Merdea: A Greek Tragedy

7/30/2019 Merdea: A Greek Tragedy

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By Pindelope


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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


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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 ofher 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 celebratedA

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: Mydarling 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 yourwish.

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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at such a rapid pace until,within seconds, it had metamorphosed into a

coach.

Firstly, began Helios grab me a pumpkin from

your garden.Merdea raced outside, overcome with joy, and

the instant that

she began topull a beautiful

pumpkin from

the vine, it

began to grow


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Now whatever happens, you must be back at

home before midnight, Helios ordered. Merdea

of course promised she would be and twirledwith delight in her new garment.

Helios clapped his

hands and the

princess rags were

immediately turned

into a beautiful toga.


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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 herheart and could hardly

wait to leave.

Helios in a chariot, Greek Krater (435BC)


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With a final kiss and

thankyou, Merdea

jumped into her ride

and left at once, Helios

calling after her: Just

make sure youre backbefore midnight!

The lovely horses appeared one

by one in front of the coach.

The Age of Hellenism Metope relief of the sun god Helios After 300 BC


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first time in her

life, the princesswas 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

At the ball, Merdea found herself in a fairy tale. This is too

good to be true! She thought to herself, and for the

Iolcos, shone

far brighter

than the rest

and thehours

whirled by

as they

danced,

Jason und Medea by Gustave Moreau


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and hung out in the

magical coach, untilMerdea remembered

her curfew! It was

11:58! In a panic, she

pushed the prince out

of the coach, andforgetting about road rules, gave way to no one

as she raced home, only making it in time bythe 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 ofhis sandals in

her coach.

Sure enough, when

Merdea went into the

garden where she had leftthe 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 princessherself.

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

challenge.

The king was veryproud of owning this

goose, so he

begrudgingly decided

to offer it to Simpleton

if he could first kill the

dragon that guarded it.
http://www.allpaintings.org/d/18346-1/John+William+Waterhouse+-+Jason+and+Medea+2.jpg


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By now, Merdea

was crazily in love

with the princeand thus decided

to help him. She

whipped up a

sleeping potion

(magic ran in her

blood) and at

midnight thecouple snuck out

to put the dragon

to sleep.Jason and Medea by John William Waterhouse (1907)
http://www.allpaintings.org/d/18346-1/John+William+Waterhouse+-+Jason+and+Medea+2.jpghttp://www.allpaintings.org/d/18346-1/John+William+Waterhouse+-+Jason+and+Medea+2.jpghttp://www.allpaintings.org/d/18346-1/John+William+Waterhouse+-+Jason+and+Medea+2.jpg


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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 beforesetting back with Merdea to her home.


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In the morning, Simpleton rose to see that the king wasfurious because he had been tricked out of his goose:

You are but loathsome and filthy, tell me yourrace!

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

Source:

Excerpt (visual only) from Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone retrieved from Youtube at 3:50pm on 1/05/2013, uploaded by firewitch97 on20/09/2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcFd8RNqKuA

As for my parents, who ruled ofright;

When the wand first pointed abovemy eyes, they feared

That wizards malice:

So they darkened the house and

made a keeningAs 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 ourroad,

Which Hagrid flew me above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcFd8RNqKuAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcFd8RNqKuAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcFd8RNqKuA


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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 thedoor, 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 notunlike 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

absurdand 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.

Documents

Merdea: A Greek Tragedy