The terror of Medusa is thus a terror of castration that is linked to the sight of something. Medusa is a native of the planet Caltos. The model was one Harryhausen’s most complex and in 2020 it was voted third favourite among his many creations. In ancient Greek mythology, Medusa is a Gorgon, one of three hideous sisters whose appearance turns men to stone. The study of these stories of creation, good versus evil, life and death, god and the afterlife is Mythology. [9] In a similar manner, the corals of the Red Sea were said to have been formed of Medusa's blood spilled onto seaweed when Perseus laid down the petrifying head beside the shore during his short stay in Ethiopia where he saved and wed his future wife, the lovely princess Andromeda who was the most beautiful woman in the world at that time. Edward Burne-Jones' Perseus Cycle of paintings and a drawing by Aubrey Beardsley gave way to the twentieth century works of Paul Klee, John Singer Sargent, Pablo Picasso, Pierre et Gilles, and Auguste Rodin's bronze sculpture The Gates of Hell.[36]. Author Sibylle Baumbach described Medusa as a “multimodal image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness," citing her seductive contemporary representation, as well as her dimensionality, as the reason for her longevity.[25]. “Near them their sisters three, the Gorgons, winged; 2. The most influential depiction of Medusa in film is arguably the stop motion animation created by Ray Harryhausen for Clash of the Titans (1981). With snakes for hair— hatred of mortal man—… The legends and mythology about the Powers of the Greek Gods. Feminists also like to point to the conditions of Medusa’s descent into the monster world as a criminalization of rape victims that is also typical of modern society. Gorgons are capable of turning their foes to stone, although how they go about this has been shown to vary to some extent. "[22] Griselda Pollock analyses the passage from horrorism to compassion in the figure of the Medusa through Adriana Cavarero's philosophy and Bracha Ettinger's art and Matrixial theory. As he flies over Libya, each drop of blood that falls to the ground transforms into a venomous viper. Combine that with her wicked personality and she was such a threat that the gods Zeus, Hermes and Athena all equipped Perseus with divine objects, the Adamantine Sword, … However, she is slightly less vulnerable and thus more hits from the Blades of Chaos are needed to kill her. Her fondness of Athena was reciprocated for a time. The 2nd-century BC novelist Dionysios Skytobrachion puts her somewhere in Libya, where Herodotus had said the Berbers originated her myth, as part of their religion. Updated March 7, 2020. Medusa’s only real “power” was that if you looked directly at her, you would be turned into stone. Only a few heroes ever escaped Cerberus's guard. There are several variations of the order of the events that come next, but the conclusion is always the same. Euryale’s cries echo through the island – an act for which she becomes most famous in mythology. He was also known to have ruled as king of Iberia. The second is that because she lost her virginity to Poseidon (and is now pregnant by him) she is technically his wife according to the laws of the day. Another one of Pegasus’ powers is that he is known to have been able to make magical and inspiring fountains and springs come up from the Earth whenever he struck his hooves against the ground. ", "The Timeless Myth of Medusa, a Rape Victim Turned Into a Monster", Online version at the Perseus Digital Library, Online version at Harvard University Press, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, "Medusa in Myth and Literary History" – English.uiuc.edu, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Medusa&oldid=996284647, Articles having different image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 December 2020, at 16:58. However, her time as a beautiful maiden was not to last forever. Lastly, from Hades he receives a helm of invisibility. He believed that the viewing of a woman’s genitals (especially a mother’s genitals) in their adult state would have posed a real terror for young men and thought that the story of Medusa could have been created to symbolize this idea. The sisters are enraged, but unable to do anything but mourn. According to legend, after Perseus beheaded Medusa, he was traveling back to save his mother when he happened upon Atlas – the giant Titan who held up the sky. He then sneaks onto the island of Sapharose and beheads Medusa while she sleeps by using Athena’s mirrored shield to guide his movements so that he does not have to look at Medusa directly. Super Strength - Gorgons … Medusa’s family is known for their fierce features and impressive power. It was after the Gorgon sisters were wrongfully punished by Athena that their horrific transformation really began. This power is likely enabled by Pegasus’ lineage (as he is a son of Poseidon). Her father, Phorcys, was known to be a primordial sea god who had a fish tail, crab-like forearms, and red, spiky skin. What are Medusa's powers in Greek mythology? ... she didnt have any super powers....but she was the greek queen of gods in the greek mythology ... Uranus is in Roman mythology, not Greek. The maiden turned monster has inspired many great works of art and philosophy – and has experienced a reemergence in popularity in modern day. The inclusion of Medusa in the center implies the protection of the goddess Athena, who wore the Gorgon's likeness on her aegis, as said above. [16], In the 20th century, feminists reassessed Medusa's appearances in literature and in modern culture, including the use of Medusa as a logo by fashion company Versace. A Gorgon is a type of monster generally described as a “winged human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair”. Cerberus' job was to make sure the dead stay within the gates and the living stay away from them. Powers and Abilities. Though Medusa was known to be a desirable young maiden, she decided to pledge herself to Athena – the goddess she considered to be the most powerful of all those who resided on Mount Olympus. Stephen Wilk, author of Medusa: Solving the Mystery of the Gorgon, questioned Medusa's enduring status among the feminist movement. Medusa was the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto (though some sources claim Gorgon is her father). Herculesclaimed to have fought Medusa as part of his Twelve Labours. Teleportation: The ability to instantly teleport from one location to another. Medusa is a mythological gorgon that existed at some point in the past. There are many things that have to be figured out in this situation. With snakes for hair—hatred of mortal man—, While ancient Greek vase-painters and relief carvers imagined Medusa and her sisters as having monstrous form, sculptors and vase-painters of the fifth century began to envisage her as being beautiful as well as terrifying. This poison is so potent that it can even affect a Seraphim. Among the many historical figures to become fascinated with Medusa’s story was Sigmund Freud. The character of Medusa changes greatly after Athena punishes her unjustly. In some variations her face is disfigured with a beard and fangs (other versions do not tell of this disfigurement) and finally, her hair is transformed into venomous nest of snakes. Athena then turned Medusa into a gorgon. "And she's not deadly. During that time, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon. From Hermes he receives winged sandals. Medusa’s blood is also credited with creating the Amphisbaena – a fearsome creature that resembled a dragon and had a snake’s head on the end of its tail. Beastmate Type : Human Originated She and her sister Euryale were both immortal, and the third sister, Medusa, was mortal even though her image was immortalized in its hideousness by Athena. Perseus asked the Titan to allow him to rest, but Atlas refused and tried to attack him. Pegasus was a winged stallion that was pure white and powerful in nature. While the lock of hair itself didn’t have the power to petrify a rival warrior, it would strike a terrible fear into the heart of anyone who had the misfortune of seeing it. Glamouring: The ability to change one's appearance. She is famed for her snake-like hair and her gaze, which turns those who look at her to stone. Municipal coat of arms of Dohalice village, Hradec Králové District, Czech Republic, Ceremonial French military uniform belt of World War I, Medusa is honored in the following scientific names:[37], Classical Greek depiction of Medusa from the fourth century BC, The triple form is not primitive, it is merely an instance of a general tendency... which makes of each woman goddess a trinity, which has given us the. The Medusa Minosaur, like all Minosaurs, is unintelligible and can only speak one word, which is "Look"(見ろ, Miro). They argue that any woman who has recognizable power – especially power over men – is immediately criminalized and turned into a monster. Through many of her iterations, Medusa pushes back against a story that seeks to place the male, Perseus, at its center, blameless and heroic. Regardless of which version is told, Medusa decides not to leave Athena’s temple because of her devotion. [28], Feminist theorist Hélène Cixous famously tackled the myth in her essay "The Laugh of the Medusa." To understand Medusa’s transformation, it is important to first understand where she came from. It was known to show great power and was even thought to imply divine lineage or protection. She remained a priestess to Athena after her death and was risen with fresh hair. He believes that one reason for her longevity may be her role as a protector, fearsome and enraged. Her father, Phorcys, was known to be a primordial sea god who had a fish tail, crab-like forearms, and red, spiky skin. The head of Medusa is featured on some regional symbols. In Freud's interpretation: "To decapitate = to castrate. The Gorgon/Medusa image has been rapidly adopted by large numbers of feminists who recognize her as one face of our own rage. "From Gorgon and Ceto, Sthenno, Euryale, Medusa". He is able to escape unseen thanks to his helm of invisibility. He tries to sneak off the island, but Medusa’s body is discovered by her sisters before he can leave. He plots to kill Perseus so that he may marry the young hero’s mother, but Perseus is able to stop the attack by using Medusa’s head to turn Polydectes and his accomplices to stone. "Medusa has since haunted Western imagination, materializing whenever male authority feels threatened by female agency," writes Johnston. While Medusa was wrongfully punished by Athena and forced to live the rest of her life as a terrible monster, she experiences some redemption in death. Of the three Gorgons, Sthen… Inscribe the breath of the whole woman. From this point on, the sisters are known to be vicious monsters that take their vengeance on any man that sets foot on their island. There are many different men that try – and fail – to hunt Medusa, until Perseus is contracted to bring back her head to King Polydectes. Jane Ellen Harrison argues that "her potency only begins when her head is severed, and that potency resides in the head; she is in a word a mask with a body later appended... the basis of the Gorgoneion is a cultus object, a ritual mask misunderstood. Medusa was a monster from Greek mythology that was one of the three sisters including Euryale and Stheno.. The cover featured the image of the Gorgon Medusa by Froggi Lupton, which the editors on the inside cover explained "can be a map to guide us through our terrors, through the depths of our anger into the sources of our power as women. She doesn’t have any sympathy towards Medusa. [26] Beyond that, Medusa's story is, Johnston argues, a rape narrative. Because the gods showed favor on him, he was given Hades' Helm of Invisibility, Winged Sandals from Hermes, a magnificent sword made by Hephaestus, and a shield from Athena which would later become the Aegis. Elizabeth Johnston's November 2016 Atlantic essay called Medusa the original 'Nasty Woman.' After being violated by Poseidon, Medusa is devastated. Similarly to the above powers, one drop of blood had the cure to any disease or poison, while the other drop of blood was the most deadly power in the world. Though her life itself may not have been given much consideration in ancient records, the many things that came from her death would go on to impact ancient mythology in countless ways. "[29] Cixous wants to destroy the phallogocentric system, and to empower women's bodies and language. In a late version of the Medusa myth, by the Roman poet Ovid (Metamorphoses 4.794–803), Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden, but when Poseidon had sex with her in "Minerva's" (i.e. Johnston goes on to say that as Medusa has been repeatedly compared to Clinton during the 2016 presidential election, she proves her merit as an icon, finding relevance even in modern politics. Jack London uses Medusa in this way in his novel The Mutiny of the Elsinore:[34]. Medusa embodies menstruation’s protective powers. The story of Medusa and her sister’s transformation into the dreaded Gorgons is both tragic and insightful. They use the symbolism of being unable to look into Medusa’s eyes as a symbol of how many people navigate the modern world. Ceto and Phorcys’ offspring included Echidna (mother of all monsters), the Gorgons, the Graeae (‘the grey withes’ – three sisters best known for sharing one eye amongst themselves), and Ladon (a dragon that guarded the golden apples in the Garden of the Hesperides). 1 Background Information 2 Powers and Abilities 2.1 Super Powers 3 Medusa's Temple 4 Episode Appearance 5 External Links In Greek mythology, Medusa, one of the three Gorgons, was the daughter of the ancient marine deities Phorcys and his sister Ceto. A story says that Hercules acquired a lock of Medusa’s hair from Athena and gave it to the daughter of Cepheus, Sterope, to protect the town of Tegea from being attacked. Perseus was told to kill Medusa by Polydectes. The classic version of Medusa, however, was something that Freud saw as an Oedipus-type syndrome and the decapitation of the monster was thought to represent castration and fear. Powers and Abilities. However, she earned Athena's wrath by first boasting that she was more beautiful than the goddess, and by having intercourse with Poseidon in Athena's temple. Classic Medusa, in contrast, is an Oedipal/libidinous symptom. Freud hypothesized that the myth could symbolize the reaction of a young boy who has, up until a certain point in time, refused to entertain the idea of castration as a real possibility. Medusa is transformed into a terrible beast that has bronze hands and wings. It is depicted mainly as a female with many poisionous snakes in place of hair. In so doing, we unravel a familiar narrative thread: In Western culture, strong women have historically been imagined as threats requiring male conquest and control, and Medusa herself has long been the go-to figure for those seeking to demonize female authority. Heracles (Hercules) is said to have obtained a lock of Medusa’s hair (which possessed the same powers as the head) from Athena and given it to Sterope, the daughter of Cepheus, as a protection for the town of Tegea against attack; when exposed to view, the lock was supposed to bring on a storm, which put the enemy to flight.. Noted by Marjorie J. Milne in discussing a, WoRMS Editorial Board (2017). There are some variations - some versions of the myth say that it was eye contact that turned you to stone, others say that it was any part of her, others still say it was her snake hair (which is the only other supernatural thing about her). "[31], Medusa has sometimes appeared as representing notions of scientific determinism and nihilism, especially in contrast with romantic idealism. Thus, his mother is saved by the protective powers of Medusa. 1 Biography 2 Personality 3 Powers and Abilities 4 Appearances To be added To be added Gorgon Physiology: Medusa is a gorgon, a mythical figure of Greek mythology with the power to turn any who gaze upon her to stone. While flying through Ethiopia, Perseus spies the young Princess Andromeda tied to a rock as a sacrifice to the sea monster Cetus. Medusa could change between her gorgon and human appearance. They fly out of her neck, fully grown. Many versions claim that the sisters were transformed because they defend Medusa and undermine the will of Athena. This is when Poseidon decides to ravage Medusa in Athena’s temple. These sisters comprised a race of monsters known as Gorgons and Medusa was the only one of them that could be killed, she was said to be able to turn people to stone with a glance: her hair was said to be made of snakes and she has become one of the most iconic Grecian monsters of all time. The gods were well aware of this, and Perseus received help. The first is that Medusa is no longer a virgin – though she was deflowered against her will. There are varying accounts of how Euryale and Stheno became the feared Gorgons we see in literature, though many sources claim that the two sisters were turned into monsters for the perceived ‘crime’ of standing with Medusa instead of being compliant with Athena’s decision to punish her for being ravished in her temple. Because she had allowed herself to be defiled in Athena’s temple, Athena transformed her into the most hideous of all the Gorgons and made her features so terrible to behold that she could instantly turn a man into stone if he were to gaze at her directly. [citation needed]. Most sources describe her as the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, although the author Hyginus makes her the daughter of Gorgon and Ceto. She appeals to her goddess and asks for help in moving forward. This was partially because of her great beauty and partially because she was serving his rival – Athena. The three Gorgon sisters—Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale—were all children of the ancient marine deities Phorcys (or "Phorkys") and his sister Ceto (or "Keto"), chthonic monsters from an archaic world. However, Medusa would not serve as a priestess for long. Her sisters (Stheno and Euryale) are also transformed. Athena’s) temple,[6] Athena punished Medusa by transforming her beautiful hair into horrible snakes. From Hephaestus (the god of blacksmiths and metal workers) he receives a sword. User with this ability either is or can transform into an gorgon, a terrifying female creature of Greek mythology. Harrison's translation states "the Gorgon was made out of the terror, not the terror out of the Gorgon."[8]. The first to emerge is Pegasus – one of the most famous creatures in all of mythology. Gorgons also have the standard superhuman strength and agility common of most Yōkai species. Perhaps then, Medusa is a tale of the great injustice that suffered by those who have done no wrong, and the unimportance of these injustices to the greater powers of this world. Powers and Abilities Edit. As well has having snakes for hair, she was given a serpent-like body and rattlesnake-like tail. The Gorgoneion was an amulet that bore the head of a Gorgon. That is to say, there occurred in the early thirteenth century B.C. She argues that men's retelling of the narrative turned Medusa into a monster because they feared female desire. According to Ovid, in northwest Africa, Perseus flew past the Titan Atlas, who stood holding the sky aloft, and transformed him into stone when he tried to attack him. Medusa also has very sharp claws and move attack very swiftly and aggressively. As a trick, Polydectes tells Perseus to bring him the head of Medusa (which is essentially a suicide mission). Furthermore, the poisonous vipers of the Sahara, in the Argonautica 4.1515, Ovid's Metamorphoses 4.770 and Lucan's Pharsalia 9.820, were said to have grown from spilt drops of her blood. In classical antiquity the image of the head of Medusa appeared in the evil-averting device known as the Gorgoneion. It is also known that two drops of her blood were placed in a vial. Atmokinesis: The ability to control weather elements. "[22], In issue three, Fall 1986 for the magazine Woman of Power an article called Gorgons: A Face for Contemporary Women's Rage, appeared, written by Emily Erwin Culpepper, who wrote that "The Amazon Gorgon face is female fury personified. In fact, her head went on to inspire one of the most powerful talisman of it’s time – the Gorgoneion. Available from. Cultural depictions of Medusa and Gorgons, "Bulfinch Mythology – Age of Fable – Stories of Gods & Heroes", Frank Justus Miller translation, as revised by G. P. Goold, "The Rape of Medusa in the Temple of Athena: Aspects of Triangulation", "Endless the Medusa: a feminist reading of Medusan imagery and the myth of the hero in Eudora Welty's novels. From Athena he receives a mirrored shield. However, the Greeks did note in their myths that Cerberus was a fan of sweet things like honey cakes and music, and this became his undoing; the great musician … Medusa has been depicted in several works of art, including: Medusa remained a common theme in art in the nineteenth century, when her myth was retold in Thomas Bulfinch's Mythology. While living on Shanazar, Medusa would terrorize cities by turning their populations into statues, including Death-Trap. Finally, a lock of her hair was cut off and put in a jar. Some versions claim that Medusa was swayed by Poseidon’s advances and developed feelings for him as well. (Pythian Ode 12). Modern day feminists have also taken a stance on the symbolism that surrounds Medusa. A story of victim blaming, one that she says sounds all too familiar in a current American context. Make sure you keep on reading to learn 50 facts about the mysterious Gorgon, Medusa. This symbol was thought to keep evil away from those who invoked its protection by wearing it as a pendant. It was then that Pegasus was instructed to carry the lightning and thunderbolts on behalf of the Olympians. Now that she has been transformed, there are many men that come to the island – no longer as suitors, but as hunters looking to behead her. Medusa was beheaded by the Greek hero Perseus, who thereafter used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone, as a weapon[4] until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield. Perseus is able to overcome the monster with the powerful head of Medusa and is able to save Andromeda (who later becomes his wife). They scour the island for Medusa’s killer but they are unable to find Perseus because of the gifts that were offered to him by the gods. While Medusa is known to be one of the most famous monsters in Greek mythology, there is relatively little that is recorded of her existence before she was beheaded by Perseus. Her mother, Ceto, was also a primordial sea goddess. The following explains the origin story and the meaning of Medusa, the terrifying gorgon in Greek mythology: The head of Medusa. Aeschylus's Prometheus Bound describes them thus: 1. Petrification: The Medusa Beastmate can turn anyone into stone by using the eyes on its chest. Her history is very important in terms of context to what she became and how she impacted history. Its purpose was to act as a guardian for female power, keeping the book solely in the hands of women. Through her passing, she gives the world important contributions to mythology and medicine while also providing the public with a new form of protection. The three Gorgon sisters; Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale, were children of the ancient marine deities Phorcys and his sister Ceto, (the spelling vary based on accounts), chthonic monsters from an ancient world. [32][33] In this interpretation of Medusa, attempts to avoid looking into her eyes represent avoiding the ostensibly depressing reality that the universe is meaningless. Particularly powerful gorgons, like The Medusa of ancient Greek legend have been known to petrify victims with a single glance. Perseus then flew to Seriphos, where his mother was being forced into marriage with the king, Polydectes, who was turned into stone by the head. In one interview after another we were told that Medusa is 'the most horrific woman in the world' ... [though] none of the women we interviewed could remember the details of the myth. The daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, she was born in the caverns beneath Mount Olympus. Perseus knew that he would be unable to fight of Atlas on his own, but with quick thinking realizes that he can use Medusa’s head to his advantage. In 1940, Sigmund Freud's "Das Medusenhaupt (Medusa's Head)" was published posthumously. It is their thought that people keep their eyes down to avoid facing reality (Medusa) so that they are not frozen by the realization that life means nothing. In Greek mythology, Medusa is eventually killed by Perseus. He took great interest in the story of Medusa and what it may symbolize in terms of the psychology of young men. Stheno in Greek mythology was the eldest of the Gorgons, vicious female monsters with brass hands, sharp fangs and "hair" made of living venomous snakes. [23], Elana Dykewomon's 1976 collection of lesbian stories and poems, They Will Know Me by My Teeth, features a drawing of a Gorgon on its cover. Gorgon Powers. He is said to have been born with a golden sword in his hand and is known to have gone on to marry Callirrhoe and father Geryon. This power was given to Asclepius who used it accordingly. In an ode written in 490 BC, Pindar already speaks of "fair-cheeked Medusa".[5]. In Greek mythology, Medusa (/mɪˈdjuːzə, -sə/; Μέδουσα "guardian, protectress")[1] also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Petrification: Medusa is cursed to be a Gorgon and has the ability to turn beings into stone by just looking at them. Medusa was once a beautiful women with long golden hair. This is likely due in part to Zeus and Athena, who were both known to wear a Gorgoneion. However, she is also reclusive and does not leave her island often. The Minotaur in Greek Mythology; The Head of Medusa. Although Medusa was a devout priestess to Athena, she was not protected from being violated by Poseidon and is unjustly punished for a situation she had no control over. Medusa was an enemy of the Amazons, she was killed by Wonder Woman. Others claim that she remained steadfast in her devotion to Athena. Numerous analyses have made us familiar with the occasion for this: it occurs when a boy, who has hitherto been unwilling to believe the threat of castration, catches sight of the female genitals, probably those of an adult, surrounded by hair, and essentially those of his mother. Medusa’s family is known for their fierce features and impressive power. Less powerful ones, such as Hitomi Ishigamimust first "bite" an opponent with one of her snake-like appendages. Even though it is implied otherwise, Medusa's power is that of a regular Gorgon. Most fearsome creatures in Greek mythology ), Attic period, ca her ``! 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