Victorian art critic, john ruskin, in his book proserpina, calls himself the. The author explores the myth and history of the gorgon from every. Medusa s sisters, from an athenian protogeometric vase about 675650 bc athena gets angry athena, looking down from the sky, saw medusa kissing her boyfriend, and athena was very angry that they would use her temple this way. Medusa simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Searching for the origins of medusas myth in cultures that predate ancient greece, leeming explores how and why the mythical figure of the gorgon has become one of the most important and enduring ideas in human history. In ancient greek mythology, medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters. Her beauty caught the eye of poseidon, who desired her and proceeded to ravage her in athenas shrine. The system s history is closely tied to the beginnings of mainstream cad and the research culture fostered by cambridge university and the uk government as well as the resulting transformation of cambridge into a.
Medusa, in greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as gorgons. Medusa was one of the three gorgons, daughters of phorcys and ceto, sisters of the graeae, echidna, and ladon all dreadful and fearsome beasts. The gray sisters and echidna are their other sisters. Medusa was the daughter of phorcys and ceto though some sources claim gorgon is her father. One day, poseidon, the god of the sea and rival to athena, saw medusa and decided to humiliate athena by raping the priestess on the steps. Its purpose was to act as a guardian for female power, keeping the book. According to hesiod s theogony, the gorgons were the sisters of the graiai and lived in the utmost place towards the night by the hesperides beyond oceanus. Medusa s two sisters are also incorporated into this myth, said to have created a funeral lament for their sister that inspired athena to create the music of the flute. In ancient greek mythology, medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters known as the gorgons. Since 1994, study guides has offered free history and science articles to keep you connected to the latest discoveries in world history.
For a poetic account, see the ending of the fourth book of ovids metamorphoses. When the gorgons kidnap neil in exchange for medusa, the whole team is caught between a rock and a hard place. The editors of encyclopaedia britannica this article was most recently revised and updated by adam augustyn, managing editor, reference content. All medusa wants is to be more like her two sisters and the other kids in her class. The earliest known record about the story of medusa and the gorgons can be found in hesiod s theogony. Today we look at one of the most misunderstood characters in greek mythology, medusa.
Modern american poetry medusa in myth and literary history. The three gorgon sisters medusa, stheno, and euryalewere all children of the ancient marine deities phorcys or phorkys and his sister ceto or keto, chthonic monsters from an archaic world. Hermes gave him a curved sword and winged sandals, athena a mirrorlike shield, and hades a helmet that made perseus invisible. Vickers point out in the introduction of their 2001 book the medusa reader, what is most compelling in the long history of the myth and its retellings is medusa s intrinsic doubleness. Apr 22, 2012 there is something about crazy, power hungry deities that appeal to so many people. He sees andromeda chained to a rock as an offering to a sea monster. The sisters of medusa woke up from their slumber, but perseus used his helm of darkness to turn invisible, as he escaped.
Medusa the mean book by joan holub, suzanne williams. The three gorgon sisters medusa, stheno, and euryalewere all children of the ancient marine deities phorcys or phorkys and his sister ceto or. The story of perseus and medusa, the snakehaired gorgon. Medusa is one of the three gorgons, sister of stheno and euryale. Medusa could be killed by an assailant who managed to avoid looking directly at her creepy face.
Their genealogy is shared with other sisters, the graeae, as in aeschyluss. In the british writer iris murdoch s novel a severed head 1961, the heroine is a medusa figure. Only, shes not dead, and now her sister eury is in trouble in. In a fit of rage, the jealous athena changed medusa into a horriblelooking creature with a terrible curse. Their plan is to take one of the fake heads that medusa makes of herself and instead of beheading medusa it is a fake head made of plaster.
We know from the creature s appearance in the very ancient myths of perseus and zeus that the notion of a dreadful, snakehaired, deadly woman was born quite early. Before they were monsters, all three sisters were beautiful young women, particularly medusa. Their parents are the sea deities keto and phorcys. The story of medusa and athena dltks crafts for kids.
While fleeing the other gorgons, medusa s sisters, perseus asked atlas for help. The concept of a monster such as a gorgon is an incredibly old one in greek mythological history. Medusa is a deadly and cryptic other, but she is also ubiquitous, with an. According to hesiod s theogony, she was one of three gorgon sisters born to keto and phorkys, primordial sea gods. The goddess became angry, and changed medusa into a monster with snakes for hair. Medusa and her sisters were the most powerful witches of their generation chosen ones and had done most of the greek heroic deeds in history, though the credit went to male heroes. In greek mythology the gorgons were three powerful, winged daemons named medusa, sthenno and euryale. Medusa was a monster, one of the gorgon sisters and daughter of phorkys and keto, the. I would have to say that my favorite part of the book was when medusa s sisters come up with the plan of helping perseus. The story of medusa greek mythology explained youtube. While they are all hideously ugly, medusa is the only one among them with the power to petrify people with her gaze. Aided by hermes and athena, perseus pressed the graiae, sisters of the. Despite, medusa s innocence in the situation, athena still saw this action as a great betrayal and punished her. Medusa is a selectable character from the game astoria.
Gorgons are a type of demon that originated in ancient greece more than 2800 years ago. The book was a collection of lesbian stories and poems. Perseus, chased by medusa s hissing sisters, stheno and euryale, escaped with medusa s disembodied head, giving it to athena, who placed it in the center of her aegis. Medusa s sisters, from an athenian protogeometric vase about 675650 bc. Poseidon was bitter at athena for recently turning his beloved koroneis into a raven, so he decided to get back at her by becoming. During the dawn of greek age and legendary monsters medusa, a powerful witch during this time along with her sisters, was trapped and raped by the sea god poseidon, in the temple of athena. After neil singlehandedly captures medusa, he cant stop bragging to the gang. There is something about crazy, power hungry deities that appeal to so many people.
Only, shes not dead, and now her sister eury is in trouble in the. Oct 28, 2016 welcome back to another fairy tale friday. Medusa in ancient greek art essay the metropolitan museum. We want you to know why things happened, how that matters today, and what you. Stheno being the eldest, euryale being the middle child and lastly her. From the beginning of the book he gives us gorgons as women, as sisters. With bronze claws, a mane of venomous snakes and deadly eyes that can snatch the life from anyone who look upon her, medusa was ancient greece s. Medusa in ancient greek art essay the metropolitan. Whispers ran through all the people in the temple who quickly began to leave for everyone knew that athena enjoyed watching over the people of athens and feared what might happen if the goddess had overheard medusa s rash remarks. Additional facts and information about the mythology and legends of individual gods and goddesses of these ancient civilizations can be accessed via the following links. Medusa was a gorgon, a snakehaired monster that would transform you into a stone statue if you looked in her eyes.
Polydectes explained to perseus that three sisters known as gorgons lived in the west. With bronze claws, a mane of venomous snakes and deadly eyes that can snatch the life from anyone who look upon her, medusa was ancient greece s weapon of mass destruction. Although im familiar with medusa, this is the first book ive read that has taken a closer look at the history of medusa, who wasnt always a monster. In the british writer iris murdochs novel a severed head 1961, the heroine.
From the body of medusa there emerged the wingedhorse pegasus and the giant chrysaor, which were the result of poseidon s mating with medusa. Medusa was one of three sisters born to phorcys and ceto known as the gorgons. Medusa hopes immortality will put an end to her mean girl statusbut her plan for popularity is unfavorably flawed. In pseudoapollodorus version, medusa s sisters sought revenge on perseus, who escaped them by using the cap of hades which rendered its wearer invisible. Mar 31, 2017 medusa s two sisters are also incorporated into this myth, said to have created a funeral lament for their sister that inspired athena to create the music of the flute. Medusa was a monster, one of the gorgon sisters and daughter of phorkys. David leeming seeks to answer this question in medusa, a biography of the mythical creature. Later authors such as herodotus and pausanias place the gorgons abode in libya. Devil s gate by thea harrison, sweet venom by tera lynn childs, medusa, a love story by sasha summers, the deep end of the sea b. Medusa was a priestess to the goddess athena, the virgin goddess of wisdom and battle. They would put small medusa heads on buildings and doors as a way to try to keep scary things away.
One requirement to be a priestess for athena is that the young woman must be a virgin and give her life to the goddess. She was born on an island named sarpedon which is thought to be somewhere in the general area of cisthene and was known to have been one of the gorgon sisters. Her name and aspects of her character are derived from greek mythology as her hair has prehensile attributes like that of medusa the gorgon s hair. The greek poet hesiod wrote that medusa lived close to the hesperides in the western ocean near. As the only mortal at mount olympus academy, medusa is sick and tired of being surrounded by beautiful, powerful, immortal classmates. All of medusas siblings were monsters by birth and, even though she was not. Medusa in ancient greek art essay heilbrunn timeline of art history. Despite, medusa s innocence in the situation, athena still saw this action as a great betrayal and punished her by. Medusa was a daughter of phorcys and keto, and was once a priestess of athena. According to this ancient author, the three sisters, sthenno, euryale, and medusa, were the children of phorcys and ceto and lived. According to hesiods theogony, she was one of three gorgon sisters born to keto. The curse of medusa from greek mythology thoughtco.
Perseus descends, strikes a deal with andromeda s parents, and uses medusa s head to petrify the monster. Aug 01, 2000 the wreck of the medusa is a welltold tale of the crew and passengers of the illfated french frigate. Through many of her iterations, medusa pushes back against a story that. Medusa, synonymous with the word monster, is one of three gorgons who possess the power to petrify any living creature. The earliest known record about the story of medusa and the gorgons can be found. Medusa is alive for thousands of years and maintained the form of a young woman. According to hesiods theogony, she was one of three gorgon sisters born to keto and phorkys, primordial sea gods. They were all children of the sea deities, phorkys and his sister keto. From the beginning of the book he gives us gorgons as women, as sisters, medusa the woman. In greek mythology, medusa also called gorgo, was one of the three monstrous gorgons. This character has psychokinetic control over her hair, a power she obtained through terrigenesis. Medusa was mortal, while the others, stheno and euryale, were immortal. One of a trio of gorgon sisters, medusa was the only sister who was not immortal. So perseus put the head of medusa in the wallet kibisis and went back again.
According to this ancient author, the three sisters, sthenno, euryale, and medusa, were the children of phorcys and ceto and lived beyond famed oceanus at the world s edge hard by. According to hesiods theogony, the gorgons were the sisters of the graiai and lived in. This week were going greek as asha recounts the tale of medusa. When in the temple of athena, poseidon came down from. According to history, or mythology, she died at the hands of perseus, a monster defeated by a hero. As the sisters literally weave, they figuratively weave stories of unfulfilled love. A beautiful mortal, medusa was the exception in the family, until she incurred the wrath of athena, either due to her boastfulness or because of an illfated love affair with poseidon. The myth of medusa the story of medusa is featured in the book entitled old greek stories by james baldwin published in 1895 by the american book company. Medusa s middle sister has a volatile temperament and expressive personality. Anybody who enjoys stories of disaster at sea will enjoy this book. Strangely enough, medusas story doesnt end with her death.
King polydectes of seriphus once commanded the hero perseus to fetch her head. Mckee has done an incredible job of assembling the facts of this story into a coherent tale. Medusa was a fair maiden and a priestess of the goddess of athena, which meant that she couldnt marry in order to devote all her energy to the goddess. Her story has been told and retold by ancient and modern storytellers, writers, and artists.
She is the gang leader and the one who always keeping her sisters from slitting their throats out. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. The woman with snaky locks who could turn the unwary into stone. He accomplished this with the help of the gods who equipped him with a reflective shield, a curved sword, winged boots and helm of invisibility. Medusa books goodreads meet your next favorite book. Aug 20, 20 medusa was one of three sisters born to phorcys and ceto known as the gorgons. Transformed into a vicious monster with snakes for hair, she was. The amazing story of medusa really is easy reading for kids and children who are learning about the history, myths and legends of the ancient roman and greek gods. The best known myth recounts her fateful encounter with the greek hero perseus.
Euryale s gang war with stheno forces medusa to deal with the gangs again, with h. We examine how she became the monster that she is so widely regarded as. Medusa and mc have to take down both sisters and reunite their gangs. Gorgons are the three terrifying sisters turned into snake monsters by athena. Medusa, since 2004 medusa4 is a cad program used in the areas of mechanical and plant engineering by manufacturers and engineering, procurement and construction epc companies. In 1976, elana dykewomon published the book they will know me by my teeth that had a drawing of a gorgon on its cover. Medusa was a character that fascinated the ancient greeks, and then later the romans. From medusa s gaping neck sprang forth the winged horse pegasus and the giant chrysaor, her children by poseidon. While checking out the greek gods, medusa was sexually assaulted by poseidon in athena s temple, and. Neil not only drives them crazy, but he also gets under medusa s sisters scaly skin. Medusa medusalith amaquelinboltagon is a fictional character appearing in american comic books published by marvel comics. Sep 22, 2015 it s more difficult to trace the potential origins of this interpretation, but it s possible that hesiod s description of medusa s relationship to poseidonin which the god beds her in a romantic field of wildflowers lines 27879 of theogeny may have had something to do with itthough again, it s only two lines of text and does.
Euryale serves as a main antagonist in fate s kiss season 1. He informed perseus that medusa had snakes for hair and if you looked upon her, you would surely turn to stone. But after the betrayal of one of her gang members, she was stripped of her aura, pegasus and her. May 22, 2017 in a fit of rage, the jealous athena changed medusa into a horriblelooking creature with a terrible curse. However, unlike her other sisters sthenno and euryale, medusa was a mortal and. The latin poet ovid writes in book iv of his metamorphoses that poseidon attacked medusa in the temple of athena. Apr 18, 2019 in ancient greek mythology, medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters known as the gorgons. In a late version of the medusa myth, related by the roman poet ovid metamorphoses 4. Hunted by many warriors that wished to claim the prize of her head, many tried, and many have failed. Medusa is the youngest child of the three gorgon siblings. She was renowned for being an enchanting beauty poseidon could not resist her and raped her in athena s temple. Learn more about medusa from greek mythology, including legend and. The story of medusa greek mythology medusa is one of the most well known and talked about beings from ancient greek mythology that we have ever heard of.
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