Jellyfish she was a gorgon present in Greek mythology. She had a monstrous shape and had snakes on her head instead of hair. She was known for turning to stone anyone who looked directly into her face. She was killed, in her sleep, by Perseus, a hero who had the help of the gods for this feat.
Accessalso: gods gtrenchs—were immortal, but possessed human form and feelings.
Jellyfish Summary
Medusa was a gorgon and had a monstrous shape.
She had two sisters, named Esteno and Euriale, and of them she was the only mortal.
A variation on the legend portrayed her as a beautiful mortal who had been turned into a gorgon by Athena.
She was killed by the hero Perseus while she slept.
Her head became an amulet against evil spirits in the Ancient Greece.
Who was Medusa?
Medusa was one of the gorgones present in Greek mythology. Gorgons were female-looking monsters and were known to have the power to turn to stone those who looked directly into their face. They were also known for having snakes in place ofs hairs.
the gorgons had appearancemonstrous, with huge claws, sharp teeth and wings. A variation of the myth told that Medusa had been a mortal and beautiful woman, but she was punished for Athena for being too vain and disrespecting the temple of this goddess, of which Medusa was a priestess.
Medusa was the daughter of Forces and Ceto and was the only one of the three gorgons who was not immortal. In this way, her sisters, sternum and Euriale, were immortal. There was also variation in the legends about where she resided. One version said that Medusa lived in Swan, but other Greek authors pointed out that she lived in a region that currently corresponds to the Libya.
The name Medusa in the Greek language means “to guard” or “to protect”, this meaning having a possible relationship with the shield of Athena, which, as we shall see, was adorned with the head of Medusa. Her head became a symbol used as an amulet to protect its wearer from ill omens. This amulet was called gorgonion.
The popularity of the Medusa myth meant that representations of her were made in Greek buildings, such as the Temple of Artemis, located in Corcyra. The representation of Medusa in sacred temples fulfilled the purpose of the gorgonion and warded off evil spirits.
Video lesson on Ancient Greece: religion
Medusa and Perseus
The best known mention of Medusa in Greek mythology appeared in the myth that narratesgo The your death, made of the hero Perseus, son of Zeus and Danae. Danae had been imprisoned in a bronze chamber by her own father, Acrisius, king of Argos. This was because he had received the prophecy that Danae's son, her grandson, would be responsible for her death.
Zeus, however, managed to enter the bronze chamber and ended up impregnating Danae, who gave birth to Perseus. Acrisio then placed it in a chest and threw it into the ocean. The chest reached the island of Serifos, and Danae was rescued by Díctis, who decided to create Perseus. He grew up to be a strong man.
As an adult, Perseus received a mission from Polydecto, brother of Díctis and king of Sephiro. Polydecto asked Perseus to give him Medusa's head as a wedding gift from Hippodamia. This is because the hero was unable to offer the contribution requested by the king: a horse.
Other versions of the myth said that Polydecto proposed the decapitation of Medusa in a tournament held in Sephiros. Anyway, Polydecto put Perseus on this journey because he was interested in relating to the hero's mother. Another version said that Polydecto decided to kill Medusa because she was attacking his kingdom.
Perseus went on this mission, but received help from the Greek gods to reach his goal. The aids he received were:
Hades gave him a helmet that guaranteed him invisibility.
hermes gave it to him sandalswinged, and there are versions of the legend that claim the gift was a sword sharp.
Athena gave him a shield that reflected.
Armed with these accessories, Perseus flew to the hiding place of Medusa and the he killed while she slept. He was careful not to look directly at the gorgon as he attacked her, and brought his head back to Sephiros. Immediately, from Medusa's neck sprouted Pegasus, the winged horse, and Chrysaor, a giant.
Both were born of Medusa's blood, and this was because Medusa had been impregnated by Poseidon. Later, Perseus returned to Sephiros and turned Polydecto to stone. He handed the realm over to Dicthys and gave Medusa's head to Athena, who placed it on her shield.
