Gorgons

GORGONS: SISTERS OF STONE DEATH By: Madison Kincade  __ Quick Facts: Bulleted List __ 1. Phonetic Pronunciation: Gor-gone

2. There were three Gorgons: Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa. All three were sisters.

3. Medusa was the only mortal out of the three sisters. 
 * 4. Medusa was punished by Athena and then turned into an immortal.
 * 5. The immortals had sharp fangs, brass hands, and living hair.
 * 6. Each Gorgon had the power to turn anyone into stone that came into their site.
 * 5. The immortals had sharp fangs, brass hands, and living hair.
 * 6. Each Gorgon had the power to turn anyone into stone that came into their site.
 * 6. Each Gorgon had the power to turn anyone into stone that came into their site.

What is a Gorgon?  In Greek Mythology, Gorgon is described as a very vicious, cruel, and feminine creature. The name Gorgon means savage or horrible. Gorgons are very horrifying because of their very strong power that would cause anybody who would look upon them to turn to stone. They were monstrous creatures that were covered in dense scales, with hair of living snakes, hands made of brass, and sharp fangs. The Gorgon wore a belt of two serpents that were facing each other. There were three of these creatures: Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa.  Background: The three Gorgons were daughters of Phorcys and Ceto. They lived on the side of the earth where the sun and the moon could not reach. All three sisters worked as priestesses in Athena’s temple. A priestess is a woman with religious duties and responsibilities in non-Christian religions([|definition]). Medusa was the only mortal of the three sisters. Since her sisters were immortal, Medusa believed she was extremely beautiful. While working in Athena’s temple she seemed to be competing with Athena over beauty. There came a time when there was conflict between Athena and Medusa because of Poseidon. There are many theories of what happened with Medusa and Poseidon. Many believe Posedion raped Medusa while working at Athena’s temple. Medusa was beautiful, but was transformed by Athena into a monster as punishment for lying with Poseidon in her shrine. Medusa’s hair turned into snakes, her lower body was transformed, she recieved huge wings, and Athena gave her the power to turn anyone in her site to stone.  Medusa was definetly the most popular of the Gorgons because of her conflicts with Athena.  Stheno and Euryale : Unlike their mortal sister Medusa, Stheno and Euryale were immortal, or they lived in a spirtual form. Both of the sisters were known for their sharp fangs, brass hands, and living hair. Stheno was born in a cavern beneath Mount Olympus. Out of all three of the sisters, she killed more men than the other two combined. Therefore, Stheno was known as the most vicious. Euryale was very similar to Stheno, but she was known for her bellowing cries. Euryale’s screaming cry was particularly discovered during Medusa’s death in Perseus’s hands.

Watch another student's video about Medusa:

media type="file" key="TeacherTube - Medusa.flv"

[|works cited final.rtf]