Athenas punishment came with great and terrible features. He pointed out that a simple translation shows that the woman wore a mask to scare intruders and those who thought to bring her harm. 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). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. While the books are filled with characters and tropes from Greek mythology, they are original tales set in modern times. Dionysus, in his rage, might very well have leveled Argos and killed Perseus if it wasnt for Hermes. This he gave to Perseus, and it was only ever used once. After killing Medusa, Perseus used her severed head as a weapon, turning many of his enemies to stone. He is best known in Greek mythology as the slayer of Medusa, one of three female creatures, or Gorgons, Unlike other stories that claim she caught them in the throes of passion, this version says that she was upset that her priestess went against her rules. When Percy travels to a garden to find the Pearl of Persephone with his friends, they stumble across statues and realize they were humans she turned into stone. 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. Medusa was killed by the hero Perseus, a son of Zeus and the mortal Argive princess Danae. From c. 200 B.C. 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. Medusa was the only one of the three who was not immortal. [1], Medusa and her sisters were called the Gorgons. It is pronounced P AH R-Siy-ahS in English . Perseus is of Old Greek origin. Perseus is a form of the English and Greek Persis. See also the related category greek. Perseus is uncommon as a baby girl name. It is not in the top 1000 names. Freud simply stated that the myth is part of the Odepial Complex. Thanks to it, we will be able to sustain and grow the Magazine. 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. They believe that there were events the occurred and that the Greeks simply created a new version of the event. He made armor for Heracles and Achilles, arrows for Appolo and Artemis, and an Aigis (or goat-skin breastplate) for Zeus. According to most sources, she had two sisters that lived alongside her. Gorgons, or Gorgones, were three winged daimones, or phantoms of Hades. Called Medousa (Medusa), Sthenmo and Euryale, only Medusa was mortal. Perseus, realizing he had been tricked by Hera, changed his ways and supported the Dionysian mysteries. He received a mirrored shield from Athena, gold, winged sandals from Hermes, a sword from Hephaestus, and Hades helm of invisibility. Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto. [17], After Medusa was killed, her two children by Poseidon were born from her blood. Her blood also led to the creation of the venomous vipers that roam the Sahara. Hercules then went to Tegea and met with Sterope who was the daughter of Cepheus. However, Atlas also remembered the sayings of an Oracle, as told by Themis. Hartland, Edwin. Medusa followed the goddess for many years before she met and fell in love with Poseidon. She further claimed that the womans head simply served as a mask for those who later wielded it. Medusas sisters were immortal but she was mortal. 4, 288345. London: Spottiswoode and Company, 1873. What had been his head before was the crest on the mountain summit. Medusas other child was Pegasus, the beautiful winged horse. In ancient Greek religion, Athena was a goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason. Together with Zeus, Themis bore the Horae, or the goddesses of the seasons. H. G. Evelyn-White. Eventsromagna. See Ingrid Krauskopf, Gorgo, Gorgoneion in Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, Vol. Medusa With The Head of Perseus will be installed Monday and unveiled the following day in a park across from Manhattan Supreme Court, according to the group 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 What Happened When Perseus Returned With the Head of Medusa? Popularity: 2996. There are three different ways you can cite this article. 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. However, those myths which mention three women call them sisters, and say that the other two were punished simply because of Medusas transgressions. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. She believes that the story relates more to Athena than others do. No female character, however, is perhaps as popular as Medusa, the monster who could turn men to stone with a single glance. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Athena took things a step further. In Egypt, there was a city called Khemmis, which Herodotus records had a temple to Perseus: The people of this Khemmis say that Perseus is seen often up and down this land, and often within the temple, and that the sandal he wears, which is four feet long, keeps turning up, and that when it does turn up, all Egypt prospers. London: Reaktion Books, 2013. It was said that anyone who looked directly at her was immediately turned to stone. According to another tale, Perseus lived to old age, founding the city of Tartus and teaching the magi of Persia. Medusa was one of the scariest creatures that Greek mythology created. Dionysus could not be turned to stone, however. Several authors working on a book interviewed hundreds of women to find out what they knew about the myth. Athena immediately added the head to her shield called Aegis. She also gave birth to Natura, a goddess of the forest. Medusa. Mythopedia, 11 Mar. Pausanias, Description of Greece: A second-century CE travelogue; like Strabos Geography, an important source for local myths and customs. To make Athena look better, some stories claim that Perseus never gave her Medusas head. The Medusa head is part of fashion designer Gianni Versaces symbol. 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. Hephaestus also helped the young man with the gift of a sword. The fields of Atlas contained the golden fruit, some of which the old Titan had previously given to Heracles. Medusa also appears on television. This series is often compared to the British Harry Potter series, and the first book was adapted into a film in 2010. Perseus is one of the few people besides Hermes to wear the winged sandals. A History of Witchcraft in Art, 10 Modernists Who Changed the Face of Indian Art. Returning to the island of Seriphos, the Greek hero discovered his mother in hiding. He claimed that the story of her decapitation shared much in common with castration. Medusa: In the Mirror of Time. Feeling as though his work was done, Perseus tracked down Athena and presented her with the head. Medusa also appeared in multiple pieces of art from the Renaissance and later. When Andromedas former fianc Phineus attacked him, Perseus killed him, too, using Medusas head. The Romans identified her with Minerva. 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. [1] Alcmene was the daughter of Electryon, the king of Mycenae and a son of the hero Perseus. She also appeared in the 2010 remake as a monster with a serpentine lower body. He stabbed it multiple times, in the neck and back, and attacked every time the creature rose to the surface. According to another tradition, however, the head was kept in the city of Athens, buried underneath a mound in the agora.[22]. Caravaggio, Medusa, 1595-1596, Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy. Danaes father, Acrisius, Separated from her sisters and unable to find love, Medusa wandered through the African desert. And sometimes, shes holding a scale, a symbol for justice and balance. Medusa spent the rest of her days wandering the earth alone. 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). In the versions that name Perseus, the story is grim. Gorgo, Gorgoneion in Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, Vol. They lived together in a remote part of the world. Interestingly, in all other cultures, including Hebrew and Arabic, it is a head (sometimes Ras Al-gol or demons head). Medusa was a beautiful young woman, a virgin priestess of the goddess Athena. For this Athena punished her hideously. While her sisters were immortal gods themselves, Medusa was a mortal woman only. Medusa by Michelangelo Caravaggio (159596). Next time there is a trivia night, it might be more interesting to choose questions about Perseus than Hercules, and there are some fun facts that make perfect questions. When Perseus beheaded Medusa, from the remains of her body came the winged horse, Pegasus, and Chrysaor. She was associated with birds, particularly the owl, which became famous as the citys own symbol, and with the snake. The two quickly fell in love and married. In the view of the woman, His bones became stones. 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. 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. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. The stories about Medusa in Greece are unique because they changed quite a bit over the years. chops off the head of Medusa during "The Lightning Thief". The two had three daughters, including Euryale and Stheno. 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 Atlas immediately turned to stone, thus becoming the Atlas Mountains. Accessed on 28 Apr. 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. The goddess was so upset over what she saw and the issues she had with Zeus who was her father that she flew into a rage. She may not have been described as a virgin originally, but virginity was attributed to her very early and was the basis for the interpretation of her epithets Pallas and Parthenos. London: Nutt, 189496. By looking at the bronze shields reflection, he never had to gaze directly upon the monster. 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. Perseus Uses Medusas Head as a Weapon. Medusas head was finally given to the goddess Athena, becoming part of the armor she wore into battle. Her gaze is not triumphant, exactly, but resolute. She went against her vow and married him. It is said he was killed because of the death of Proetus. Afterward, locked in a wooden chest, both were thrown into the sea by Danaes father Acrisius, who had known from the Many artists made Medusa into a work of art. The Legend of Perseus. For Perseus to take his place as King would be considered a good thing for many of the people of Argo. 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. Defining their individualistic artistic Never miss DailyArt Magazine's stories. For some examples, such as the winding snake in the right foreground, Rubens probably also used casts made from nature, which were particularly popular in northern Italy. 1600. O Atlas, the oracle said, mark the day a son of Zeus shall come to spoil; for when thy trees been stripped of golden fruit, the glory shall be his. Worried that this son was Perseus, Atlas was always careful. Corrections? 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). A magazine from 1986 also used this idea and claimed that feminists could learn how to channel their rage through her story. In Freuds interpretation: To decapitate = to castrate. 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. There are several versions of the Medusa myth. She was a monster, a Gorgon, generally described as a winged human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Dionysios Skytobrachion wrote about her during the second century and claimed that she both lived and died in an area of Libya. The story of Perseus birth and the prophecy of his grandfathers death would become the center of the myth known as The Golden Shower.. The men who saw Medusa were so terrified of her beauty that it left them mute and unable to speak. In almost every version of the Medusa myth, King Polydectes of. Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire and blacksmith to the Olympians, would create armor and weapons for many heroes over the years. Danae was the firstborn child of King Acrisius, and he was concerned that he would not have a son to take over his kingdom. Many later versions of the myth claimed that she was once a beautiful This version claims that Athena became spiteful and used her powers to turn the woman into a monster that no man would ever want. Meaning: Destroyer. He shut her up in a chest with Perseus and cast it into the sea. It is not Perseus fault, Hermes told Dionysus, but Hera, who convinced him to fight. Perseus hunted the King down and showed him the head of the Gorgon literally. There are also references to Medusa in the Fabulae. According to author Jane Ellen Harrison, Medusas power came from her head and anyone who carried it gained that power. Athena became the goddess of crafts and skilled peacetime pursuits in general. One was the Giant Chrysaor, who became the father of the monster Geryon. Modern linguists, however, dismiss this etymology as a coincidence. While the instrument itself was created by Pallas Athene, Pindar says that she wove into music the dire dirge of the reckless Gorgons which Perseus heard and imitate with musical instruments the shrill cry that reached her ears from the fast-moving jaws of Euryale. Yes, the high-pitched notes of the flute were the screams of the Gorgons as they mourned over the death of their sister. Athena gave Perseus a shield with mirrors to deflect Medusas gaze, while Hades helped him remain invisible to her. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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. Athena is customarily portrayed wearing an aegis, body armor, and a helmet and carrying a shield and a lance. Whether it is Pausanius or Apollodorus you read, the story is remarkably the same. He took them to King Polydectes [his brother], who married Danae and brought up Perseus in the temple of Minerva [Athena].. There Perseus killed the current King, Proteus, and took his place on the throne. In his eyes, Medusa was only scary because it linked castration to something that a man could see. Classic Medusa, in contrast, is an Oedipal or libidinous symptom. Medusa is one of the most famous characters of Greek mythology. During the height of the #metoo movement, many women began using images of Medusa. Athena is associated with birds, particularly the owl, which became famous as the symbol of the city of Athens. His son, Merros, then burned the head so that it could never be used again. Medusa was not the only Gorgon, however. Perseus was often represented in ancient times in the act of removing Medusas head. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Pausanias, Description of Greece 8.47.4; Apollodorus, Library 2.7.3. Detail. In one of his poems, Pindar applied the epithet euparaos (fair-cheeked) to Medusa. Perseus then headed to Ethiopia to rest and set her head down on the ground. They all claimed that Medusa was a horrific creature but could not recall when they first heard the legend. In post-Mycenaean times the city, especially its citadel, replaced the palace as Athenas domain. Rather than die on the field, she was assassinated during the night. Due to his connection to the sea, many think that Perseus is related to Poseidon. 8 CE). Seeing claims that Athena saw Medusa in her temple and instead of catching her in the midst of consensual intercourse, she found Poseidon raping her. Pegasus, the famous horse with wings, arose from her dead body. Proteus was the brother of Acrisius (Perseus grandfather) and their own war had lasted decades. The Greek hero came to see her on the orders of King Polydectes who ruled over Seriphus. Origin: Greek. Sign up and get your dose of art history delivered straight to your inbox! The myths of Medusa and Perseus appear in Book 2. Leeming, David. Medusa has made several appearances in modern pop culture. Half,brother and great,grandfather of Heracles, son of Nestor and Eurydice (or Anaxibia) who appears in Homer's The Odyssey, main character in Percy Jackson and The Olympians series, and a main character in The Heroes of Olympus series, both by Rick Riordan. Zurich: Artemis, 1988. Perseus was the child of Danae, a princess of Argos. Some authors today believe that the legend showed the control that a man could have over a woman. Looking at the forbidden mother stiffens the subject in illicit desire and freezes him in terror of the Fathers retribution. Indian modernists have been vanguards of shaping the narrative of Indian art in the modern world. Masar Group This interpretation goes on to say that the Three Fates were actually born with Themis in the sea and that they traveled with her to Mount Olympus to meet Zeus. From then on she roamed, shamed, shunned and loathed by everyone. DailyArt Magazine needs your support. The director chose to show her as a human woman who only turned terrifying once men looked into her eyes. Polyidus, frag. The myths of Medusa are addressed in Book 3. One swipe of the sword and the Gorgon was beheaded, her snake-covered face quickly placed in a bag. 1 According to Hesiod ( Hes. She is not only immortalized in stories but also in history. Her long, beautiful hair became a head of snakes. The snakes were likely executed by a specialist, Frans Snyders, but the idea was Rubens. Athena, also spelled Athene, in Greek religion, the city protectress, goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason, identified by the Romans with Minerva. This work is privately owned, signed, and now known as Murtola. The chief characters in the Perseus legend, Perseus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, and the sea monster (Cetus), all figure in the night sky as constellations. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn. Nameberry is a registered trademark of Nameberry, LLC. Kapach, A. How is Perseus Otherwise Portrayed in Modern Culture? According to Ovid, this is what first got her into trouble: when Medusa slept with Poseidon in a temple of Athena, Athena turned her hair into snakes as a punishment. Giovanni Versace loved the Medusa legend so much that he chose her as the mascot of his clothing brand. But to be honest, her greatest accomplishment is being the owner of Pimpek the Cat. Leonardo da Vinci did a painting of her using oil on canvas. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. This creature had a snake on the end of its tail and the body of a dragon. Garber, Marjorie, and Nancy Vickers. 2023. Frightened by this prophecy, Acrisius imprisoned his daughter in a bronze chamber and buried her underground. In Homers Iliad, Athena, as a war goddess, inspires and fights alongside the Greek heroes; her aid is synonymous with military prowess. Hesiod: Medusas lineage and her affair with the sea god Poseidon are outlined in the seventh-century BCE epic Theogony. When the king turned to the Gods, they agreed to help as they worried about what the creature could do. Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.21.6, 5.12.2. Another account in the same text says that Procles, a Carthaginian, believed Medusa to be a Wild Woman of Libya, a form of big-foot, who would harass the people in nearby towns. 3 vols. Her emergence there as city goddess, Athena Polias (Athena, Guardian of the City), accompanied the ancient city-states transition from monarchy to democracy. 2022 Wasai LLC. In one version of the Medusa story, she was a gorgeous young woman who agreed to become one of Athenas priestesses. 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. The flag and emblem of Sicily also features her head. Greek writers never specified why only one Gorgon sister was mortal. On his way home, Perseus came upon Andromeda, a beautiful woman embedded into a rock on the shore. Perseus then decapitated her and took her head to use it as a weapon in battle. The bronze polished shield was quite reflective, which came in very handy. Medusa represents philosophy, beauty and art. During the 20th century, many looked at the tale of Medusa and how it relates to feminism. Charmed also used Medusa as a character. One of the sisters on the show found a woman who summoned the creature to punish men. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. The terror of Medusa is thus a terror of castration that is linked to the sight of something. 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. Medusa was often depicted as a terrifying winged female with snakes instead of hair. Most legends claim that the hero Perseus killed her with help from Hermes and others. Homer never named Medusa in the Odyssey but did talk about a monsters head that Hades could send o Persephone. Johnston claimed that it showed men were still frightened of powerful women. The Medusa wandered Africa for some time. 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. Both Proetus and Megapenthes were King of Argos, and Magapenthes was the cousin of Danae. It featured a drawing of Medusa on the cover and a story inside about how women can grow when they learn how to use and control their rage. 2. Perseus made a deal if he dealt with the monster, Andromeda would become his wife. Medusa was often depicted as a terrifying winged female with snakes instead of hair. Versace still uses a log of a woman with terrifying features and serpents coming from her head as its brand logo. Many considered the princess as the worlds most beautiful woman.