Perseus then headed to Ethiopia to rest and set her head down on the ground. While Athena, the goddess of women and knowledge, was often portrayed as holding a shield, the story of Perseus is the only surviving account of it being used. Whether it is Pausanius or Apollodorus you read, the story is remarkably the same. Hyginus: Medusa and her death at the hands of Perseus are described in the Astronomica (2.1213), a poem of the first or second century CE. No source of mythology states that Poseidon was his father, although the sea god does play a role in Perseus story. Gorgophone, daughter of Perseus, was to give birth to Tyndareus. Greek mythological hero; son of Zeus and slayer of Medusa. Caravaggio painted two versions of Medusa, the first in 1596 and the other around 1597. Medusa was killed by the hero Perseus, a son of Zeus and the mortal Argive princess Danae. Herodotus, Histories 2.91; Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.52.4; Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.21.6. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. Gorgo. In A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Medusa. Mythopedia, March 11, 2023. https://mythopedia.com/topics/medusa. Medusa herself had a chilling face topped with serpents that sprang from her hair. Also in the Iliad, Zeus, the chief god, specifically assigns the sphere of war to Ares, the god of war, and Athena. Link will appear as Medusa: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net - Greek Gods & Goddesses, February 7, 2017, Greek Gods and Goddesses 2010 - 2023 | About | Contact | Sitemap | Privacy, Seriphus sent Perseus to return with her head, Medusa: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net. [24] Medusas blood was also used for witchcraft by some mythical figures. He claimed that the story of her decapitation shared much in common with castration. Perseus had been traveling home from slaying Medusa when he came across a beautiful woman by the sea. Uma Thurman took on the film role and was in a pivotal scene. Though many of these pieces made her more beautiful, they also showed that she was terrifying. He shut her up in a chest with Perseus and cast it into the sea. Sterope used the hair to defend the city and keep it safe. These children of Poseidon would go on to have their own stories in Greek mythology. The serpentine locks of Medusas hair had an effect very similar to that of the head: while they did not necessarily turn people to stone, they could scatter entire armies. That she ultimately became allegorized to personify wisdom and righteousness was a natural development of her patronage of skill. Th. When Perseus sought a place to rest, Atlas refused him. [21], Perseus eventually gave Medusas head to Athena, who placed it on her breastplate or shield, called the aegis. The Roman version of her story is the same but changes the location to Minervas temple and her partner to Neptune. Medusa followed the goddess for many years before she met and fell in love with Poseidon. Athena appears in Homers Odyssey as the tutelary deity of Odysseus, and myths from later sources portray her similarly as helper of Perseus and Heracles (Hercules). Dionysus, in his rage, might very well have leveled Argos and killed Perseus if it wasnt for Hermes. Medusa. Art Historian, founder and CEO of DailyArtMagazine.com and DailyArt mobile app. All Rights Reserved. Medusa was often depicted as a terrifying winged female with snakes instead of hair. It ended with Perseus taking the Gorgon head from its bag and turning the entire Ethiopian army into stone. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. Herodotus names Perseus as the son of Danae but points out that it is unknown who his father may have been this compared to Heracles, whose father was Amphitryon. Perseus was attending sporting games (either for competition or part of funeral celebrations), where he was playing quoits (or discus throw). Webrescued by Perseus from the sea monster Me-dusa. Frightened by this prophecy, Acrisius imprisoned his daughter in a bronze chamber and buried her underground. Only according to the scholia on Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica 4.1399. Andromeda was said to be an Ethiopian princess. Virgil: In the epic the Aeneid (19 BCE), Medusa and the Gorgons are included among the monsters living at the outskirts of the Underworld (6.287ff). The goddess carried the womans head on her shield. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Dana, the daughter of Acrisius, King of Argos. 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. The director chose to show her as a human woman who only turned terrifying once men looked into her eyes. She was essentially urban and civilized, the antithesis in many respects of Artemis, goddess of the outdoors. Ancient Ethiopians considered Perseus and Andromeda the But to be honest, her greatest accomplishment is being the owner of Pimpek the Cat. She was widely worshipped, but in modern times she is associated primarily with Athens, to which she gave her name. Athena is customarily portrayed wearing an aegis, body armor, and a helmet and carrying a shield and a lance. 2023 Nameberry.com.Nameberry is a registered trademark of Nameberry, LLC. The Helmet of Hades was also used by Athene in the battle of Troy and Hermes when he fought Hippolytus, the giant. Now she is in heaven with the other great women, like Elektra, my mother Maia, and your mother Semele., Dionysus calmed and let Perseus live. According to Greek mythology, Mycenaes story goes back to the hero Perseus, the demigod son of Zeus and Danae, who was said to have founded the city of Mycenae. o /; Ancient Greek: ) was, in Greek mythology, one of the mortal lovers of Zeus.An Argive princess, she was an ancestor of many kings and heroes, such as Perseus, Cadmus, Heracles, Minos, Lynceus, Cepheus, and Danaus.The astronomer Simon Marius named a moon of Jupiter after Io in 1614.. Because her brother was Phoroneus, Io is also Perseus flew into the air like an ancient superhero, drew his sword, and dived at the creature. Perseus was eventually the person to kill his grandfather. Nameberry is a registered trademark of Nameberry, LLC. Seneca, Medea 828ff; Nonnus, Dionysiaca 44.198ff. The History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods. He would then marry the princess, Leda. This piece dates back to around 450 BC. This phenomenon can be viewed yearly in early August and is the result of the path of the Swift-Tuttle Comet. Pindar wrote in 490 BC that she had fair cheeks. The Medusa Reader. Many later versions of the myth claimed that she was once a beautiful maiden loved by Poseidon. Acrisius spoke to the Oracles, who prophesied that the son of Danae would be the cause of the old kings death. Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History: A work of universal history, covering events from the creation of the cosmos to Diodorus own time (mid-first century BCE). Medusa was said to have once been a lover of Poseidon. With the help of several gods, Perseus tracked Medusa down to her remote lair and beheaded her. It was said that anyone who looked directly at her was immediately turned to stone. Rather than die on the field, she was assassinated during the night. The men who saw Medusa were so terrified of her beauty that it left them mute and unable to speak. Then he grew to an immense height in every part (so you gods determined) and the whole sky, with its many stars, rested on him.. The two decided to marry, which infuriated the goddess. Greek poet Hesiod wrote that Medusa lived close to the Hesperides in the Western Ocean near Sarpedon. Perseus is one of the few people besides Hermes to wear the winged sandals. Pegasus was eventually tamed by the hero Bellerophon.[18]. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. Heracles was the son of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, and a mortal woman named Alcmene. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. She and her sisters were daughters of the primordial sea gods, Ceto and Phorcys. Medusa was the only one of the three who was not immortal. He is best known in Greek mythology as the slayer of Medusa, one of three female creatures, or Gorgons, 2. In ancient Greek religion, Athena was a goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason. Sky was the first who ruled over the whole world. Her parents agreed. Medusa has made several appearances in modern pop culture. The nature and purpose of queer art is not something that can be answered with just one article. However, other sources gave Scylla different parents. Art World The Artist Behind a (Very Questionable) Nude Public Statue of Medusa as a Feminist Avenger Defends His Work The monument has its fair share of Athena immediately added the head to her shield called Aegis. Perseus, admiring her beauty even in death, beheaded her to show the Greeks upon his return. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Polydectes had been abusing her. Webchapter 6. chapter 7. chapter 8. chapter 9. book 3. She also appeared in the 2010 remake as a monster with a serpentine lower body. https://mythopedia.com/topics/medusa, Avi Kapach is a writer, scholar, and educator who received his PhD in Classics from Brown University. Herodotus points out that Assyrians believed Perseus to have been from Persia, hence the similar name. When Perseus found the Gorgons, he used the helmet of invisibility to sneak up on Medusa. Some legends say Themis created this oracle position while others credit Gaea, who then gave it to her. Whilst the comportment of the two intertwined animals to the right was likely drawn from contemporary emblems, their zoologically accurate rendering is based on Rubens own close study of nature. Athena was probably a pre-Hellenic goddess and was later taken over by the Greeks. London: Spottiswoode and Company, 1873. Many artists made Medusa into a work of art. But Perseus is, without a doubt, the son of the king of the gods, Zeus. One of her works said that similar stories focused on sister trios and that authors likely added Medusas sisters. Medusa, the daughter of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, was the most feared of the Gorgons. Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.21.6, 5.12.2. Medusas blood caused the seaweed to harden and become beautiful coral.[20]. The Romans identified her with Minerva. The venomous vipers of the Sahara were also sometimes said to have been born from Medusas blood. In the versions that name Perseus, the story is grim. The two goddesses were sort of entwined in their duties, which is why it made sense that they shared a temple in the ancient Greek city of Rhamnous. Acrisius, not knowing his grandson was present and not being careful as a spectator, was struck by one of these discs and died instantly. Kapach, A. In feminism Medusa is known as a symbol of rage even though she was originally exceedingly beautiful. Some say that Zeus and Themis created the Three Fates, or the Morai, while others say they already existed and even attended their divine wedding ceremony. The two quarreled and Perseus angrily forced Atlas to look upon Medusas head. Medusa also appears on television. The Helmet of Hades was one of the gifts of the Cyclopes to the young Olympian gods when they first fought the Titans in the Titanomachy. 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. Two Athenians, the sculptor Phidias and the playwright Aeschylus, contributed significantly to the cultural dissemination of Athenas image. In Homers Iliad, Athena, as a war goddess, inspires and fights alongside the Greek heroes; her aid is synonymous with military prowess. Her pure white milky skin turned a scary green hue. Numerous analyses have made us familiar with the occasion for this: it occurs when a boy, who has hitherto been unwilling to believe the threat of castration, catches sight of the female genitals, probably those of an adult, surrounded by hair, and essentially those of his mother. Her gaze is not triumphant, exactly, but resolute. 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. The man who stole her mask then used the story to frighten others. The blood from her head slowly found its way to the Red Sea where it formed the basis of the red coral seen there today. In a strange little side-note, an interesting fact about Medusa and her sisters were integral to the invention of the flute. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Death of Medusa I by Edward Burne-Jones (1882). Defining their individualistic artistic Never miss DailyArt Magazine's stories. According to Hesiod, Theogony 33335. By the fifth century BCE, however, Medusa and the Gorgons were increasingly depicted as beautiful women in the visual arts as in literature.[8]. 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. Sicily uses both Medusa and the trinacria on its flag. The other two Gorgons were named Stheno and Euryale. chops off the head of Medusa during "The Lightning Thief". In one of his poems, Pindar applied the epithet euparaos (fair-cheeked) to Medusa. 2. A woman in the midst of an unsavory, unrequested task, she stands naked, her hair a tangle of serpents, a sword in one hand, a severed head in the other. WebIn one version of the Medusa story, she was a gorgeous young woman who agreed to become one of Athenas priestesses. Favourite of Athena. 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. (2023, March 11). In later times, Artists would paint quite detailed works of Perseus holding the head of Medusa, and they would inform similar beheadings, such as David and Goliath, or the beheading of John the Baptist. Link will appear as Themis Goddess of Order and Justice: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net - Greek Gods & Goddesses, October 21, 2019, Greek Gods and Goddesses 2010 - 2023 | About | Contact | Sitemap | Privacy, Themis Goddess of Order and Justice: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net, Goddess of divine order, law, natural law and custom, oracles. Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.55. No men are allowed to enter the tower, and the bronze nature of the tower also ensures that its walls cannot be climbed. The bronze tower has a single door at its base, which is guarded day and night, and at the top is a room fit for a princess, and one which Danae effectively finds herself a prisoner in. Afterward, locked in a wooden chest, both were thrown into the sea by Danaes father Acrisius, who had known from the A fellow child of Zeus, Perseus famously beheaded the snake-haired Medusa, fought a sea monster for Andromeda, and accidentally killed his grandfather while playing sport. Apollonius of Rhodes: The third-century CE epic Argonautica describes the venomous vipers of the Sahara as the offspring of Medusa (4.1505ff). Disappointed by his lack of luck in having a son, Acrisius consulted the Oracle at Delphi, who warned him that he would one day be killed by his daughter's son. Interestingly, in all other cultures, including Hebrew and Arabic, it is a head (sometimes Ras Al-gol or demons head). Of this, Ovid said, Now his hair and beard were changed into trees, his shoulders and hands into ridges. Kapach, Avi. Garber, Marjorie, and Nancy Vickers. The BBC One series Atlantis (20132015) features Medusa before she became a monster. His bones became stones. Blame Hera. Ogden, Daniel. 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). Homer: Medusa is not named in the eighth-century BCE epics the Iliad and the Odyssey, but whenever Athena marches into battle, she is said to carry the head of the Gorgon on her armor. Perseus was eventually killed by Megapenthes, son of Proetus. In order to keep Dana childless, Acrisius imprisoned her in a bronze chamber, open to the sky, in the courtyard of his palace: This mytheme is also connected to Ares, Oenopion, Eurystheus, and others. She believes that Medusa was originally a beautiful woman with power and that men adapted her story to turn her into a monster because they did not appreciate powerful women. After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. Alcmenes husband, the hero Amphitryon, was from an important family, too, also tracing his lineage to Perseus through his father, Alcaeus. In the 20th century, Bernard Berenson and other leading critics argued against Leonardos authorship of the Uffizi painting. Andromeda had been left chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. Her birth and her contest with Poseidon, the sea god, for the suzerainty of the city were depicted on the pediments of the Parthenon, and the great festival of the Panathenaea, in July, was a celebration of her birthday. In his work, he says that she was the queen of those around Lake Tritonis (modern-day Libya), and faced Perseus and his army in battle. As she traveled, some of the serpents in her hair fell to the ground and slid away. Medusa also appeared in multiple pieces of art from the Renaissance and later. He made armor for Heracles and Achilles, arrows for Appolo and Artemis, and an Aigis (or goat-skin breastplate) for Zeus. He stabbed it multiple times, in the neck and back, and attacked every time the creature rose to the surface. Though Athena helped Perseus defect the woman, she knew the powers that her former head held. However, those myths which mention three women call them sisters, and say that the other two were punished simply because of Medusas transgressions. 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. 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. If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content. Athena, insulted that Medusa was no longer a virgin, punished her by turning her into a monster. Perseus had no personal grudge against Medusa. She was made into marble and bronze sculptures. The story of Perseus birth and the prophecy of his grandfathers death would become the center of the myth known as The Golden Shower.. He explained that when a man saw something frightening such as a naked woman, he associated it with his mother because it was his first experience with the female form. Athenas association with the acropolises of various Greek cities probably stemmed from the location of the kings palaces there. deTraci Regula. Meaning: Destroyer. She was the daughter of Zeus, produced without a mother, so that she emerged full-grown from his forehead. However, the same text says that Danaes father, Acrisius, was of Egyptian stock, so Perseus may have been the first Greek in the family through both lines. 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 idea first appeared in a journal in 1978. She was able to see the future, and because of this, became one of many in a line of Oracles of Delphi (also known as Pythia). Johnston claimed that it showed men were still frightened of powerful women. Medusas sisters were immortal but she was mortal. Athena removed a lock of the womans hair and gave it to Hercules. Wilk, Stephen R. Medusa: Solving the Mystery of the Gorgon. Hartland, Edwin. Giovanni Versace loved the Medusa legend so much that he chose her as the mascot of his clothing brand. Smith, William. WebPerseus was the son of the Greek god Zeus and the woman Danae. Lucan: The epic Civil War (60s CE) describes how the venomous vipers of the Sahara were born from Medusas blood (9.624ff). This series is often compared to the British Harry Potter series, and the first book was adapted into a film in 2010. The best-known star within the constellation is Algol, Horus, or Beta Persei. Together with Zeus, Themis bore the Horae, or the goddesses of the seasons. Legend claims the was a giant who carried a golden sword. From c. 200 B.C. Athenas moral and military superiority to Ares derives in part from the fact that she represents the intellectual and civilized side of war and the virtues of justice and skill, whereas Ares represents mere blood lust. Medusas Head is a study released in 1940 after Freuds death. Despite releasing the winged horse when he killed Medusa, no ancient mythology has Perseus ever riding Pegasus. In 1782, Leonardo da Vincis biographer Luigi Lanzi discovered a depiction of Medusas head which he erroneously attributed to Leonardo, based on a description of Leonardos painting done by Giorgio Vasari. A History of Witchcraft in Art, 10 Modernists Who Changed the Face of Indian Art. London: Reaktion Books, 2013. She claimed that they shamed her for sleeping with one of their members. In The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a Gorgon travels to Sabrinas town. Just in case any man took an interest in Medusa, Athena made it so that the man would turn to stone if he looked in her eyes. Ovid: The myths of Medusa and her killer Perseus are described in Books 4 and 6 of the epic Metamorphoses (ca. Eventsromagna. Her profile is engraved on coins of the reign of Seleceus I Nicator of Syria from 312-280 B.C. In the versions that name Perseus, the story is grim. Hesiod: Medusas lineage and her affair with the sea god Poseidon are outlined in the seventh-century BCE epic Theogony. In Libya, he used Medusas head to kill the monster Cetus and save Andromeda, who became his wife. There are many stories and interpretations of the Gorgon Medusa from Greek mythology and later years. Sigmund Freud, Das Medusenhaupt (Medusas Head). While no longer as famous as Heracles or Odysseus, the Argive king and Greek hero Perseus has just an interesting story. After their wedding, he headed to Seriphos for his mothers wedding. Looking at the forbidden mother stiffens the subject in illicit desire and freezes him in terror of the Fathers retribution. WebPerseus was one of the oldest out of all of the Greek mythological heroes. Both Herodotus and Pausanias wrote passages about what they could discover about this king, including his possible connections in Egypt and Persia. During that time, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon. Though some point to the version of the story where Athena came across Medusa in her temple, others claim that the legend never says whether she willingly agreed to intercourse with Poseidon. For this Athena punished her hideously. A Roman cameo from the second or third century contains her head. Priestesses took a vow of chastity and devoted their lives to her. Though many know the story of Medusa and her powers, not as many know about her sisters. Knowing that Polydectes forced her into marriage, Perseus forced him to look at the head and turned him into stone to free his mother. And sometimes, shes holding a scale, a symbol for justice and balance. Perseus had been sent to fetch Medusas head by Polydectes, a cruel king who wished to have Perseus out of the way so he could marry his mother, Danae. Webkaiser covid test reimbursement limit. However, classical and renaissance artists loved depicting the creature being ridden by the better-known hero, so the two myths are often confused. This root also appears in other Greek names, including Medea, Medon, and Diomedes. At the time of her death, no one knew that the creature was with child, one she hoped to raise with Poseidon. Today, many surviving bronze shields from ancient antiquity are carved with the Gorgons head as a warning for all who face the wielder. Depictions of this Gorgon head were often believed to be apotropaic, meaning they could ward off evil. She personified, or represented, fairness, the laws of the gods, the laws of human nature, the laws made by man and customs (or tradition). Athena, also spelled Athene, in Greek religion, the city protectress, goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason, identified by the Romans with Minerva. Michelangelo and Picasso are just two of the famous artists who created work based on her. Zeus had intercourse with her in the shape of a stream of gold which poured through the roof into Danaes lap., Enraged that she was to fall pregnant, and believing that it was Proteus, not Zeus, that had gotten into the chamber, Acrisius dragged Danae back out of the chamber. Medusa or her Gorgon sisters appear in many video games and role-playing games, including Dungeons and Dragons, God of War, and Final Fantasy. Learn more about our mission. It is only those interested in the stars that may see the name appear commonly, and that is because there is a very famous constellation named after the Argive king. She believes that the story relates more to Athena than others do. He turned the king to stone. The other Greek hero, Bellerophon, tamed the magical beast. Hesiod, Theogony 29597 (though the reading of these lines is disputed). The two quickly fell in love and married. Medusas other child was Pegasus, the beautiful winged horse.