone with a dangerous interlocutor. And then, in reality, and now, in a dream, the Shaggy One said the same thing.:

"I want to be your friend. Are you really going to refuse me?"

Cephalus  was silent.

"My friendship is a valuable gift. Think about it!"

"What would you ask in return?"

"In return?" - The Shaggy One burst out laughing. — "Friendship is not a commodity. Do you want me to give it away?"

Cephalus  remembered Shaggy One's friends. Those whom I have heard about, whom I knew personally. The Athenian Icarius was killed by drunken shepherds — Icarius treated them to wine received from a friend; the unfortunate man's daughter hanged herself on her father's grave. The Phrygian Midas, a friend, rewarded him with the gift of the "golden touch," and Midas almost starved to death over the golden bread. Ampel, an Ismarian, climbed a tree to get a bunch of grapes hung by a friend and fell to his death.

"Your friendship is as sharp as a sword," said Cephalus.

"If that's the case," the Shaggy Man shrugged, "then what is my enmity?".

***

And bit with Perseus too.

"Rejoice, brother."

"I don't have any brothers. I'm alone at my mother's."

"But don't alone at your father. Rejoice, Perseus, son of Zeus and Danae of Argos! I am Dionysus, the son of Zeus and Semele of Thebes.

Apollo, the son of Zeus and Leto the Chased, looked down on mortals from the height of the pedestal. The god's beautiful face was marred by a disgusted grimace. The sculptors claimed that no matter how hard you try, you can't do without a grimace. This is the will of Apollo; or perhaps, the character.

---—

"They say you killed a Medusa?"

"They say."

"Would you like to share your experience?"

"No."

"Brothers should share the last one. I would give you everything. Do you want me?"

Perseus was silent.

"I'm going east tomorrow, my brother. You brought the head of Medusa, and I'm going to get the head of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. Our father is wise — there are heads that are better cut off with someone else's hands. They gave you the sickle of Kronos, and they also armed me well. You're older, and you've already achieved your goal. Give me your knowledge! Make my way easier…"

For a moment, a child appeared in the effeminate appearance of Dionysus. The chubby boy looked up at the hero. The confidence that the hero will not refuse a request — whether it's a request to get a star from the sky! — pride in big brother, who is mighty and brave… The look was more dizzying than the wine. I can't, Perseus thought, driving away the hops. I have no right to do this. An oath for an oath. Olympus swore not to interfere in my life. I swore to keep the truth about my campaign a secret. If I lie, Olympus will lie tomorrow. The sickle of the Cronus will not stand against the father's thunderbolts. He's a spy, this handsome one. He was sent to test my resilience.

"Go away. I have nothing to tell you."

"It's a pity. Well, I'll be back one day. Let's see how brother meets brother then."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Should I, a beggar, be threating to Gorgon Slayer?"

Forgetting to return the wreath to Apollo, Dionysus strode towards the exit. When he was already standing on the threshold, Perseus could not stand it. After all, Gorgon Slayer was far from mature. And the strange hops were still fermenting in his blood.

"Wait a minute! You said you were armed with... what?"

Dionysus laughed:

"People go crazy around me." Is the sword good?

[alaknog]

Few bits from Grandson of Perseus

Can't find large enough parts that I like enough and that can be translated without a lot of context. So just throw few bits.

Contrary to his usual custom, basileus dressed in royal robes today. A long chiton made of milky white linen below the knees; on a shaved head, shiny with sweat, there is a golden hoop.

Grandma Andromeda was sitting next to her. It was she who forced her husband to change his clothes, which, perhaps, would not have been possible even for Ares the Wrathful, the god of war.

The strangers were perplexed: does a woman sit down first, without waiting for her husband? And her thronos is no lower than that of her husband… Such conversations were conducted in whispers, they quickly fade away. Amphitryon didn't understand why people were surprised at all. It's enough to see Grandma Andromeda once in her favorite peplos embroidered with flowers; or, even in rags! — just look into her eyes…

Note - Oldie like use authentic words like basileus insted of king (in Russian it's usually "tzar" lol) or thronos. Or there "bronze fingers" insted of iron/steel.

Another bit. Context Amphitryon just embrace himself, when trying save grandfater and people (and become hero, because what child don't want it?)

And, without looking at anyone, he trudged to the exit of the megaron. Grandfather put hard hand on his shoulder, stopping Amphitryon . Contrary to expectation, Perseus did not squeeze the bronze fingers — he just turned his grandson around to face him.

-You did the right thing, — basileus nodded. — When you save someone, save them. And don't think about how you look. That's it, go ahead.

And another

— I, Leochar of Argos, swear…

Something tore Amphitryon from his place. He grabbed Leohar's arm; he wanted to clap his mouth again, but missed. Even at dusk, Amphitryon saw Leokhar's eyes flash angrily — and, without letting vanakt's grandson come to his senses, he whispered fervently:

— Don't swear! Do you hear? Don't swear!

The words were born by themselves. The right, adult words.

— Do you want revenge? Do it! Do you want to kill? Kill! But don't swear, understood?

And there was so much power in the heated whisper that Leohar did not argue.

— You're right. I'll find it and kill it. Why take oaths?

"If Grandpa doesn't kill him sooner", Amphitryon thought.

[alaknog]

Ok, as promised. Another bit from Grandson of Perseus - probably one of my favourite

A strange couple — a great hero and a crippled beggar— was bound to attract the attention of the audience. But what heroes, and what cripples, if the slingers shot back, the applause fell silent — and it was the turn of the discobols. Oh, the Argives loved this kind of competition! Many people remembered, and those who were younger heard from their father or grandfather, how thirty years ago... Shh! The Son of Golden Rain is here. For once! They say he doesn't like to remember his throw. He doesn't like it, but we, the citizens of glorious Argos…

Whenever the bronze lentils soared up to the clouds, flashing a small sun at the zenith, and began to fall down, the stadium turned to stone, as if the disk was looking at them with the murderous gaze of a Medusa. Come on! Eh, it's a pity... what? Three feet further? The best result this year? Yes, it's wonderful. Discoballs are our pride. But the audience waited with bated breath for something else. Now— now! — the flare will go aside, and, turning into a punishing perun, it will collapse into the stands, taking someone's life. This is bound to happen again! And who would want to miss a spectacle worthy of the Olympians?

As a result, Perseus and the Crafty One, leaving the temple behind, walked along the upper path that skirted the western stands. Who was interested in them? — maybe only fate. The attention of the others was focused on the arena.

— Ahhhh!

The disk went to Helios in an oblique arc. A stroke of metal flashed in the sky, and it became clear to everyone: Here it is! We waited! A terrified athlete was writhing on the balbis. The athlete wanted to return to his mother's womb, and not be born at all. "What have I done?" It was written on his face. "Gods, where are you looking?!"

God was looking at the right place.

-You or me? - The Crafty One asked.

-I, — Perseus replied.

The stadium turned into a sea, and the sea was stormy. The audience jumped up from their seats. They chattered; they wrung their hands. Waves of sweet anticipation swept over people. In the "sling" — at a depth where big fish sit — vanakt Anaxagoras leaned forward: really?! Vanakt's grandson was shouting something in a broken voice. Next to him, the grandson of the Gorgon Killer clenched his fists painfully. Judges, runners, wrestlers — the squall did not spare anyone. And only two, standing above the western stands, remained calm — two islands in the boiling of passions.

The sons of Zeus, mortal and immortal.

—Me or you?, — The Crafty One laughed, raising his wand.

—I,— Perseus repeated. He didn't move.

—No, I am, — replied the Crafty One. — I take care of my brothers.

His wand reached for the disk, ready to strike Perseus in the chest. But God was too late. Kron's sickle shrieked as it left its scabbard. A moment before the serpent kerikion touched the bronze death, the sword of the Gorgon Killer cut the disk into two parts. It seemed that a distraught discobolus had thrown a circle of sheep's cheese onto the stands. A miserable period of time, so insignificant that they didn't even come up with a name for it, decided everything. The wand did not touch the destroyer disk, but impotent fragments. Bronze turned into flowers — a rain of scarlet poppies fell on Perseus, splattering the hero with the fragrant blood of the earth. The stadium gasped, gathering air for a howl-storm, a howl-thunder that shook the mountains…

— You fool! — Perseus breathed through his lips. — Are you tired of the nectar?

- What?

— Are you want sleep? Dead sleep?!

God turned pale. Had he been ahead of his mortal brother, fate would undoubtedly have considered this a perjury. Interference in the life of Perseus, forbidden a long time ago. "Dad swore by the Styx on behalf of the Family. So, on my behalf..."

To intervene does not always mean "to kill" or "to punish". Sometimes it means "save".

— I take care of my brothers,— Perseus said.

Rough translation from "Grandson of Perseus" by H.L. Oldie

Hope I can catch some vibe from book.

[alaknog]

Perseus, Dionysus and Heracles. And roleplay

Just small thought: all three famous Zeus sons perfectly fit into Assassin-Mage-Warrior (not Fate) triangle. And follow stereotypical dynamics.

Perseus iis known about ability to move around, deadly strikes, sometimes invisibility.

Dionysus is master of crowd control, magic that can transform people or drive them mad.

Heracles was classical Warrior - nearly unkillable in direct combat, colossal strength and cool club and armour.

And as we see, Perseus is crazy effective against single strong target - like Cetus or Dionysus. But against crowds he usually use magic item - Medusa Head. Put enough in Int, unlike many heroes.

Dionysus is show epic versatility (bubububu, caster vs martial balance), crowd control, but not this good in duel against trained destroyer.

Heracles - well, we all know about his abilities. And his problem when someone cast madness on him.

Also this example show us, that even Ancient Greeks was know about martial vs caster balance problem. Dionysus become god when he was alive, but Heracles need much more time fir reach this status.

[alaknog]

Some quote from great book.

One day Amphitryon asked his grandfather if it was true that he had turned into stone a monster that wanted to devour Grandmother Andromeda. The Aedes sang that Perseus used the head of a dead Medusa. The boy passionately wanted to hear it firsthand – it seemed to him that he would touch the feat himself.

And he heard it.

–Nonsense,– said Grandpa gloomily. – Women's gossip. What kind of head? I slaughtered him like a butcher slaughtering a pig. I flew higher, waited until the stupid animal was interested in my shadow on the waves, and fell on the back of his neck… Then everything was simple. A lot of blood, and the end. They'll come up with it too: A Medusa, a head! I guess there won't be anything left of my whole life over time. Medusa, a bunch of rocks, and no Perseus…

Quick translation from "Grandson of Perseus. My granfather is a slayer" by G. L. Oldie

I hope one day I put more bit from this book. Old Perseus is damn badass (and scary, if he want).