Legend states that Medusa was once a beautiful, avowed priestess of Athena who was cursed for breaking her vow of celibacy. ... When Medusa had an affair with the sea god Poseidon, Athena punished her. She turned Medusa into a hideous hag, making her hair into writhing snakes and her skin was turned a greenish hue.

How did Medusa become cursed?

When Athena discovered the affair, she was enraged and immediately cursed Medusa by taking away her beauty. She turned her long hair into venomous snakes and made her beautiful face so hideous that those who looked into her eyes would immediately be turned to stone. Medusa's life was forever changed.

Why did Athena punish Medusa?

Medusa. The Medusa we know was raped by Poseidon in the goddess Athena's temple. Athena then punished her for desecrating her sacred space by cursing Medusa with a head full of snakes and a gaze that turns men to stone. Then, a heroic Perseus severed the serpent-headed Medusa, turning her into a trophy.

Where did Medusa come from?

Medusa's story comes from very deep in Greek mythography: in the Theogony, by the 8th-century BC poet Hesiod, she is described as being the child of Phorcys and Ceto, chthonic sea deities. In various versions of her story she has sisters, among whom are the Graiae, a trio of women who share a single eye between them.

Who turned Medusa into stone?

Perseus, passing by, saw the princess and fell in love with her. He turned the sea monster to stone by showing it Medusa's head and afterward married Andromeda. Later Perseus gave the Gorgon's head to Athena, who placed it on her shield, and gave his other accoutrements to Hermes.

The Story Of Medusa - Greek Mythology Explained

42 related questions found

Who was the ugliest god?

Facts about Hephaestus

Hephaestus was the only ugly god among perfectly beautiful immortals. Hephaestus was born deformed and was cast out of heaven by one or both of his parents when they noticed that he was imperfect. He was the workman of the immortals: he made their dwellings, furnishings, and weapons.

Why did Athena punish Medusa and not Poseidon?

In turn, the only way for Athena to punish Poseidon is by punishing Medusa. Athena knew that Poseidon lusted after Medusa, this was made evident by his ravishing her. So to get back at him, Athena cursed Medusa so that Poseidon couldn't seduce him anymore.

Is Medusa evil or good?

The most common interpretation of Medusa suggests she is an apotropaic symbol used to protect from and ward off the negative, much like the modern evil eye. She represents a dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil.

Who was Medusa before cursed?

Legend states that Medusa was once a beautiful, avowed priestess of Athena who was cursed for breaking her vow of celibacy. She is not considered a goddess or Olympian, but some variations on her legend say she consorted with one. When Medusa had an affair with the sea god Poseidon, Athena punished her.

Was Athena protecting Medusa?

Athena is a virgin goddess, one who was the patron of Medusa. When Poseidon raped Medusa, she called out to Athena for both forgiveness and guidance. ... Thus, transforming Medusa was not an act of rage, rather, it was an act of protection. Athena could not punish Poseidon for what he did to Medusa.

Why do people get Medusa tattoos?

One possible meaning of the Medusa tattoo is as a representation of strength after trauma or sexual assault. While many people get a Medusa tattoo because of the striking image of a beautiful woman with snakes for hair, many have been getting this ink because of what it symbolises.

Who is Athena in love with?

In Greek mythology, the goddess Athena is immune to romantic love, so there is no particular lover for her. The goddess of love, Aphrodite, has power...

Was Athena jealous of Medusa?

Medusa was a beautiful young woman who was a priestess for the goddess of wisdom and war, Athena. ... Once Athena found out about this affair, her jealousy raged and she became furious! She then decided to put a nasty curse on Medusa for breaking her promise of celibacy.

Who was Apollo's twin sister?

Artemis, in Greek religion, the goddess of wild animals, the hunt, and vegetation and of chastity and childbirth; she was identified by the Romans with Diana. Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo.

What was Medusa's real name?

Euryale is from the ancient Greek "Ευρυαλη" meaning "broad, wide-stepping, wide threshing;" however her name may also mean "of the wide briny sea." This would be an appropriate name since she is the daughter of ancient sea deities, Phorcys and Ceto.

Did Medusa have a lover?

Medusa's story was used as an allegory when I was younger. ... As I got older, the story of how Medusa went from being a woman to a beast became more venereal, Medusa's beauty charmed the god Poseidon, and they had an affair in Athena's temple which greatly angered the virgin goddess.

Can Medusa look at her own reflection?

Medusa is known for being so ugly that if men even look at her face, they would immediately be turned into stone statues. Perseus was somehow able to overcome this challenge of killing her by looking at her reflection in a mirror.

What is the moral of the story of Medusa and Athena?

I think that the moral of Medusa tells us to appreciate others and to think about others as well as yourself. It tells the reader not to make the same mistake as Medusa did, and if you do you will have to pay for it. I think it also tells us to think before you say things.

What did Medusa symbolize?

Medusa symbolizes death, violence, and erotic desire. Once an enthralling beauty she was turned into a monstrosity after she was raped by a god. Such is her beauty that even powerful men couldn't resist her charms. She can be equally enchanting and dangerous, and in some cases, she can be fatal.

Is Medusa still alive?

But there is nothing normal about Medusa. ... However, unlike Medusa, the unnamed animal was never kept alive in captivity. Medusa is currently housed at “The Edge of Hell Haunted House” in Kansas City.

What made Medusa a monster?

Her beauty caught the eye of the sea god Poseidon, who proceeded to rape her in the sacred temple of Athena. Furious at the desecration of her temple, Athena transformed Medusa into a monster with the deadly capacity to turn whoever looked upon her face to stone.

Why Medusa is a victim?

Medusa was raped by Poseidon, but instead of being defended by her patron goddess, Athena, she was punished for being raped. This makes Medusa a victim.

Is Medusa cursed?

Athena looked down in anger and cursed Medusa for betraying her. Medusa was sent to a faraway island and was cursed so that no man would want her. She was given cracked skin, madness, and her signature snake hair and stone eyes. ... She is of course punished by Athena for being raped.

Who is the god of death?

Hades, also called Pluto is the God of death according to the Greeks. He was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea. When he and his brothers divided the cosmos, he got the underworld.