London: Spottiswoode and Company, 1873. Mason-Dixon Line Legend says that when invaders attacked the city, Sterope used the hair to bring forth a storm that sent them running away in fear. Medusa represents philosophy, beauty and art. [19], According to Ovid, the corals of the Red Sea were formed when Perseus set Medusas head down in the seaweed after saving Andromeda. She is immediately recognizable, a classical figure and an exciting symbol of a monster. When Minerva caught them in the act, she changed Medusa into a terrifying Gorgon. Much later, Geryon was killed by Heracles. Updates? Perseus, admiring her beauty even in death, beheaded her to show the Greeks upon his return. Athena was probably a pre-Hellenic goddess and was later taken over by the Greeks. He claimed that the story of her decapitation shared much in common with castration. Medusas other child was Pegasus, the beautiful winged horse. Early artwork depicted both Medusa and her sisters as gruesome creatures capable of frightening any man. Acrisius spoke to the Oracles, who prophesied that the son of Danae would be the cause of the old kings death. In this myth, the vipers emerged from the droplets of Medusas blood as Perseus flew over the Sahara with the Gorgons severed head. 3 vols. But Perseus is, without a doubt, the son of the king of the gods, Zeus. A magazine from 1986 also used this idea and claimed that feminists could learn how to channel their rage through her story. Athena became the goddess of crafts and skilled peacetime pursuits in general. Eventually, it died. He then used her severed head as a weapon during his travels, turning his enemies to stone. Perseus flew into the air like an ancient superhero, drew his sword, and dived at the creature. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has a terracotta jar created by Polygnotos that shows Perseus murdering her in her sleep. He handed the kingdom to Dictys, who had protected Danae from his brother. Perseus is a godly Greek hero (he was a son of Zeus) whose ancient name just The venomous vipers of the Sahara were also sometimes said to have been born from Medusas blood. The men who saw Medusa were so terrified of her beauty that it left them mute and unable to speak. Pindar wrote in 490 BC that she had fair cheeks. Pindar: Perseus battle with Medusa is described in Pythian Ode 12 (490 BCE). He then used the mirrored shield to kill her, looking at Medusas reflection rather than directly at her so that he would not be turned to stone. Medusa by Michelangelo Caravaggio (159596). Medusa. Mythopedia, 11 Mar. Medusa is also a character in the first installment of Rick Riordans Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and is portrayed by Uma Thurman in the 2010 film adaptation. Her superiority also derives in part from the vastly greater variety and importance of her functions and from the patriotism of Homers predecessors, Ares being of foreign origin. Smith, William. It is not Perseus fault, Hermes told Dionysus, but Hera, who convinced him to fight. The flag and emblem of Sicily also features her head. Medusa followed the goddess for many years before she met and fell in love with Poseidon. Interestingly, in all other cultures, including Hebrew and Arabic, it is a head (sometimes Ras Al-gol or demons head). Freud disregards any myths that claim she turned men to stone. Legend says while she was there baby snakes dropped from her head and this is why there are plenty of snakes in Africa. She went against her vow and married him. But to be honest, her greatest accomplishment is being the owner of Pimpek the Cat. While the books are filled with characters and tropes from Greek mythology, they are original tales set in modern times. While the name Perseus has been given to a number of ships, mountains, and even early computers, the Greek hero doesnt have the same name recognition today as Heracles/Hercules. Herodotus also records that when Xerxes, the Persian king, came to conquer Greece, he attempted to convince the people of Argos that he was the descendent of Perseus, and, therefore their rightful king already. 1. In his eyes, Medusa was only scary because it linked castration to something that a man could see. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . While it was Zeus that fathered Helen and Pollux by sleeping with Leda while in the form of a Swan, Tyndareus was considered their mortal father. This piece dates back to around 450 BC. They manage to escape when Percy beheads her. After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. In a late version of the Medusa myth, related by the Roman poet Ovid, Medusa was originally a ravishingly beautiful maiden, the jealous aspiration of many suitors, but because Poseidon had raped her in Athenas temple, the enraged Athena transformed Medusas beautiful hair to serpents and made her face so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it would turn onlookers to stone. As for Ariadne, be happy. Cixous urges women to use this story as a way to take back their own power and escape the control that men have over them. Medusa also appeared in multiple pieces of art from the Renaissance and later. 2. Medusa wandered Africa for some time. Medusa was said to have once been a lover of Poseidon. Herodotus, Histories 2.91; Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.52.4; Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.21.6. Pausanias, in his Description of Greece, offers a historical version of Medusa that may be worth mentioning. Athenas association with the acropolises of various Greek cities probably stemmed from the location of the kings palaces there. Medusa was often depicted as a terrifying winged female with snakes instead of hair. Rhianna chose to dress as the Greek mythological figure when she dressed like her on the cover of GQ in 2013. In almost every version of the Medusa myth, King Polydectes of. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 798800, trans. Whether it is Pausanius or Apollodorus you read, the story is remarkably the same. 2023 Nameberry.com.Nameberry is a registered trademark of Nameberry, LLC. Pegasus, the famous horse with wings, arose from her dead body. The best-known story of Perseus and Dionysus comes from Nonnus, who wrote an entire biography of the bacchic god. In most versions of the story, she was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who was sent to fetch her head by King Polydectes of Seriphus because Polydectes wanted to marry his mother. Its hard to tell anything about this Medusa painting other than what you see. Priestesses took a vow of chastity and devoted their lives to her. 2023. They point out that she was a beautiful woman who turned into a monster but that all anyone remembers is that she is a monster. Euripedes and Homer each only referred to a single Gorgon, Medusa. He claimed that both groups of sisters were monsters. Ovids Metamorphoses tells the story of how Perseus, traveling back from killing the Gorgon, came across the beautiful Ethiopian, Andromeda, and saved her from a vicious sea monster (Cetus). Medusas Head is a study released in 1940 after Freuds death. By wearing the winged sandals, he could move in and out quickly. Perseus was assisted by the gods, who provided him with a mirrored shield, winged sandals, a helmet of invisibility, an adamantine sword, and a magical satchel that could carry Medusas head. She was someone who would kill anyone who saw her, and the snakes were simply the curly and knotted hair that was naturally on her head. Rather than die on the field, she was assassinated during the night. Medusa. Mythopedia. How is Perseus Otherwise Portrayed in Modern Culture? The qualities that lead to victory are found on the aegis, or breastplate, that Athena wears when she goes to war: fear, strife, defense, and assault. Medusa appeared in dozens of television shows and movies over the years. Pseudo-Hyginus states, By Joves [Zeus] will, it was borne to the island of Seriphos, and when the fisherman Dictys found it and broke it open, he discovered the mother and child. Though the Titan was a worthy opponent, Perseus stood in the middle of the sky and turned Medusas head towards him. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Athena-Greek-mythology, Roman and Greek Gods - Facts about Athena, Ancient Origins - Athena: Fiercely Feminine Goddess of War and Wisdom, Athena - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Athena - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). This he gave to Perseus, and it was only ever used once. He received a mirrored shield from Athena, gold, winged sandals from Hermes, a sword from Hephaestus, and Hades helm of invisibility. Gorgons, or Gorgones, were three winged daimones, or phantoms of Hades. Called Medousa (Medusa), Sthenmo and Euryale, only Medusa was mortal. Uma Thurman took on the film role and was in a pivotal scene. It is also said that Perseus built the towns of Mideia and Mycenae, and fought to stop the Dionysian mysteries. Athena was customarily portrayed wearing body armour and a helmet and carrying a shield and a lance. Afterward, locked in a wooden chest, both were thrown into the sea by Danaes father Acrisius, who had known from the Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In Greek mythology, Perseus was the heroic slayer of the Gorgon Medusa (pronounced meh-DOO-suh). The goddess carried the womans head on her shield. The messenger god stepped in. London: Reaktion Books, 2013. This root also appears in other Greek names, including Medea, Medon, and Diomedes. Some historians believe that the story of Medusa has some basis in fact. Artists of the Renaissance, including Titian, were also interested in the story of Perseus and Andromeda, and this subject gained popularity once again in the mid-19th century. Kapach, Avi. Yet the Greek economy, unlike that of the Minoans, was largely military, so that Athena, while retaining her earlier domestic functions, became a goddess of war. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. So Zeus and his brothers got together armor and weapons to help Perseus succeed against Medusa. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. She inspired three of Phidiass sculptural masterpieces, including the massive chryselephantine (gold and ivory) statue of Athena Parthenos once housed in the Parthenon; and in Aeschyluss dramatic tragedy Eumenides she founded the Areopagus (Athenss aristocratic council), and, by breaking a deadlock of the judges in favour of Orestes, the defendant, she set the precedent that a tied vote signified acquittal. In later artwork, she appears as a more beautiful woman. In Homers Iliad, Athena, as a war goddess, inspires and fights alongside the Greek heroes; her aid is synonymous with military prowess. It's hard to imagine Zeus misplacing his thunderbolt, as he does as a crucial plot point in "The Lightning Thief", but stranger things have happened in Greek The full story of Medusa, taking into account the oldest myths and the younger poems and stories that survived through the Roman empire, is one of tragedy. She personified, or represented, fairness, the laws of the gods, the laws of human nature, the laws made by man and customs (or tradition). WebPerseus Early Life Perseus was the demigod offspring of the unusual union between Zeus and Danae: the supreme god came to the imprisoned princess of Argos in the form of a golden shower through a crack in the roof of her chamber. Joseph Campbell was one historian who believed this theory. [24] Medusas blood was also used for witchcraft by some mythical figures. London: Routledge, 2003. Howe, T. P. An Interpretation of the Perseus-Gorgon Myth. PhD diss., Columbia University, 1952. While Medusa once had soft and supple white skin, it turned green. Though many know the story of Medusa and her powers, not as many know about her sisters. Athena removed a lock of the womans hair and gave it to Hercules. It is said that the priestesses of Chorea, women who followed Dionysus, were slaughtered by Perseus and his followers and dumped into a communal grave. There was also a theory established by Helene Cixous in which she claims that the original story of Medusa was quite different. Polydectes had been abusing her. He also wrote a tragedy, now lost, called Phorcides in which he described Perseus quest to hunt down and kill Medusa. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. She lost all of her looks and found snakes growing in her hair. One of the sisters on the show found a woman who summoned the creature to punish men. Hold on to your broomstick as we fly through time to check out the delicious and diabolical witch in art history. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order 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. From c. 200 B.C. Feeling as though his work was done, Perseus tracked down Athena and presented her with the head. The once lovely hair was morphed into poisonous, dangerous snakes. Upon returning to Seriphos, Perseus showed the king Polydectes the head and turned him to stone, thus saving his mother. It is from the Perseus Constellation that we also see the Perseid Meteor Shower, which has been documented since 36 AD. His mother was Danae (pronounced DAN-uh-ee), daughter Just as Andromeda had told Perseus her tale, the monster rose from the waters. They all claimed that Medusa was a horrific creature but could not recall when they first heard the legend. They claim that she spent most of her life in Sarpedon, which was close to Cisthene with her Gorgon sisters and also died there. The sisters convince her to change her mind before the Gorgon can slaughter the men. Themis is often seen holding a sword, which represents her ability to separate, or cut, the truth from the lies. Corrections? Sky was the first who ruled over the whole world. What had been his head before was the crest on the mountain summit. She was also worshipped in many other cities, notably in Sparta. Learn more about our mission. During the French Revolution, those who wanted to defeat the royals used the head of Medusa as a symbol of their freedom. The myths of Medusa and Perseus appear in Book 2. Woodward, Jocelyn M. Perseus: A Study in Greek Art and Legend. Through Mortal Bloodlines, Perseus was the Great-Grandfather of Helen of Troy.