What was the story of Medusa

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.

What is Medusa known for?

Medusa is best known for having hair made of snakes and for her ability to turn anyone she looked at to stone, literally to petrify. … According to Hesiod’s Theogony, she was one of three Gorgon sisters born to Keto and Phorkys, primordial sea gods; Medusa was mortal, while the others, Stheno and Euryale, were immortal.

Why was Medusa killed?

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 Perseus’s mother. The gods were well aware of this, and Perseus received help.

Why did Athena put a curse on Medusa?

After all, in those days, the gods claimed their mates as their partner forever, and Medusa was now Poseidon’s wife. Athena looked down in anger and cursed Medusa for betraying her. … She was scared of her powers and angry at the gods for cursing her. She took her revenge on the men that were sent to kill her.

What bad things did Medusa do?

She was lovely, according to the poem—until she was raped in Athena’s temple by Poseidon. Athena then punished her for this violation, by turning her into the monstrous, stony-glanced creature that we know. Yes: punished for being raped. In classical sources, in fact, she’s not always monstrous.

What does Medusa symbolize spiritually?

Medusa could have been a very prototypical goddess of a matriarchal society. Her hair of snakes and reptilian skin are symbolic of the natural cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Snakes are used due to their shedding of skin, and their rebirth to a new skin.

Why did Athena punish Medusa and not Poseidon?

The first reason for why Athena punished Medusa instead of Poseidon is: she could not punish Poseidon. After all, Poseidon was the chief god of the sea. Only Zeus could have a chance to punish Poseidon for what he did. That is not to mention Poseidon was the uncle of Athena.

Did Athena protect 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.

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 Medusa in love with?

Medusa and Poseidon engaged in a love affair and would have two children together, but not before Athena discovered the illicit affair. When Athena discovered the affair, she was enraged and immediately cursed Medusa by taking away her beauty.

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Did Athena punish or bless Medusa?

and a petrifying gaze that turned men to stone. So she was seen as a monster. But socially, it’s interesting (and sad) to note that Medusa was actually a victim of rape by Poseidon. As the rape occurred in a temple of Athena, Athena was outraged, but instead of punishing Poseidon, she punished Medusa, the victim.

Who is Poseidon to Athena?

PoseidonSiblingsHades, Demeter, Hestia, Hera, Zeus, ChironConsortAmphitrite, Aphrodite, Demeter, various others

What does Medusa tattoo symbolize?

According to The Met Museum, Medusa is portrayed in most Greek art as an “apotropaic symbol used to protect and ward off the negative,” representing a “dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil.”

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 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 deserve what happened to her?

Medusa didn’t deserve to be turned into a Gorgon. In most of the myths, she hadn’t wanted to make out with Poseidon in Athena’s temple, and I consider this myth as the most realistic and true one. She had just prayed to Athena to get protection. … And in others, she turned her into a Gorgon just out of anger.

What made Athena angry?

In anger, Athena caused the girl to become inflamed with jealousy over the wooing of her sister by the god Hermes. When she tried to obstruct him, he transformed Agraulos into a stone. … As punishment for the sacriligeous act, Athena made the land barren until the king had the girl exiled and sold into slavery.

Who did Athena fall 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…

What does Medusa mean in the Bible?

As a matter of fact, her name Medusa means ‘to protect’ – and legend states she was quite protective of her purity.. She is punished for desecrating the temple. She is turned into a monster; her head a mess of phallic snakes, whose gaze turns men to stone: she is punished for a sin committed against her.

What did Medusa do as a priestess?

Stage 1: The Devout Leader – High Priestess of Athena Medusa was originally a high priestess of the Goddess, Athena. She was stunning and drew the admiration of many due to her devotion, wisdom and discipline. She took a vow of chastity to Athena and dedicated her life as the priestess of her temple.

Why did Versace use Medusa?

The Versace logo is the head of Medusa, a Greek mythological figure. … Gianni Versace chose Medusa as the logo because she made people fall in love with her and they had no way back. He hoped his company would have the same effect on people and on those who wore his clothes and shoes.

Did Medusa brag about her beauty?

Unfortunately, Medusa was very proud of her beauty and thought or spoke of little else. Each day she boasted of how pretty she was and each day her boasts became more outrageous. On Sunday, Medusa bragged to the miller that her skin was more beautiful than fresh fallen snow.

Can Medusa turn gods to stone?

No, she can not. Zeus is the king of the gods, meaning he is in fact immortal. Medusa May turn any mortal being into stone when looked in her eye, but immortal beings will not be touched.

What does Medusa do that angers Athena?

Terms in this set (20) What does Medusa do or what happens to her that angers Athena? She is raped inside Athena’s temple.

Did Poseidon and Medusa have a child?

Medusa—who in later art is depicted as beautiful although deadly—was the only one of the three who was mortal; hence, Perseus was able to kill her by cutting off her head. From the blood that ran from her neck sprang Chrysaor and Pegasus, her two offspring by Poseidon.

Who was Poseidon's wife?

Amphitrite, in Greek mythology, the goddess of the sea, wife of the god Poseidon, and one of the 50 (or 100) daughters (the Nereids) of Nereus and Doris (the daughter of Oceanus). Poseidon chose Amphitrite from among her sisters as the Nereids performed a dance on the isle of Naxos.

Was Medusa a victim?

Medusa is a victim because she was raped by Poseidon. Also, she was cursed by Athena because she broke her vow of celibacy, even though it wasn’t Medusa’s fault. Athena refused to listen to her, and cursed her as a gorgon.

Did Medusa have dreadlocks?

Some early depictions of Medusa do kind of make it look like she might have dreadlocks, but these are more likely just braids of the kind that were commonly worn by Greek women during the Archaic Period (lasted c. 800 – c. 510 BCE).

Who kills Zeus?

God Of War 3 Remastered Kratos Kills Zeus his Father Subscribe Now ➜

How is Demeter related to Athena?

Athena was Zeus’s favorite child, he gave her his shield the Aegis. Athena has many other half-siblings. Aunts/Uncles: Zeus’s siblings are Hestia (goddess of hearth), Hades (god of underworld), Poseidon (god of sea, horses, and earthquakes), Demeter (goddess of agriculture) and Hera (goddess of love and marriage).