The Medusa-Narrator describes Queen Cassiope of Ethiopia. Married to King Cepheus, Cassiope is a beautiful woman whose mother demands she have a child to cement their lineage. She eventually becomes pregnant and prays for a daughter: This daughter, Princess Andromeda, reflects her own beauty. To an older Andromeda’s dismay, she is betrothed to her uncle Phineas to safeguard Ethiopia’s succession. She argues with her mother, but Cassiope proceeds with wedding preparations.

Athene recalls the gifts that Hephaestus has forged for her, including the one she keeps—a statue of her beloved owl. Hephaestus watches her from afar, wondering if she’ll smash it. Athene’s owl is confused by the statue’s resemblance and jealous of it “stealing” her attention, so it jabs at her fingers.

Alerted by a cursed Medusa’s cries, Sthenno and Euryale run to her cave. Medusa hides her head with her arms, having grown snake hair like her sisters. Sthenno and Euryale acknowledge her grief over her hair. They ask about the transformation, and she blames an unknown goddess—whom they seem to intuit.