Medusa

In Greek mythology, Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, the monstrous daughters of the gods Porky and Keto. As the only one of the sisters, she was mortal. Her name translates as "the cunning one".

Like her sisters Stheno and Euryale, Medusa was very ugly, but not from birth. She was turned into a monster by Athena after Medusa was seduced by the god Poseidon in the temple of Athena. At that moment, she grew huge teeth, brass claws and snakes for hair. Anyone who looked into Medusa's eyes was petrified.

Medusa was killed by the hero Perseus, which he could not have done without the help of Athena (from her he received a shield as shiny as a mirror), the nymphs (from them he received a helmet of invisibility, winged sandals and a sack for Medusa's head) and Hermes (from him he received a curved sword). He overpowered Medusa by observing her with a shiny shield, which he used as a mirror. And thanks to his winged sandals, he attacked Medusa from a height and cut off her head.

After Medusa's death, her body became the giant Chrysaor and the winged horse Pégas. Medusa's head was used as a weapon by Perseus on several occasions, namely against the giant Atlanteus, against the monster that was to destroy Andromeda, and against King Polydectes. Finally, Perseus gave the head of Medusa to the goddess Athena. She affixed it to her shield called the aegis.

← Ladon Minotaur →

back