Medusa: Difference between revisions

In Greek mythology, Medusa (Greek: Μέδουσα (Médousa)), was a monstrous female character whose gaze could turn people to stone.

Some classical references describe her as one of three Gorgon sisters. Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale were monsters with brass hands, sharp fangs and hair of living, venomous snakes. The Gorgons and their other sisters the Graiae (and possibly the Hesperides), and their brother Ladon were children of Phorcys and Ceto, or sometimes, Typhon and Echidna.

In a late version of the Medusa tale (related by the Roman poet Ovid) Medusa was originally a beautiful woman. She had sex with — or was raped or molested by — Poseidon in Athena's temple. Upon discovery of the desecration of her temple, Athena changed Medusa's form to match that of her sister Gorgons as punishment. Medusa's hair turned into snakes, and meeting her gaze would turn all living creatures to stone. More ancient Greek writers imagined Medusa and her sisters as beings born of monstrous form.

While Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon, she was beheaded in her sleep by the hero Perseus who was sent to fetch her head by King Polydectes of Seriphus. With help from Athena and Hermes, who supplied him with winged sandals, Hades' cap of invisibility, a sword, and a mirrored shield, he accomplished his quest. The hero slew Medusa by looking at her reflection in the mirror instead of directly at her to prevent being turned into stone. When the hero severed Medusa's head, from her neck two offspring sprang forth: the winged horse Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor. Perseus used Medusa's head to rescue Andromeda, kill Polydectes, and, in some versions, petrify the Titan Atlas. When he flew over the Sahara desert, the drops of her blood that fell turned into venemous snakes, and when he placed her head on a riverbank, coral was first made from the seaweed or reeds her head had touched. Then he gave it to Athena, who placed it on her shield Aegis. Some say the goddess gave Medusa's magical blood to the physician Asclepius, some of which was a deadly poison and the other had the power to raise the dead.

Medusa in art and legend

"If looks could not scare us

Medusa is a well-known mythological icon throughout the world, having been portrayed in artwork as well as popular media over the ages.

Examples of Medusa and the Perseus legend in art form:

• Perseus with the Head of Medusa (bronze sculpture) by Benvenuto Cellini (1554)
• Perseus with the Head of Medusa (marble sculpture) by Antonio Canova (1801)
• Perseus (bronze sculpture) by Salvador Dalí
• Medusa (oil on canvas) by Arnold Böcklin
• Medusa (oil on canvas) by Caravaggio

Medusa as a sexual image

Some writers, including Camille Paglia, author of Sexual Personae, have characterized Medusa as a sexual image. For example, in Sexual Personae, Paglia writes, "It is against the mother that men have erected their towering edifice of politics and sky-cult. She is Medusa, in whom Freud sees the castrating and castrated female pubes. But Medusa's snaky hair is also the writhing vegetable growth of nature. Her hideous grimace is men's fear of the laughter of women."

Medusa in popular culture

• The story of Medusa is told in the movie Clash of the Titans and the fight between her and Perseus is one of the film's highlights.
• Medusa is used as one of the many symbols of the haute couture house Versace.
• Medusa is the name of a Marvel comics fictional character.
• "Medusa" is a song by the thrash metal band Anthrax (band) from their classic 1985 album Spreading the Disease.
• "Medusa" is the name of the second solo album by Annie Lennox, released in 1995.
• "Medusa" is a song by the American indie rock band Helium, from their 1995 album The Dirt of Luck.
• "Medusa's Path" is a song by The Prodigy.
• Medusa features in the title and lyrics of a song by black metal band Cradle of Filth called "Medusa and Hemlock".
• Medusa is referenced in the song The Eyes of Medusa by the progressive metal band Symphony X; it is the sixth track on their third album, The Divine Wings of Tragedy.
• Medusa appears as a character in numerous computer games, among them Heroes of Might & Magic II, Heroes of Might & Magic III, Phantasy Star I and the Castlevania series. In Castlevania, oddly, creatures known as Medusa Heads are extremely common.
• The myth was updated and used as the basis of the Hammer horror film The Gorgon released in 1964. The Gorgon character, Magaera, is clearly based on Medusa.
• Medusa is the main antagonist in the Kid Icarus series of video games.
• The name of the villainess from Disney's popular animated film, The Rescuers, is Madame Medusa.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Medusa (mythology).

• Medusa is a new "Harbinger" in the Atmosfear series. She replaced Khufu in his version of the DVD Board Game, and it's presumed she will replace all other characters when they host.
• Medusa is a particularly deadly creature in the game Nethack, whose gaze will instantly turn any non-resistant creature to stone. This includes herself, if her gaze is reflected.

External links

• Theoi Project, Medousa & the Gorgones references to Medusa and her sisters in classical literature and art
• Medusa Coins Ancient coins depicting Medusa
• Women in Antiquity An Essay on Medusa