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This is the story of Perseus and Medusa:

Perseus was the son of Zeus (the king of the gods) and of Danae. Danae was the daughter of Acrisius (king of Argos). Acrisius was warned that he would be killed by his grandson Perseus, so Acrisius locked Perseus and his mother in a chest and he cast them into the sea.

They drifted to the island of Seriphus, where they were rescued and where Perseus grew into a man. The king of Seriphus (called Polydectes) fell in love with Perseus’ mum. He thought that Perseus might get in the way of his plans to marry Danae, so he sent Perseus to collect the head of Medusa. Medusa was a monster - if you looked at her face, you were turned into stone instantly.

Aided by Hermes (messenger of the gods), Perseus made his way to the Gray Women (called the Fates in Hercules film) - these women shared one eyeball between them. Perseus took their eye and he wouldn’t give it back to them until they told him where to reach the nymphs of the north. They told him the directions, and when he reached the nymphs, they gave him some winged sandals, a magic wallet (which would fit whatever was put into it), and a cap to make him invisible.
Hermes gave him a sword which could never be bent or broken, and Athena gave him a shield. Perseus found Medusa and killed her (looking in the reflection in the shield to avoid being turned into stone). Medusa had some sisters who were not very happy, but Perseus managed to escape because he was wearing his cap. He put Medusa’s head into the wallet and flew on his winged sandals towards home.

As he was passing Ethiopia, he rescued the princess Andromeda as she was about to be sacrificed to a sea monster and he took her with him as his wife. At Seriphus, he freed his mother by turning the king into stone (using Medusa’s head). They all then returned to Greece, where Perseus accidentally killed his grandfather Acrisius with a discus (as he had been warned in the past). According to one legend, Perseus went to Asia, where his son Perses ruled over the Persians, from whom they were said to have gotten their name.

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.

The people of Athens soon grew tired of the bully, King Minos. 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.  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 was very young. Still, he knew that a deal was a deal. But he was sure 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 this 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, King Minos and his daughter, the Princess Ariadne, came out to greet them. The king told them 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