Merdea: A Greek Tragedy (TEST)

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Merdea

• By Pindelope

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The
Fairy
tale
myth
Greek
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• Once upon a time, there was a princess called
  Merdea.
• Beautiful though she was, the princess had never
  in her life laughed (she lived with her sister
  and step-brother).

Above Sister, Chalciope, playing with
magic. Right Apsyrtus
Animation from Sevenoaks Art, by David Sutton
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• Busy with his reign over the kingdom of Colchis,
  Merdeas father, Aeetes, rarely had time for his
  offspring, and thus Merdea was left in the care
  of her wicked step-mother.

Unfortunately, this step-mother was horribly
cruel to Merdea and made her do all the housework
so that her biological children, whom she
perceived as little angels, would be free to live
happy, care-free lives.
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• These little angels were in fact terrible brats
  and incessantly bullied poor Merdea they had
  even chosen her name, in reference to the most
  abhorred of Merdeas chores

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• One day, Merdeas sister received an invitation
  to a ball which was to be held the following
  weekend. Merdea, who never celebrated A FRIDay
  nITE, knew she would not be permitted by her
  family to attend any social gatherings and so,
  despite her glorious dreams, remained silent.

Aphrodite, by Robert Fowler
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• On the night of the ball, as Merdea was working
  away, a strange thing happened. Her Fairy
  Godfather, Helios, appeared and said My darling
  grand-daughter, I know how much you long to go to
  this ball, so if you listen very carefully, and
  do as I say, I will grant you your wish.

Merdea was thrilled and vowed to Helios that she
would not break the conditions he set.
Milky Way at Ikaria Island, Greece
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(No Transcript)
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Helios clapped his hands and the princess rags
were immediately turned into a beautiful toga.

• Now whatever happens, you must be back at home
  before midnight, Helios ordered. Merdea of
  course promised she would be and twirled with
  delight in her new garment.

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• Now, as I will be needing my own steeds, your
  great aunt, Luna, shall lend you her very own so
  that you may travel safely to and from the ball.
• Merdea thanked her Godfather with all her heart
  and could hardly wait to leave.

Helios in a chariot, Greek Krater (435BC)
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The lovely horses appeared one by one in front of
the coach.

• With a final kiss and thankyou, Merdea jumped
  into her ride and left at once, Helios calling
  after her Just make sure youre back before
  midnight!

The Age of Hellenism Metope relief of the sun god
Helios After 300 BC
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At the ball, Merdea found herself in a fairy
tale. This is too good to be true! She thought to
herself, and for the

• first time in her life, the princess was found
  laughing with delight. All the men asked her to
  dance, though one in particular, Simpleton, who
  happened to be a prince on a quest from the
  kingdom of

• Iolcos, shone far brighter than the rest and the
  hours whirled by as they danced,

Jason und Medea by Gustave Moreau
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• and hung out in the magical coach, until Merdea
  remembered her curfew! It was 1158! In a panic,
  she pushed the prince out of the coach, and

forgetting about road rules, gave way to no one
as she raced home, only making it in time by the
hair on her chinny-chin chin and not without
running over two minors.
Oil on canvas Jason and Medea by Carle van Loo
(1759)
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• It was not until the following day that the
  prince came to see Merdea, claiming he had left
  one of his sandals in her coach.
• Sure enough, when Merdea went into the garden
  where she had left the coach, there was the
  princes lost sandal.

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• However, this did not appear to be the only
  reason that Simpleton had visited. He had his eye
  on the kings Golden Goose, and also the princess
  herself.

Merdea and Simpleton fell in love as though under
a spell. They arranged to be married and when
Aeetes decided to ask young Simpleton what
wedding gift he should give them, naturally, the
prince mentioned the Golden Goose.
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The king was very proud of owning this goose, so
he begrudgingly decided to offer it to Simpleton
if he could first kill the dragon that guarded it.

• Despite his contempt for testosterone-based,
  ego-centred activities, Simpleton accepted the
  challenge.

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• By now, Merdea was crazily in love with the
  prince and thus decided to help him. She whipped
  up a sleeping potion (magic ran in her blood) and
  at midnight the couple snuck out to put the
  dragon to sleep.

Jason and Medea by John William Waterhouse (1907)
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• This done, they climbed beyond the beast where a
  tree grew tall and thick.

Jason charming the Dragon, by Salvator Rosa
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• And there it lay the Golden Goose.
• Simpleton quickly gathered up his prize before
  setting back with Merdea to her home.

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• In the morning, Simpleton rose to see that the
  king was furious because he had been tricked out
  of his goose
• You are but loathsome and filthy, tell me your
  race!
• And the other answered without fear and gently
• Firenze I name my master
• And men shall see it. I come from the cave,
• Also from Vernon and Petunia,
• Muggles whom the Centaur would deem unholy.

Achilles and Chiron, by Gottlieb Schick
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The story of Simpleton
As for my parents, who ruled of right When the
wand first pointed above my eyes, they
feared That wizards malice So they darkened the
house and made a keening As if I had died, And
amongst the wailing of Lily Stealthily I was sent
away In swaddling bands of purple, And Night knew
the secret of our road, Which Hagrid flew me
above.

• Source
• Excerpt (visual only) from Harry Potter and the
  Philosophers Stone retrieved from Youtube at
  350pm on 1/05/2013, uploaded by firewitch97 on
  20/09/2011.
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vjcFd8RNqKuA

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• On hearing this, the king roared with a rage so
  immense that Merdea emerged from her room to see
  what was wrong.
• We must go! Simpleton cried to her Now!
• Already familiar with her fathers volatility,
  Merdea dared not wait a moment longer and raced
  out the door, following Simpleton to his ship.

• Up they hopped and set sail at once, but not
  before Apsyrtus, Merdeas step-brother jumped
  aboard too.

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• Apsyrtus
• Oh Simpleton, you shall not go without a fuss,
• as you only came here to usurp us!
•  
• Simpleton
• Alas Apsyrtus,
• Your words are ri-dic-u-lous!
• Merdea
• Yes, brother, your worth is now nothing to us,

Jason and Medea by Herbert James Draper
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• And with that, Merdea raised her arms above her
  head and the figure of Apsyrtus was veiled by a
  great burst of light. With a bang and a sound not
  unlike the snip of scissors, the light
  disappeared and thousands of fragments of
  Merdeas step-brother were strewn overboard.
• As if to justify her, Merdea said under her
  breath
• Besides, you have never been more than absurd
  and sus.

Medea cutting her brother Apsyruts, by Martin
Didier Pape (1580-90)
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• By now they were far from shore. Merdea turned to
  Simpleton
• And now we can find our way back if ever we
  shall need.
• Good thinking my love white pebbles would have
  sunk.

... The End ...
Jason and Medea featured on a Roman sarcophagus,
late 2nd century AD