The Story of Medusa and Athena

Once upon a time, a long time ago there lived a beautiful maiden named Medusa.  Medusa lived in the city of Athens in a country named Greece -- and although there were many pretty girls in the city, Medusa was considered the most lovely.

Unfortunately, Medusa was very proud of her beauty and thought or spoke of little else.  Each day she boasted of how pretty she was and each day her boasts became more outrageous.

On Sunday, Medusa bragged to the miller that her skin was more beautiful than fresh fallen snow.  On Monday, she told the cobbler that her hair glowed brighter than the sun.  On Tuesday, she commented to the blacksmith’s son that her eyes were greener than the Aegean Sea.  On Wednesday, she boasted to everyone at the public gardens that her lips were redder than the reddest rose.

When she wasn’t busy sharing her thoughts about her beauty with all who passed by, Medusa would gaze lovingly at her reflection in the mirror.  She admired herself in her hand mirror for an hour each morning as she brushed her hair.  She admired herself in her darkened window for an hour each evening as she got ready for bed.  She even stopped to admire herself in the well each afternoon as she drew water for her father's horses -- often forgetting to fetch the water in her distraction.

On and on Medusa went about her beauty to anyone and everyone who stopped long enough to hear her -- until one day when she made her first visit to the Parthenon with her friends. The Parthenon was the largest temple to the goddess Athena in all the land.  It was decorated with amazing sculptures and paintings.  Everyone who entered was awed by the beauty of the place and couldn’t help but think of how grateful they were to Athena, goddess of wisdom, for inspiring them and for watching over their city of Athens.  Everyone, that is, except Medusa.

When Medusa saw the sculptures, she whispered that she would have made a much better subject for the sculptor than Athena had.  When Medusa saw the artwork, she commented that the artist had done a fine job considering the goddess's thick eyebrows -- but imagine how much more wonderful the painting would be if it was of someone as delicate as Medusa.

And when Medusa reached the altar she sighed happily and said, “My this is a beautiful temple.  It is a shame it was wasted on Athena for I am so much prettier than she is – perhaps some day people will build an even grander temple to my beauty.”

Medusa’s friends grew pale.  The priestesses who overheard Medusa gasped.  Whispers ran through all the people in the temple who quickly began to leave -- for everyone knew that Athena enjoyed watching over the people of Athens and feared what might happen if the goddess had overheard Medusa’s rash remarks.

Before long the temple was empty of everyone except Medusa, who was so busy gazing proudly at her reflection in the large bronze doors that she hadn't noticed the swift departure of everyone else.  The image she was gazing at wavered and suddenly, instead of her own features, it was the face of Athena that Medusa saw reflected back at her.

“Vain and foolish girl,” Athena said angrily, “You think you are prettier than I am! I doubt it to be true, but even if it were -- there is more to life than beauty alone.  While others work and play and learn, you do little but boast and admire yourself.”

Medusa tried to point out that her beauty was an inspiration to those around her and that she made their lives better by simply looking so lovely, but Athena silenced her with a frustrated wave.

“Nonsense,” Athena retorted, “Beauty fades swiftly in all mortals.  It does not comfort the sick, teach the unskilled or feed the hungry.  And by my powers, your loveliness shall be stripped away completely.  Your fate shall serve as a reminder to others to control their pride.”

And with those words Medusa’s face changed to that of a hideous monster.  Her hair twisted and thickened into horrible snakes that hissed and fought each other atop her head.

“Medusa, for your pride this has been done.  Your face is now so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it will turn a man to stone,” proclaimed the goddess, “Even you, Medusa, should you seek your reflection, shall turn to rock the instant you see your face.”

And with that, Athena sent Medusa with her hair of snakes to live with the blind monsters -- the gorgon sisters -- at the ends of the earth, so that no innocents would be accidentally turned to stone at the sight of her.

RENE VAN HOORDE

From one of your own.

CLICK ABOVE TO BE REDIRECTED

I would like to congratulate, Rene for a wonderful initiative intended to aid his classmates.

URANUS HEAVENLY CELESTIAL

To whom it might concern,

This offer of work should correspond to me, Uranus Heavenly Celestial. This is because I have been already several years out of my correspondent work. The kingdom of Heaven. I know that my years alive are much more than Zeus’s, but I’m immortal, and my vacation needs to end due to boredom. My strength still, and will forever remain as active as always, and the loyalty in me will never end.

Zeus, if all this years the kingdom of Heaven has been healthy and in good hands, so will the kingdom of the sky. This work should correspond to me, and so will your resting days soon begin. I have a lot of experience in the making, but the experiences that this man has lived through are uncountable. The right man for this job is me, for my knowledge of the heavens may, indeed, apply to the skies.

Writing Contest Rubric

Creative Writing Rubric

Writing Rubric	Level one: Needs improvement	Level two: Satisfactory	Level three: Good	Level four: Excellent
Creativity / Originality -       using original ideas and fresh circumstances not found in other’s work	-       no original or creative elements	-       demonstrated some original and creative elements	-       demonstrated several original and creative elements	-       demonstrated many original and creative elements that consistently surprised and delighted the reader
Editing -       sentence structure -       Grammar -       Spelling -       Paragraphing structure -       Proof reading of draft submitted with final copy (proof reading by peer)	-       seldom used correct sentence structure -       seldom used correct grammar -       seldom used correct spelling -       seldom used correct paragraphing structure -       no signature was added to the draft stating the work was proof read at least once for spelling and grammatical errors	-       sometimes used correct sentence structure -       sometimes used correct grammar -       sometimes used correct spelling -       sometimes used correct paragraphing structures -       one signature was added to the draft stating the work was proof read (for spelling and grammatical errors) but the corrections were not made	- often used correct sentence structure -       often used correct grammar -       often used correct spelling -       often used correct paragraphing structures -       two signatures were added to the draft stating the work was proof read (for spelling and grammatical errors) and most corrections pointed out were made	-       consistently used correct sentence structure -       consistently used correct grammar -       consistently used correct spelling -       consistently used correct paragraphing structure -       two signatures were added to the draft stating the work was proof read (for spelling and grammatical errors) and all corrections pointed out were made
Text Structure -       sequence and flow	- text was not logical or sequential	-       text flowed was quite logically and sequentially	- text flowed logically and sequentially	-       text flowed very logically and sequentially
Descriptive Language -       adjectives and adverbs -       sentence structures (compound, simple, dialogue, exclamatory and/or interrogative)	-       no use of adjectives or adverbs -       only one type of sentence was used	-       some use of adjectives or adverb -       some variety of sentence type was used	-       several adverbs and adjectives were used -       a variety of sentence types were used	-       well selected and varied use of adjectives and adverbs to develop the text -       effective combination of sentences was used

Greek Mythology week 3

Stories for this week

Theseus and the Minotaur

Icarus and Daedalus

Medusa

Phaeton

Vocabulary: veer, dissuade, rash, cunning, precipitous, reel, deference, sustain, aloft, plucked

Theseus and the Minotaur

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there lived a king named Minos. King Minos lived on a lovely island called Crete. King Minos had a powerful navy, a beautiful daughter, and a really big palace. Still, now and then, King Minos grew bored. Whenever King Minos was bored, he took his navy and attacked Athens, a town on the other side of the sea. In desperation, the king of Athens offered King Minos a deal. If Minos would leave Athens alone, Athens would send seven Athenian boys and seven Athenian girls to Crete every nine years to be eaten by the Minotaur. The Minotaur was a horrible monster that lived in the center of a huge maze on the island of Crete. King Minos loved that old monster. He did like to give his monster a treat now and then. He knew his people would prefer he fed his monster Athenian children rather than ... well, after thinking it over, King Minos took the deal. Nine years passed swiftly. It was just about time for Athens to send seven boys and seven girls to Crete to be eaten by the Minotaur. Everyone in Athens was crying.  Prince Theseus of Athens knew the importance of keeping your word. He knew that a deal was a deal. But, he was also quite sure that it was wrong to send small children to be eaten by a monster just to avoid a battle with King Minos. Prince Theseus told his father (the king) that he was going to Crete as the seventh son of Athens. He was going to kill the Minotaur and end the terror. "The Minotaur is a terrible monster! What makes you think you can kill it?" cried his father. "I'll find a way," Theseus replied gently. "The gods will help me." His father begged him not to go. But the prince took his place as the seventh Athenian boy. Along with six other Athenian boys and seven Athenian girls, Prince Theseus sailed towards Crete.

When the prince and the children arrived on the island of Crete, King Minos and his daughter, the Princess Ariadne, came out to greet them. The king told the children that they would not be eaten until the next day and to enjoy themselves in the palace in the meantime. The Princess Ariadne did not say anything. But her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Late that night, she wrote Prince Theseus a note and slipped it under his bedroom door. Dear Theseus (Ariadne wrote) I am a beautiful princess as you probably noticed the minute you saw me. I am also a very bored princess. Without my help, the Minotaur will surely gobble you up. I know a trick or two that will save your life. If I help you kill the monster, you must promise to take me away from this tiny island so that others can admire my beauty. If interested in this deal, meet me by the gate to the Labyrinth in one hour. Yours very truly, Princess Ariadne Prince Theseus slipped out of the palace and waited patiently by the gate. Princess Ariadne finally showed up. In her hands, she carried a sword and a ball of string. Ariadne gave the sword and the ball of string to Prince Theseus. "Hide these inside the entrance to the maze. Tomorrow, when you and the other children from Athens enter the Labyrinth, wait until the gate is closed, then tie the string to the door. Unroll it as you move through the maze. That way, you can find your way back again. The sword, well, you know what to do with the sword," she laughed. Theseus thanked the princess for her kindness. "Don't forget, now," she cautioned Theseus. "You must take me with you so that all the people can marvel at my beauty." The next morning, the Athenian children, including Prince Theseus, were shoved into the maze. The door was locked firmly behind them. Following Ariadne's directions, Theseus tied one end of the string to the door. He told the children to stay by the door. Their job was to make sure the string stayed tied so that Theseus could find his way back. Theseus entered the maze alone. He found his way to the center of the maze. Using the sword Ariadne had given him, Theseus killed the monstrous beast. He followed the string back and knocked on the door. Princess Ariadne was waiting. She opened the door. Without anyone noticing, Prince Theseus and the children of Athens ran to their ship and sailed quietly away. Princess Ariadne sailed away with them. On the way home, they stopped for supplies on the tiny island of Naxos. Princess Ariadne insisted on coming ashore. There was nothing much to do on the island. Soon, she fell asleep. All the people gathered to admire the sleeping princess. She was a lovely sight indeed. Theseus sailed quietly away with the children of Athens and left her there, sleeping. After all, a deal is a deal.

Ancient Greek Myths for Kids 

POSEIDON ALEXANDER OPENTHESEAS

      I can see the sun. The stars, the moon; all in one beautiful day. As I turn over to the desk and see my perfect day ruined at once. The debts overboard the cabinets and the refrigerator is empty. I need a job! I need money! My eyes can’t turn away from the horrible signs saying, PAST DUE. I have to act fast.

      My name is Poseidon Alexander Opentheseas and as you might know, I’m the god of the seas. I have golden thrones and kingdoms and crowns, but my story isn’t that simple. I earned my position in Mount Olympus, by working all day and sadly, begging. Zeus is my brother that loves me and I’m sure he will understand my troubles. Yet sometimes he underestimates me.

   

       Of course I can rule greatly! Just because I started off broke, doesn’t mean I can’t be king. I mean, I created the horse and the dolphin! If that was done by me, I must be really smart! Yet, why isn’t it showing right now?

      God Zeus, brother, please let me be your replacement. If I ruled the 7 seas, I can rule the world! You know I have great qualities and will be successful on your throne. I know you better than any other candidate, I know your deepest thoughts and feelings.

I can rule like I know you would like it to be.

      Now, I see myself riding my chariot and holding my trident up in the air as I come closer to Mount Olympus. Empty cabinets, full refrigerator and signs that say, PAID.