Myth
myth
2/28/01
Her beauty envoked
the jealously of a goddess.
Her curse proved to challenge all who dared to look upon her.
Her immortality was to be the one thing that she turned all into.
The myth of the Medusa has many parts, some of which are not compatible in different versions of the story. This description is a synthesis of the most common elements.
In Greek mythology, Medusa was one of three sisters ( Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa) known as the Gorgons. Although all three were very beautiful, Medusa received the most attention and only she was mortal. Either due to jealousy or offense, she incurred the wrath of Athena, who turned her hair into a tangle of live serpents and made her face so hideously ugly that whoever saw her would be turned to stone.
Medusa was slain by Perseus, son of Zeus. In this endeavor, he was aided by Hades who gave him a helmet of invisibility, Hermes who gave him a curved sword and winged sandals, and Athena who gave him shield burnished until it became mirrorlike. With the winged sandals and hidden from sight, he was able to approach closely to Medusa. Then as Perseus looked at her reflection in the mirror, he severed her head with the sword and placed the head in a bag. The head was used in further adventures by Persues to turn his foes into stone. Later, he presented it to Athena. In some images of Athena, the Medusa's head is depicted on Athena's breastplate or shield.
From Medusa's death, however, new life was given. From the blood that dripped from her severed head, Chrysaor and Pegasus sprang up.
Bibliography
Bulfinch, Thomas. Myths of Greece and Rome. New York:
Penguin Books, 1981.
Burn, Lucilla. Greek Myths. Austin: University of Texas
Press, 1990.
Gantz, Timothy. Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and
Artistic Sources. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1993.
Bartleyby.com, Columbia Excyclopedia.
http://www.bartleby.com/65/go/Gorgon.htm
http://www.bartleby.com/65/pe/Perseus1.html
http://www.bartleby.com/65/me/Medusa.html