Medusa – Cursed By Athena And Killed By Perseus

David Tee  - AncientPages.com - Depending on the myth version you read, Medusa was not always a monster. Most myths mention her as the black sheep of the family.

She was the beautiful one in a family of ugly monsters. She and her two sisters, Stheno and Euryale, lived with their parents, Phorcys and Ceto.

Their home was either in Libya or Oceanus, according to some myths. For some reason, Medusa was the only mortal among the sisters. But this did not stop Neptune from pursuing and winning her favors.

Unfortunately, this took place in the temple of Minerva. The goddess Minerva (Athena) was unhappy about this behavior and cursed Medusa. Her beautiful head was changed to that of a head full of snakes.

Her features also changed and were so ugly that whoever looked at her face was turned into stone.

Medusa’s Famous Encounter With Perseus

It seems that Medusa’s fate was sealed once she was cursed. While little is written of her life, probably because no one survived an encounter with her, we have the story of her death.

On a boast, Perseus sought Medusa out to defeat her once and for all. He boasted of impressing a king who was after his mother. Once the king issued the challenge, Perseus had no choice but to do battle with Medusa.

Perseus with the head of Medusa, Benvenuto Cellini (1554). Credit: Public Domain

What was tragic for Medusa was that Perseus had some help from the gods. He was given special weapons to defeat her and escape her monstrous siblings.

Medusa Is Full Of Surprises And Death Did Not Stop Her

The myths have it that Neptune, or in some stories Poseidon, impregnated Medusa after their brief encounter. It may have been why the goddess of virginity was so upset. It is hard to say, though.

However, death did not stop Medusa from reproducing. When her head was taken from her body, it is said that her two children, Chrysaor and Pegasus, came to life and were born. Pegasus was the famed winged horse that contributed significantly to ancient lore.

Her head and gaze still held their power long after her death. It is said that Perseus used Medusa’s severed head to turn Atlas into stone, whereby he created the Atlas Mountains located in North Africa.

Peter Paul Rubens - The severed head of Medusa. Painting created 1617-1618. Credit: Public Domain

Then while flying over Libya, some of Medusa’s blood dripped onto the desert sand and created the Libyan vipers, dangerous serpents that killed one Argonaut and countless others.

Medusa’s Name Means To Protect  

It is the irony of it all. Medusa was turned into a hideous monster who took all lives that merely gazed upon her face. Yet, when her head was given to Athena by Perseus, Athena used her image on armor and a shield. Medusa’s face was used to protect those who used that image when defending their country.

Athena also removed a lock of Medusa’s hair and stored it away.  She initially gave it to Hercules, who gave it to Cepheus’ daughter so that she could protect her town. Although it did not have the stone-turning power once held by Medusa, the lock of her hair could still terrify opposing hardened warriors.

Her being a monster did not stop artists from preserving her likeness in their art forever. The Temple of Artemis is one known place where her features are prominently adorned. She is also captured in a marble statue and embodied in a famous cup by Douris.

The Romans were not to be left out, either. They used her likeness on ship beams and other weapons of war.

The Fate Of Medusa

There is a question or two that needs to be asked here. Was Medusa always a monster, one that was hiding under her beautiful skin? Or did she become a nightmare once she saw that she lost her looks over what may have been an innocent connection in the wrong place?

It is something to think about.

Written by – David Tee - AncientPages.com 

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