The exact details of Medusa's birth are inconsistent throughout Greek mythology, but most sources claim that Medusa was born an exceedingly pretty girl with beautiful flowing locks of hair. He is able to escape unseen thanks to his helm of invisibility. which must be mastered by Greek civilization. Apollodorus writes of possible historical events which could have led Dohalice is a village in the Czech Republic. The first to emerge is Pegasus – one of the most famous creatures in all of mythology. Athena constantly provides aid to Perseus in his quest to conquer Medusa. Medusa praying in Athena's temple, he is smitten and he ravishes her there. Medusa is a woman with a fairly average physical build, and a large, black, dotted snake tattoo winding down either arm. The boar tusks Many versions claim that the sisters were transformed because they defend Medusa and undermine the will of Athena. This is one of the first instances that Medusa’s powers have been used to show the protective nature of the Gorgons. Also, from the command of Perseus, "And she's not deadly. If you get strength from the rest of your equipment, you will of course have to invest correspondingly fewer points directly. Medusa was born a beautiful mortal woman with long flowing hair. originated after the story of Perseus, in order to further legitimate the There are many things that have to be figured out in this situation. While flying through Ethiopia, Perseus spies the young Princess Andromeda tied to a rock as a sacrifice to the sea monster Cetus. The second to come forth from Medusa’s neck is Chrysaor. religious practices as a symbol of birth and fertility, probably due to There are several variations of the order of the events that come next, but the conclusion is always the same. Greek views on women as a whole. 1 History 2 Magical Abilities 3 Trivia 4 Appearances 5 References Medusa … By beheading Medusa, Perseus regains As a trick, Polydectes tells Perseus to bring him the head of Medusa (which is essentially a suicide mission). 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. She débuts in the tenth episode of the third season. are meant to cause pain and fear, but the pig was also used in Greek male to stone with just a glimpse. This cycle is paralleled with women's natural She is murdered during the Narrow Staircase Stair Lift. The mythological monster Medusa, her sisters, and the other Gorgons, have been featured in art and culture from the days of ancient Greece to present day. In fact, she puts all blame for the incident on Medusa and decides to punish her by transforming her into a monster that will be undesirable. (1). —Homer Medusa is a character in Hesiod and Homer's myth. He took her to a town's temple for Athena. The real story of Medusa may not be what you think it is. One of the most dangerous creatures in all of Greece. 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. The story of Medusa and her sister’s transformation into the dreaded Gorgons is both tragic and insightful. They argue that any woman who has recognizable power – especially power over men – is immediately criminalized and turned into a monster. From Athena he receives a mirrored shield. 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. The first is that Medusa is no longer a virgin – though she was deflowered against her will. Thus, Perseus represents the Greek order and its backing of the gods. Others claim that she remained steadfast in her devotion to Athena. This would almost seem to trivialize the power of Medusa, suggesting that Medusa is a powerful creature, whether in myth or historical conjurings. As a result of t… Perseus complies and goes to the gods to help him on his journey. The tusks Medusa was a temptress among the gods, and Poseidon had impregnated the mortal while in the temple of Athena. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. They would put small Medusa heads on buildings and doors as a way to try to keep scary things away. Direct Attack Spells (直接攻撃魔法, Chokusetsu Kōgeki Mahō): Medusa's signature magic skill, this allows her to control of the 1,000 \"snakes\" within her body, in which take the appearance of angular vectors, in which she claims will allow no \"prey\" coming close to ever get away. Most of what we know of Medusa comes from her short time serving in Athena’s temple and the way in which her head was used after she was beheaded by Perseus. The sisters are enraged, but unable to do anything but mourn. From then on, similarly to Euryale and Stheno, her older Gorgon sisters, Medusa was depicted with bronze hands and wings of gold. woman from the Libyan desert. As such she posed Although Medusa’s story has some relevance and symbolism before her tragic end, she arguably has the most influence in her death. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology, Medusa was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. It was a great compliment for Medusa to pledge her loyalty to Athena because of her great beauty – especially since one of the requirements to be a temple priestess was to remain a virgin. The Medusa does this as follows: Strength – enough to carry the equipment. This power was given to Asclepius who used it accordingly. If you were to look into her eyes, she would turn you into stone. Fact 18: Many actors have played the role of Medusa over the years. Cnidarians have two distinct body plans, the medusa (a) and the polyp (b). Medusa's wings symbolize the sky, the freedom and mastery over worlds, You only have to look at the Medusa straight on to see her," writes Cixous. control of his manhood and ensures the silence of feminine wile. 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. However, Medusa would not serve as a priestess for long. This power is likely enabled by Pegasus’ lineage (as he is a son of Poseidon). Again, 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. Medusa was a monster, a Gorgon, generally described as a winged human female with a hideous face and living venomous snakes in place of hair in Greek … This story was probably Medusa is based on the Gorgon with the same name from the Perseus myth from Greek Mythology. their rebirth to a new skin. The name Medusa is Medusa could have been a very prototypical goddess of a matriarchal society. Notes: Deals 225/300/375/450/525 (+75% of your Physical Power) to enemies facing away. The Medusa Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation of Gemini.It is also known as Abell 21 and Sharpless 2-274. Using these gifts he travels and gathers information that is vital to his quest. to some degree this shows the Greek belief in keeping women under tight Medusa was one of the Gorgon sisters, though unlike Euryale and Stheno she was a mortal. Fact 17: Dohalice’s coat of arms shows the head of Medusa. This is when Poseidon decides to ravage Medusa in Athena’s temple. Enemies not looking at Medusa take 75% damage and are slowed. This symbol was thought to keep evil away from those who invoked its protection by wearing it as a pendant. Greek women. Athena also makes use of the remaining blood that still comes forth from Medusa’s severed head. degree of the power of the Greek male civilization over the female power. Would love your thoughts, please comment. For this atrocity to her temple, Athena punishes Medusa, a testament to However, she is also reclusive and does not leave her island often. He took great interest in the story of Medusa and what it may symbolize in terms of the psychology of young men. has been completely insinuated into Zeus's pantheon. Perseus asked the Titan to allow him to rest, but Atlas refused and tried to attack him. to subjugate Medusa's power to the male order, she is decapitated, and her Madame Medusa bears a hideous appearance, of which she seemingly remains unaware. Many scholarly feminists tend to liken the image of Medusa to society’s attitude towards women of power. attracting the lusty god of the sea, for as a female that is inherent in This matches well with If an enemy starts they turn within 2 squares of the medusa, they’re subject to a gaze that hits automatically and slows them (save ends). It was after the Gorgon sisters were wrongfully punished by Athena that their horrific transformation really began. It was originally discovered in 1955 by University of California, Los Angeles astronomer George O. Abell, who classified it as an old planetary nebula. —Snow Whitesrc Medusa is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. Medusa, the Gorgon. 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. Nihilism. Through her passing, she gives the world important contributions to mythology and medicine while also providing the public with a new form of protection. Soon after Medusa became a priestess for Athena, she caught the eye of Poseidon. Such "wild women" are dangerous and must be dealt with quickly. She wears … rein. Animals in this phylum display two distinct morphological body plans: polyp or “stalk” and medusa or “bell” (Figure 2). Lastly – but perhaps most interestingly – the blood of the famous Gorgon is thought to have been the reason that the corals of the Red Sea were formed. She's beautiful and she's laughing." They are often formed by budding from polyps, and are usually solitary free-swimming organisms. Her hair of snakes and reptilian skin are symbolic of the natural cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Andromeda is being sacrificed as a punishment to Cassiopeia (her mother), who was foolish enough to boast that her daughter was more beautiful than the Nereids. Her hair of snakes and reptilian skin are symbolic of the natural cycle of In Medusa’s view this is a proud 219, which can be reduced by 15% to 187 by a Hel rune or a suitable jewel, which I strongly recommend. To understand Medusa’s transformation, it is important to first understand where she came from. However, her time as a beautiful maiden was not to last forever. 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. Thus, his mother is saved by the protective powers of Medusa. to the myth of Medusa. The snake also has an intimate connection with its multiple breasts and large litters. 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. It is Medusa's fault for Poets claimed that she had a great boar-like tusk and tongue lolling between her fanged teeth. It was the fairness of her features, the golden of her hair, that attracted the Sea God. Page twenty of the Daily Prophet was named after the doctor, so they presumably wrote an advice column for the periodical.1 In Greek mythology, Medusa is the name of a Gorgon who turns people into stone. ‘Medusa’ is a poem in free verse divided into 8 (mostly) equal stanzas. It could be a form of the Greek word credited to mean many things. Interestingly enough, Medusa’s story has also been adopted by Nihilists (one who believes that life is meaningless). Euryale’s cries echo through the island – an act for which she becomes most famous in mythology. Athena is enraged that her temple has been desecrated – especially because it had been defiled by her rival, Poseidon. children. She doesn’t have any sympathy towards Medusa. He holds the head up to Atlas’ gaze – who is immediately transformed into a mountain. military strength and strikes fear in any opponents to Athena's will. Her mother, Ceto, was also a primordial sea goddess. The character of Medusa changes greatly after Athena punishes her unjustly. Medusa, Monstrosity, and the Patriarchy. As soon as Perseus cuts off Medusa’s head, her two children are born. and usually ends at around the 9th Century. 3. Loyal and devout in action, but Poseidon was determined to make her his own. Medusa becomes pregnant and is both angered and confused. Her sisters (Stheno and Euryale) are also transformed. 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. They have nematocysts, which are characteristic of the phylum. Modern day feminists have also taken a stance on the symbolism that surrounds Medusa. 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. her nature (7). control of the male-order gods. justice (as seen in Aeschylus's Oresteia). She has difficulty reconciling with her new identity, but eventually comes to embrace her role and begins to take her vengeance on men as this is one of the only ways that she can attempt to get even with Poseidon. These children burst from her neck in a gout of blood, symbolic cycle and in harmony with the worlds of earth and sky. Until the early 1970s, the nebula was thought to be a supernova remnant. It was then that Pegasus was instructed to carry the lightning and thunderbolts on behalf of the Olympians. life back to the earth from which it came. the transition between the worlds of earth and sky. 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. Medusa is transformed into a terrible beast that has bronze hands and wings. beneath, an unceasing natural cycle. Because her head was placed on Athena’s shield (the Aegis) and her blood was revealed to hold the power of both life and death, Medusa’s head became a symbol of protection. The symbol features the head of Medusa surrounded by three bent running legs, and three stalks of wheat. As years go by, she becomes more and more vicious and vengeful. These arrows also have various, unique functions such as being able to bend, ricochet, and pierce targets, while also taking on properties of sharp blades when slashing and cutting. Many authors claim that the corals were created when drops of blood spilled onto seaweed in the waters below. Each is produced by a special cell called a cnidoblast and contains a … But as the Classical period flourished during the 5th and 4th centuries BC, artistic representations of Medusa began to change. head is used to further buttress the dominion of the male over the The original tale of Perseus had no instance of physical transformation, and thus no basis for inclusion in Ovid’s work. Medusa’s family is known for their fierce features and impressive power. 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. In this more personal meeting between Medusa and Perseus, Medusa's power He is a thing of extraordinary and daunting size. He was also known to have ruled as king of Iberia. It is packed with rhymes and half rhymes which gives the poem an almost musical flow. Throughout time, the story of Medusa has gone on to inspire many great thinkers and artists. In the Metamorphoses, Medusa's be reigned in by the patriarchal Greek gods, for it represents a total metis, meaning feminine wile, an aspect which the male gods It is fitting that Athena is said to have wished this wild woman to be Medusa has been variously portrayed as a monster, a protective symbol, a rallying symbol for liberty, and a sympathetic victim of rape and/or a curse. Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. 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. A fearsome creature. Medusa also means ruler or queen, and possibly guardian, terms She débuts, with her appearance in around 700 B.C. I remember reading the story of Medusa, or at least one version of it, in my father’s edition of Bullfinch’s Mythology when I was a child.I glanced over the story again when studying Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Classics at school.But as will be the case with many of my … They fly out of her neck, fully grown. Several such capsules occur on the body surface. 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. Ovid suggests that Medusa was once a beautiful woman, whose charms could Medusa was a character that fascinated the ancient Greeks, and then later the Romans. She went against her vow and married him. He uses these gifts to help him conqueror Medusa. They have radial symmetry and are diploblastic, meaning that their body wall consists of the outer epidermis (ectoderm) and the inner gastrodermis (endoderm), which are separated by mesoglea. It was known to show great power and was even thought to imply divine lineage or protection. birth, death and rebirth. control over the natural cycle. In classical Greek culture, the snake is also a wily and deceptive creature, There are many different men that try – and fail – to hunt Medusa, until Perseus is contracted to bring back her head to King Polydectes. 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. of menstruation and Medusa's power over the cycles. she represents the earth mother who has, during Greek power, become 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. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (Mentioned only) List of articles Known Personnel Editor-in-chief: Barnabas CuffeSecurity … Medusa was the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto (though some sources claim Gorgon is her father). 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. night by Perseus, a subtle act of the male control over metis. Snakes are used due to their shedding of skin, to cause impotence or castration of the male, symbolized by turning the Enemy gods that are killed during Medusa's gaze will turn to a stone statue and remain behind as a reminder to others. The Gorgoneion was an amulet that bore the head of a Gorgon. So, I decided that I would take this opportunity to write a column about one of my favorite critters to … of the moon and tide. Dr Medusa was a witch or wizard. In order In the first event described, Medusa is portrayed as a beautiful woman in 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. diminished and she is able to give birth to Pegasus and Chrysaor, Poseidon's The medusa is the sexually reproducing stage in most hydrozoans. With the mounting of Medusa's head upon Athena's aegis, Medusa's power The reason for this varies. 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. Medusa was a daughter of Phorcys and Keto, and was once a priestess of Athena. … See Article History. evil and twisted. a male role leading an army against Perseus protruding from Medusa's mouth seem to present a mixed message. Because of this, Libya is still full of poisonous vipers to this day. It is also known that two drops of her blood were placed in a vial. dealt with, as she is frequently the representative of Greek masculine It contains examples of sibilance (a form of alliteration) It uses tricolons, which are groups of three to emphasise emotions. She appeals to her goddess and asks for help in moving forward. 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). This part of Medusa’s story gives clear insight on the gods’ perspective of mortals – they are meaningless pawns in a game that existed before their birth and will continue to go on long after they are gone. She is generally portrayed as the embodiment of all things feminine, something Medusa was once a powerful feminine symbol, with control over the natural Her fondness of Athena was reciprocated for a time. The King wishes to marry Perseus’ mother, but Perseus won’t allow it. As Perseus traveled throughout the land significant changes began to happen as the drops of blood from Medusa’s head began to fall. No longer is she 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. Freud compared Medusa as a fair maiden to the image of a mother in the eyes of the innocent before a young boy had seen adult female genitals. The medusa form is a free-swimming structure which consists of an umbrella-shaped body (called a bell), a fringe of tentacles that hang from the edge of the bell, a mouth opening located on the underside of the bell, and a gastrovascular cavity. intimated in 4). With the removal of Medusa's head, all threats to the Greek male order are Medusa has sometimes appeared as representing notions of scientific determinism and nihilism, especially in contrast with romantic idealism. This is the power over all life, the ability to return Medusa's ability to turn men into stone is an important facet of her Lastly, from Hades he receives a helm of invisibility. The mesoglea layer of the medusa body wall is thick and jelly-like. the earth, as it must slither across its belly, embracing the ground. which suggest powerful positions not commonly associated with proper Her facial features consist of eyes containing yellow irises with black pupils, and blonde hair arranged in a spiked style, with two long strands extending downwards framing either side of her face, that entwine each other like a caduceus' snake to rest upon her chest. As he flies over Libya, each drop of blood that falls to the ground transforms into a venomous viper. He is a "malformed or mutant" animal or creature. 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. The story of Medusa’s curse is not the main subject of Ovid’s story. Perseus and Medusa have a complex relationship in Apollodorus's myth. 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. Her father, Phorcys, was known to be a primordial sea god who had a fish tail, crab-like forearms, and red, spiky skin. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. She has an excess of makeup, sagging breasts, green eyes with artificial eyelashes, and wild, fiery red hair to suit her fiery personality. feminine power. However, unlike her other sisters (Sthenno and Euryale), Medusa was a mortal and therefore vulnerable to the perils of the human world. Perseus is able to overcome the monster with the powerful head of Medusa and is able to save Andromeda (who later becomes his wife). Together, they were known to have birthed some of the most fearsome creatures in Greek mythology. The gods give him gifts to help him on his journey. She wears a red, shoulder-baring dress and pink high heels, and was … (1), Medusa is merely a wild This is likely due in part to Zeus and Athena, who were both known to wear a Gorgoneion. This attitude probably stems from the Greek belief that women were created While Medusa is usually considered to be ugly, one myth states that it was her great beauty, not her ugliness, that paralyzed all observers. In the second event described by Apollodorus continuing the duality of death and rebirth. Snakes are used due to their shedding of skin, their rebirth to a new skin. 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. Poseidon was bitter at Athena for recently turning his beloved Koroneis into a raven, so he decided to get back at her by becoming obsessed with the beautiful girl. They use the symbolism of being unable to look into Medusa’s eyes as a symbol of how many people navigate the modern world. over men is not just power over life and death, but the power of female by the gods as a punishment on men (7). The maiden turned monster has inspired many great works of art and philosophy – and has experienced a reemergence in popularity in modern day. While the versions are different, they have the same outcome; Perseus is ordered by King Polydectes to bring back the head of Medusa. All cnidarians have two membrane layers, with a jelly-like mesoglea between them. Even these vague historical events speak to some Athena then puts the head on her shield – the Aegis. destructive and wily female. Medusa is transformed into a terrible beast that has bronze hands and wings. control of both life and death. However, while the creation exhibits all these physical characteristics of … her continuing support of the male hierarchy. It employs many clever features. It is said that the blood that came from the left side of her head had the power to take life, while the blood from the right side of her head had the power to resurrect the dead. Their anger for being wrongfully punished made them turn against the mortals of the world in spite – they would all go on to kill many men, though Stheno would be the most vengeful of the three. This presented Poseidon with a unique opportunity – he would be able to pursue Medusa as a love interest and assert his superiority as a more powerful deity. 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. 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. Medusa is one of the last residuals of the earth goddesses, and as such 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. There are several variations with what happened next. The Gorgon Medusa. Medusa being born into the power of her own right. Writhing snakes were … a great threat to the power of the Greek male-dominated sky gods. Nematocyst, minute, elongated, or spherical capsule produced exclusively by members of the phylum Cnidaria (e.g., jellyfish, corals, sea anemones). Upon his birth from the beheading of Medusa, he is said to have ascended to the heavens where he was greeted by Zeus. the great Atlas is turned into a mountain teaming with plant life, From Hermes he receives winged sandals. 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. Persus cleverly and swiftly maneuvers the spell of the Gorgons and beheads Medusa using his magical tools instead of brute strength. Eventually, Medusa was known to have been transformed into a beast that would be feared by all because she was considered responsible for the desecration of Athena’s temple. cycle of menstruation, which was believed to be synchronized with the cycles 1. After all the trouble that has been caused by Athena’s betrayal of Medusa, the two are finally symbolically reunited when Perseus gives Medusa’s head to Athena after he has completed his journey. When Perseus finally returns from his quest, King Polydectes is astonished to see the young hero alive. Despite being warned about sea gods by her sisters, she was actually flattered that Poseidon liked her. They are similar in structure to an inverted polyp, radially symmetric, and often have four-fold symmetry. it was Athena and Poseidon who inadvertently created the power, rather than They are disfigured in a similar manner and they return to the island of Sarpedon. Perseus goes on a quest to behead Medusa using only a shield, an adamantine sickle, winged sandals, magical bag and helmet of invisibility. Last, though certainly not least, many see the story of Medusa as a reminder of the many dynamics that come into play when the greater forces of the world (in this case, the gods of Mount Olympus) are at work. Uses these gifts he travels and gathers information that is vital to helm... Over men – is immediately criminalized and turned into a mountain Atlas refused and to. 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