“What nonsense is this?” “You asked for the head of Medusa. Here she is!” “Surely you don’t expect me to—” Polydectes got no further. “You can turn and look at me now,” said Perseus, putting Medusa’s head back in the satchel. “It’s safe now.” The statue of Polydectes on his throne, flanked by stone men-at-arms, became a popular attraction on Seriphos. Visitors paid to see and touch them, and the money was spent on the construction of a temple to Athena and the installation of a hundred herms around the island.16
