A LEGO Lesson in Greek Mythology
For the last few weeks we have been on a magical journey of discovery, story telling and some serious LEGO building as we've explored the wonderful world of Greek Mythology. This has been one of our most memorable projects to date and Jenson has accomplished some of his most challenging LEGO constructions.
The inspiration behind this topic came from the least educational of places - my fun fuelled desire to have a party for the grown ups, and so was born our Greek Mama Mia bash! Knowing how much preparation goes into something like this, I decided to have a Greek themed week prior to the party weekend. Jenson would learn all about Greek cooking, (party food), Greek celebrations, (party games) and Greek interiors, (party decorations). We actually haven't done any of that and I am not prepared for the party in any way, shape or form but we've learnt a lot. What started out as an excuse for a bit of a piss up has turned into something more educational than I could have ever imagined.
I chose five Greek myths that I thought might appeal to Jenson. I planned for us to make all the characters as wooden spoon puppets, so impressed was I with the way the ones at the Lyme Regis Museum had captured Jenson's imagination and brought learning to life. In hindsight, I'm glad Jenson thought it a rubbish idea because how you make a nine headed dragon out of a wooden spoon is quite frankly beyond my creative capabilities. This is what I love about our curriculum though; it's very democratic! The input we all give ensures the output is something we can all enjoy; I came up with the idea of Greek mythology and Jenson decided he would rather use LEGO as the learning tool to understand it.
Jenson has wholeheartedly embraced the topic of the Greek gods, and what's not to love about man eating beasts, child eating monsters and brave and heroic young men? The stories give a glimpse into the wonderful world of the ancient Greeks and their cultural and religious heritage. So enthused has Jenson been that one morning he was pulling the covers off my bed much earlier than I care to remember because he wanted to make the man-eating lion slayed by Hercules. By 7.30am we had sorted all the yellow LEGO into one pile and by 11am the lion was built. Every part of that giant beast created an obstacle for Jenson, who got so desperate at times that he had to come and ask LEGO's least qualified technician - his mother. He followed no instructions and has done more problem solving than he has ever done in his entire life - from how best to make the feet, to the shape of the head, to the colour of the mane. Medusa's head provided a formidable challenge, as did the Nine-headed Hydra.
This project has tested Jenson's resolve and patience and he has shown excellent resilience when frustration kicked in. Where we couldn't find the part he needed he reverted to a plan B, which is a new phrase coined by him this past week. Great to hear. It has even left Simon impressed. He admitted there was no way school could ever do what I have done with Jenson this past week or so. That was really nice to hear.
It has been a thoroughly rewarding but intense period of learning. One day Jenson worked solidly from 9am to 4pm and didn't even stop for a break to eat lunch. Simon said Jenson probably did more learning in those seven hours than his friends would do in a whole week at school. Another day Jenson didn't come up for air for over three hours so engrossed was he in making Cerebus, the three headed dog and guardian of the gates to the Underworld. It's not just finding the right component but also the right colour and it's amazing how many red blocks you can find when you actually need one in black. Needle in a haystack frequently came to mind as I spent hours upon hours pouring over the floor of Jenson's bedroom among a thick sea of LEGO; I felt like a LEGO skivvy as my master told me exactly what components he needed. At just six years old, his ability to understand how to build something is astounding. He knows the best way to hinge a knee or a jaw and understands the parts he needs to make a grasping hand. He has the technical vision to create things that function and the creative vision to bring them to life with his choice of colours and shapes.
When not on my hands and knees looking for various LEGO parts, I have been sat with the children reading them myths from the book. Jenson listened and asked questions while Wren continued in her own little world of craft! He has struggled to remember names but perhaps that is because he can't pronounce half of them. I know how he feels; one of my more educated Oxford friends has very kindly put me right a few times over the last week. Poor child will grow up speaking the names of these greek legends totally incorrectly, but then as another friend pointed out, at least he'll know who they are.
Jenson has shown great maturity and understanding about the task set for him. After toiling over the wretched lion for hours upon hours, I had expected him to then want to spend the rest of the day playing with it. But no. He did ask the question: "When can I play with it?" but when I said lets try and finish the other twelve labours of Hercules first, he accepted this and moved on to the next character.
When I say labour, it really has been. Apart from the children, I don't think I have ever laboured over anything quite as much as this Greek LEGO project. If Hercules thought he had it tough performing the challenges set by King Eurystheus, he should try making all blinking twelve of them out of LEGO!
It has all been worth it though. The other day Jenson told me, "Mummy I love the Greek gods so much." That is just wonderful to hear. He has also done well at remembering some of the names and the role play he has enjoyed since completing all the stories and characters has been incredible to watch. We've covered a massive amount of stuff; aside from the obvious subject of Greek mythology itself, we've had the globe out looking at where various countries are that have featured in some of the stories.
Jenson's maths has improved ten fold and I feel he now has a much better understanding of simple number patterns and how you can use different variations of numbers to reach the same end. It may not sound much but when he shouts out things like, "2 + 2 = 4 doesn't it Mummy?" I know that he knows this because of the thinking he had to do when building King Minos' maze. That alone was an incredible maths challenge.
He also diligently found, made and counted out all fourteen children for King Minos' maze, even though I told him not to worry too much about finding all of them. I got shouted down rather quickly for that suggestion. He even asked Wren if he could borrow some of her 'girl' LEGO figures, which was very sweet of him because it would have been much easier just to take them.
There has been a little bit of art too. LEGO don't produce too many gold components so golden apples and bespoke golden antlers were spray painted in the garden.
For all the ups and downs we had last year when we were just finding our feet, I must say I really love home schooling. We can stumble across topics that actually enthuse Jenson. This one in particular has been all consuming and has encompassed a wonderful wide range of different subjects.
Below are our five Greek myths animated brilliantly by Jenson's LEGO models. I hope you enjoy them.
The Twelve Labours of Hercules
The great God Zeus had a son, called Hercules. The other gods and goddesses gave the boy wonderful gifts, making him immensely strong and very brave, but also kind and gentle. Hera, Zeus’s wife, hated her baby step-son so one day she sent two deadly snakes slithering into his cradle. Although he was only a few months old, Hercules strangled them both, laughing and gurgling. Hera then hated him even more.
When Hercules grew up, he was taught to use a bow and arrow, wrestle and play the lute. He married and had many children. He was soon famous for his brave deeds and great strength, but Hera was watching him. She was furious that he was so happy and successful. One day she made him go crazy and, in a terrible rage, he killed all his children
When he was sane again, Hercules was horrified at what he had done. He at once went to the temple of the gods and begged to be told what he had to do to be forgiven. “Go to King Eurystheus and work for him as a slave, doing whatever tasks he gives you."
1. The Man-Eating Lion
Hercules went off in search for the lion. It took him weeks to find a trail of its huge paw prints. He followed them to a cave, then hid and waited. When it came out he hurled his spear but it just bounced off the lion. Then he tried to slash it with his sword, but it left no mark. In despair, he hit it as hard as he could with his club. The lion was stunned. Hercules grabbed it and fought the lion for hours in the dark until, at last, he strangled it. Hercules made a cloak out of the lion’s skin. Nothing could pierce it and he wore it for protection. It saved his life many times.
2. The Nine-Headed Hydra
"Your next task, slave, is to kill the Hydra, which lives in the Argos marshes," King Eurystheus said to Hercules. Hercules rode to the stinking swamps and fired burning arrows into the Hydra’s lair to drive it out. When it crawled out, its nine heads spat deadly poison. Hercules ran up to it and chopped off one of its heads, but immediately a new one grew in its place.
Holding his breath to avoid poison, Hercules ran back to the Hydra. First he chopped off a head, then he burned the neck with fire from a branch he had set alight so it couldn’t grow back again. When he had cut off all the heads, the monster was dead.
Hercules dipped the tips of his arrows in its blood, which was a deadly poison. These may be useful one day he thought, and he rode back to King Eurystheus for his third task.
3. The Stag with Golden Antlers
"You must bring me the stag with the golden antlers, but you must not hurt it in anyway,” commanded King Eurystheus. Hercules set out at once and chased the stag through the forests for a whole year. It was the most beautiful and fastest of all the deer, he could never quite catch up with it.
At last, Hercules saw it standing on a river bank. Silently he ran up to it and flung a net over it.
It struggled but couldn’t escape. He gently tied its legs together, lifted it up on his massive shoulders and began the long journey back to the King.
4. The Huge Wild Boar
The King tried hard to think of an even more difficult task. “There’s a wild boar which is so savage, it is destroying all the farms and villages,” he said. “Go and capture it and bring it back here alive.”
Hercules set out the next day. On the way, he met a centaur who invited him to stop for a meal. Hercules agreed and soon the two were feasting merrily. But other centaurs smelled the food and wine and were furious they hadn’t been invited. They attacked but Hercules drove them away with a shower of arrows. (Jenson decided throwing a tree at them might be more successful!)
Next morning, Hercules continued his search and, after five days, he found the tracks of an immense boar in the snow on a mountain. He followed them until he saw the boar itself, moving clumsily through the snow. He watched it, thinking up a plan.
Hiding behind a rock, Hercules shouted as loudly as he could. Startled, the boar blundered away into a deep snowdrift and was trapped. Hercules leapt out of his hiding place, grabbed the boar and tied it up in chains.
Heaving the great beast on his back, he wearily carried it back to the palace. The minute King Euystheus saw the boar he was so frightened, he jumped back into his brass pot again.
5. The Augean Stables
King Eurystheus was angry that Hercules had completed the last task so quickly, and tried to think of something that was really impossible. “Go to King Augeas and clean his stables. Do it in one day,” he ordered. When King Augeas heard what Hercules had come to do, he laughed. He said, “ Those stables haven’t been cleaned for years and years but you’re welcome to try. I’d like them cleaned out.”
Hercules went to the stables and looked at the heaps of stinking horse manure. He couldn’t carry it away; it would take years, and he had only one day.
Then he had an idea. Not very far away was a river, All day he worked, building a dam and digging a channel from the river to the stables. When everything was ready, he broke the dam and sent the river roaring straight to the stables. The torrent of water gushed through one end of the building and out through the other end, washing out all the dirt and carrying it away to the sea.
King Augeas was delighted and said it was a clever trick. When Hercules returned to the palace, King Equrystheus was not delighted. He also thought it was a trick and that Hercules had cheated. He went away to think of something more difficult for Hercules to do.
6. The Stymphalin Birds
“These birds live in Arcadia and they eat people,” said King Eurystheus. “They have brass wings, beaks and claws. You must get rid of them.”
Hercules made the long journey. At last he came to a muddy lake with an island in the middle. This is where the birds lived. Hercules tried to wade through the mud but sank in so deeply. Then he found a boat hidden in the reeds and tried to row it to the island, but that too became stuck in the mud and he had to wade back.
He couldn’t think how to get to the island so prayed to the goddess Athene. She appeared and gave him a brass rattle. “Take this and shake it at the birds,” she said.
He climbed a mountain overlooking the lake and shook the rattle. It made such a terrible noise, the birds on the island flew up into the air, screaming. Hercules shot many of them with his poisoned arrows and the others flew away. He waited until sunset but they didn’t come back.
7. The Great Bull of Crete
“Go to the island of Crete,” King Eurystheus ordered. “There is a huge, fire-breathing bull. It is running wild, destroying the farms and killing the people. You must capture it and bring it back here alive.”
The sea voyage was a long one, but once ashore, Hercules was met by King Minos, who invited him to his palace.
The next morning, Hercules began his search. He found the bull quite close to the city. He hid among some olive trees and watched it. He had never seen a bull that was so enourmous or so fierce.
The bull looked up, saw Hercules and pawed the ground, snorting fire from its nostrils. Then it charged. Hercules wrapped his lion skin around him and waited until the bull was nearly upon him. Then he quickly stepped aside. As the great beast thundered past, Hercules grabbed one of its horns and swung himself on to its back.
The bull tried to toss him off but Hercules clung on. It raced around and bucked, but it couldn’t throw Hercules off its back. Growing tired at last, it came to a trembling standstill. Hercules jumped down, dragged it back to his ship and sailed away.
8. The Man-Eating Horses
“Your next task it to go to King Diomedes and bring back his wild horses. They’re not very nice. They eat people,” said King Eurystheus. This time Hercules took four brave friends with him. King Diomedes pretended he was pleased to see them, but Hercules was suspicious. He didn’t rust the King.
After a grand feast. Hercules and his friends went to bed. “Don’t go to sleep. I think the King plans to kill us.” I’ve heard he feeds his guests to his horses,” warned Hercules. No one came near them in the night and, just before dawn, Hercules and his friends climbed out of their bedroom windows and crept silently to the stables.
The horses, which were chained to a wooden beam, stamped and snorted at the strangers. Hercules chopped down the beam to free them and they drove the horses down to the beach.
Before they reached the ship, they saw King Diomedes and his soldiers racing straight for them. “You hold the horses,” Hercules shouted to one of his friends. “The rest of you get ready to fight.”
The battle was short but very fierce. When it was over King Diomedes and his soldiers were dead. Hercules ran back to the horse, only to find they had eaten his friend. In a furious rage, he fed the King to them. The horses them became calm and very docile. He led them back to the ship and sailed back to King Eurystheus.
King Eurystheus was terrified of horses. “Take the horrid things away,” he screamed. Hercules let them out of the palace and set them free in the mountains.
9. The Amazon Queen's Belt
“My daughter,” King Eurystheus said to Hercules,”wants the belt Queen Hippolyta always wears around her waist. Go and get it for her.”
When Hercules’s friends heard he was going to the Amazons, they all wanted to go with him. The Amazons were a race of fierce women warriors who lived on the Black Sea.
Hercules chose a band of the bravest men and they set sail. When the ship reached the shore, Hercules was surprised to see a group of women walking along the sand, smiling and waving. “You are very welcome here,” cried the leader. “I am Queen Hippolyta. Come to my palace for food and wine.”
Hercules told Hippolyta why he had come. “You may have my belt as a present,” she said, smiling at him. The goddess Hera was watching, and was furious that this task was to be so easy for Hucules. She whispered in the other women’s ears, “Beware, Hercules has come to harm Queen Hippolyta.
The Amazon women believed her and they attacked Hercules. His men fought bravely and, in the thick of the battle, Hercules killed Hippolyta.
“Run back to the ship,” he shouted to his men and, grabbing Hippolyta’s belt, Hercules raced to the beach. The Amazon women chased them but they managed to sail away safely.
Eurystheus’s daughter was delighted with the belt, but the King growled at Hercules, “You have more tasks to do."
10. The Cattle of Geryon
“Go to King Geryon and bring his cattle back here,” order King Eurystheus. Next day, Hercules sailed across from Greece to North Africa. Trudging along the coast, he grew so hot, he angrily fired an arrow at Helios, the god of the sun. Helios was amused by such boldness, and polled down the sun’s rays. When Hercules reached the place where he had to cross the sea, Helios sent down a huge golden bowl that floated on the water. Hercules climbed on and floated across to Geryon’s kingdom.
He pulled the boat onto the beach and went in search of the cattle. Soon he saw them high up a hill. As he climbed up to them, a huge dog with two heads leapt out at him. Hercules raised his club and killed it with one mighty blow.
He was driving the cattle down the hill when King Geryon came rushing after him, shouting angrily. Hercules fitted an arrow and shot Geryon, killing him instantly. Hercules drove the cattle down to his golden bowl boat and sailed away.
11. The Golden Apples
“You must now bring me three golden apples from the Tree of Hesperides,” King Equrystheus commanded Hercules. Hercules had no idea where the tree was and begged Athene to help him.
“You’ll find it in a sacred grove in the mountains at the end of the Earth,” said Athene. Hercules thanked her and, after many months, he reached the Earth’s end and saw Atlas, who held up the sky. “How can I get the golden apples?” Hercules asked Atlas. “Go to the tree and kill the dragon which guards them. Then come here. Only I can pick the apples,” said Atlas, groaning under the weight of the sky.
Hercules crept into the sacred grove of the tree. Coiled around its trunk was a golden dragon with golden eyes. Hercules shot it with a poisoned arrow. Then he went back to Atlas.
“Hold the sky for me, while I go and pick the apples,” said Atlas. Hercules did as Atlas said, and Atlas went away and came back with three golden apples. “Hang onto the sky a bit longer and I’ll take them to the King for you,” said Atlas. Hercules suspected a trick; he thought Atlas would never return and he’d have to hold up the sky forever.
“Thank you,” said Hercules,” but, before you go, could you just help me to make the weight more comfortable. Take it for a moment while I settle my cloak on my shoulders.” And he passed the sky to Atlas. When he was free, Hercules picked up the apple, said goodbye to Atlas, and hurried back to King Eurystheus.
12. Gaurd Dog of the Underworld
“Your last task is the most difficult of all,” King Eurystheus said to Hercules. “Go to the Underwold and bring back Cerebus, the fierce three-headed dog which guards it gates.
Hermes, the gods' messenger, guided Hercules to the river Styx, which you had to cross to get into the the Underworld. The boatman refused to take them across. “You know I can only take dead people,” he said grumpily. Hercules argued with him for so long that he agreed to ferry him across, but not Hermes.
On the other side of the river, Hercules walked through more misty tunnels, past drifting ghosts of the dead. At last, he saw Pluto, the King of the Underworld, and Persephone, sitting on their misty thrones. “Please may I take Cerebus away with me?” he asked.
“You may take the dog but you must return it unharmed,” said Pluto. Hercules thanked Pluto and hurried to the Underworld’s gates where Cerebus stood guard. The dog’s three heads barked and growled at him.
Hercules wrestled the dog until it lay still, exhausted. Then he dragged the dog back to the River Styx, into the boat, and then, all the way back to King Eurystheus’s palace.
When the King saw the dog he screamed with fright and jumped into his pot again. “There,” shouted Hercules, “I’ve completed my tasks. I’m no longer your slave. I am free.” And he dragged Cerebus back to the Underworld.
Then he went to the temple of the gods and knelt in front of the priestess. "Hercules," she said, "you have proved you are strong and very brave. You are forgiven for killing your children."
Hercules thanked her and quietly left the temple. The gods and goddesses were so pleased with Hercules they invited him to Mount Olympus. Zeus, his father, greeted him. "You have done well," he thundered. Hercules stayed in his palace for a while before leaving for many more adventures.
Theseus and the Minotaur
The Minotaur was a terrible monster, which lived in a maze under the palace of King Minos of Crete. Half man and half bull, it ate humans.
Because the son of King Minos had been killed in Athens, he demanded that, every year, seven girls and seven boys were sent from Athens to Crete to be fed to the Minotaur.
Theseus, the son of the King of Athens, was a very brave, clever young man who loved adventure. One year, he offered to sail to the island of Crete as one of the seven boys. He was determined to kill the Minotaur.
When the fourteen young Athenians reached Crete, they were taken to King Minos's palace. There the King's daughter at once fell in love with Theseus; he was so good looking. She went to him secretly and said, "I'll help you kill the Minotaur if you'll marry me." Theseus agreed.
Very early one morning, she led Theseus to the entrance of the Labyrinth. She tied one end of a ball of string to the door post and gave the ball to Theseus. " Take this and let it unwind as you go in, then you will be able to follow the string when you come back. Without it, you'll never find your way out again." Theseus thanked her and bravely strode into the Labyrinth, letting out the string as he went.
He walked down long twisting tunnels and winding passages, around many corners, farther and farther into the maze. At last, he could hear the Minotaur bellowing and shaking the ground with its stamping hoofs.
His sandals making no noise on the floor, Theseus crept closer until he saw the huge monster. It sensed him and raised its head, red eyes glaring. Then it bellowed and charged. Dodging its massive horns, Theseus struck the Minotaur again and again with his sword.
The monster bellowed again, but he fought on, at last, the Minotaur sank to the ground and lay still. It was dead.
Pausing only to get his breath back, Theseus caught hold of the string and, winding it up as he went, he raced back through the twisting tunnels to the entrance.
There the King's daughter was waiting for him. "I've killed the Minotaur but we must hurry before your father finds out," he gasped.
It was still early in the morning and the sleepy guards rubbed their eyes as Theseus and the King's daughter ran through the palace to where the young Athenian girls and boys were locked in their rooms.
Theseus quickly released them. "Go back to our ship but don't make a noise," he said quietly. They leapt on board, the sailors rowed away from Crete and out to sea where, hoisting the sail, they sped over the water safely back to Athens.
The Story of Arachne
Arachne sat at her loom, weaving brilliant threads into wonderful patterns. People from all over the country came to see the beautiful things this young girl wove. Arachne loved hearing them tell her how clever she was and grew very conceited.
"I can weave better patterns than even the goddess Athene," she boasted to an old woman.
"Hush, Athene may hear you," whispered the woman.
"I don't care," said Arachne loudly.
Everyone knew it was very dangerous to talk about the gods and goddesses. If they heard something they didn't like, they could play nasty tricks on people. At that moment Athene appeared in the doorway of Arachne's house.
"I think I heard you speak my name," said Athene. "I've come to see your weaving. I have to admit it is very good."
"Could you do better?" asked Arachne, boldly.
"We shall see," answered Athene. "We will have a competition and then we shall see who is better."
Arachne and Athene set to work at their looms, weaving away for days. They used the brightest threads and most unusual patterns. At last, the two pieces were finished. Athene stared at the two pieces and screamed with rage. She could see Arachne's weaving was better than her own. She grabbed it and ripped it from top to bottom.
"As you are so clever at weaving," she screamed at the terrified Archne, "you shall weave forever, and no one will ever want what you weave."
She tapped Arachne lightly on her shoulder. The girl dropped to the ground. As everyone watched in horror, she shrivelled to a small dark blob, grew eight legs and ran away into a dark corner. Athene had turned Arachne into a spider. From that moment on, Arachne and all her many descendants have woven beautiful webs. You may see them in dusty corners or sparkling with dew in the early morning.
Daedalus and Icarus
Minos, the King of Crete, was a cruel and wicked man. One day he sent a message to Daedulus, a famous architect. "Come to my island and bring your son with you. I have work for you," wrote King Minos.
Daedalus and Icarus sailed to Crete and were greeted by the King in his huge palace. "I want you to build a secret maze in the cellars of my palace. You are to tell no one about it. It must have so many winding tunnels that anyone going into it will never be able to come back out again.
Daedulus didn't know why the King wanted this strange cellar, but he and Icarus did as the King asked. When the Labyrinth was finially finished, Daedulus discovered its secret. It was to be a prison where Minos could keep a terrible monster, called the Minotaur. It had the head of a bull and the body of a man. It ate people.
When Daedulus asked the King for payment, he refused. "You and your son are the only people in the world who know how to go into the Labyrinth and come out alive. I cannot let you go."
Daedulus and Icarus were locked up in a tall tower. They were fed well, but longed to escape. Daedulus watched the birds flying over the island and out to sea. Then he had an idea.
Everyday he put out food for the birds which came to the window and every day he collected some of their feathers. After many months, he set to work secretly.
One morning, Daedulus woke Icarus very early. "Everything is ready. We are leaving." Together they stood on the window ledge. Icarus looked down, "I'm scared. Will the wings really work?" "Just do what I do," said Daedulus. "Don't fly too low over the sea or the spray will wet the feathers and don't fly too high or the sun will melt the wax on the wings."
They leapt off the window ledge. "This is wonderful," Icarus shouted. "We really are flying."
They had escaped from their prison tower. Very excited, Icarus swooped down over the sea, and then soared up high in the sky. He had forgotten what Daedulus had told him and as he glided around and around, the heat melted the wax and the feathers began to fall off the wings.
Icarus plummeted like a stone down into the sea and drowned. Daedulus watched in horror but there was nothing he could do to save his son. Very sadly, he flew on and landed safely in Sicily.
Perseus and Medusa
King Polydectes knew very well that many men had tried to kill Medusa, but failed. She was a hideous monster with snakes instead of hair, and anyone who looked at her was instantly turned to stone. He asked Perseus to slay her and was sure, too, that he would fail.
Perseus didn't feel very brave but he knew he couldn't refuse the challenge. "I'll go at once," he said, "and I'll bring you Medusa's head."
The gods were watching Perseus and decided to help him. When he started his journey to Medusa, Athene appeared in front of him. "Take this shield," she ordered, and told him how to use it.
The god Hermes gave him winged sandals so he could travel quickly, a sickle, a special bag and a helmet which made him invisible.
With these gifts, Perseus flew over the sea to the mountains where Medusa lived. He landed and followed a path to a cave. On each side were statues of brave men who had looked at Medusa and been turned to stone. It was very quiet, even the animals and birds didn't go near this place.
Perseus did as Athene had told him, and looked at his shining shield, using it like a mirror. He could see Medusa in it.
The monster was so hideous, he shivered with fright. She heard his footsteps, but couldn't see him because he was wearing the helmet that made him invisible.
Keeping his eyes fixed on the shield, Perseus sprang forward. He raised the sickle and cut off Medusa's head.
There was a terrible cry and Medusa lay dead.
Perseus picked up her head without looking directly at it for, even now, it could still turn him to stone. He opened his bag, stuffed the head in, and tied it up tightly with cord. Medusa's body lay in the cave.
Medusa's body lay in the cave.
Back in the village Jenson built a hole and buried the head so no one else would be killed by it!