Medusa

Medusa is perhaps the most misunderstood off all of the women in Ancient Greek mythology.

Most people know Medusa as merely the evil gorgon, with venomous snakes for hair, who would turn people to stone if they gazed upon her. However, Medusa was an innocent; another in a long line of women villainised by history. Even her name means “guardian” or “protectress”, so why do we think of Medusa as a villain?

 

Medusa was born a mortal woman, the daughter of two sea gods. She had several siblings, all monsters by birth, though she was not and was the only mortal among her family. Her beauty and mortality were what distinguished her from the rest of her family, who were all depicted as hideous monsters.

 

The great sea god Poseidon grew enamoured with the young and beautiful Medusa and one day he took her, against her will, to the temple of Athena, raping and impregnating her.

 

Athena, a virgin goddess, was enraged by this act and it was she who transformed Medusa into the most monstrous creature of all her family. Now a gorgon like her sisters, Medusa’s hair turned to venomous snakes. She was given wings, tusks and fanged teeth. Her once-beautiful face grew so hideous that one look would petrify a man, turning him to stone.

 

The legend of Medusa grew until one day, the Greek hero, Perseus, was sent on a quest to bring back Medusa’s head. While Medusa slept, Perseus, using his shield as a guide so he did not gaze upon her and turn to stone, cut off her head. Medusa was still pregnant at the time of her murder and as she was killed, her children, Pegasus, a winged horse, and Chrysaor, a winged boar, sprung from the opening in her neck. Awoken by the noise, the gorgons stirred to avenge their murdered sister but to no avail, so they went back to their home to grieve.

 

After some acts of “heroism,” Perseus gave the head of Medusa to Athena, the one who had cruelly turned her into a monster; Athena placed the head of Medusa on her shield. Parts of Medusa’s hair and blood were used for other quests of Ancient Greek heroes over time. But this is where we’ll end the tragic tale of Medusa, an innocent woman villainised by history.