Medusa in Greek mythology tells a story of a young beautiful woman who was cursed and beheaded by Greek hero Perseus. The name Medusa (also called Gorgo) in Ancient Greek, means “guardian, protectress”. She was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally called winged human females with living venomous snakes on their head in place of hair. According to ancient Greek poets Hesiod and Aeschylus, Medusa lived and died on an island named Sarpedon, somewhere near Cisthene.
Beautiful Medusa’s Transformation
The three Gorgon sisters—Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale were all children of the ancient marine deities Phorcys. In a late version of the Medusa myth, Medusa was originally said to be a ravishingly beautiful maiden, “the jealous aspiration of many suitors,” who was a servant in Athena’s temple. Her sad story began after she was raped by Poseidon, god of the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses, in Athena’s temple. Athena is an ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, handicraft, and warfare who was later syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. The story continued to say that when Medusa told Athena that she was raped, the goddess became furious and punished Medusa by transforming her beautiful hair into horrible snakes, which made her face so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it would turn onlookers to stone. Medusa who was ashamed of her horrible looks, went and hid herself in a cave.
Who killed Medusa
In various versions of the story, Medusa was beheaded by the hero Perseus son of Danae and Zeus. Danae was locked by her father Acrisius in a bronze chamber, however Zeus managed to impregnated her by gaining access to the chamber. Acrisius became very angry at her daughter Danae. After Danae gave to Perseus, Acrisius locked both Danae and her new born Perseus in a chest and threw them in the sea.
They were saved by Dictys, and Perseus was raised by him. Dictys had a brother, Polydectes who fell in love with Perseus mother and he wanted to marry her but Perseus didn’t allow. Polydectes wanted to get rid of Perseus and organized a banquet and demanded that everyone should bring a horse as a gift. Perseus didn’t have one and Polydectes told him that he has to bring him Medusa’s head, thinking that Perseus would not succeed because many have tried and they were turned to stone.
How did Perseus killed Medusa
Perseus received help from the gods. He received a mirrored shield from goddess Athena, gold, winged sandals from Hermes, a sword from Hephaestus and Hades’s helm of invisibility. Perseus was able to behead Medusa while looking at the reflection from the mirrored shield he received from Athena. He succeeded because Medusa was the only one of the three Gorgons who was mortal. At the time of her death, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon. When Perseus cut off her head, Pegasus, a winged horse, and Chrysaor, a giant wielding a golden sword, sprang from her body.
What did Perseus do with Medusa’s head after cutting it off?
After beheading Medusa, Perseus flew past the Titan Atlas, who stood holding the sky aloft. Tired from his journey, Perseus asked Atlas for a place to rest for a short while, but Atlas refused. Knowing that he could not defeat the Titan alone, he took out Medusa’s head and showed Atlas who was immediately turned into a mountain.
Perseus then flew to Seriphos, where his mother was being forced into marriage with king Polydectes. When Perseus arrived in the middle of the wedding and saw what was going on, he brought out Medusa’s head and showed king Polydectes, who was turned into stone instantly.
Perseus then gave Medusa’s head to Athena, who wears it on her aegis whenever she goes into battle.
