Medusa

 **Medusa** 

Key Points -One of 3 Gorgon sisters -Was once beautiful -Slept with Poseidon, punished by Athena -Snake hair, turned people to stone -Killed by Perseus   Medusa was one of the three Gorgon sisters, the other two being Stheno and Euryale. Like her sisters, Medusa possessed not hair, but a head of snakes. She was described as being so utterly terrifying that by merely gazing upon her, one would be turned to stone.   The ancient Greeks typically depicted Medusa as being hideous and monster-like. But as time progressed, Medusa began to be depicted as both beautiful and terrifying by painters and sculptors.  

Medusa's Life <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #c00000; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">The widely accepted story of Medusa goes as follows: (Ahem...) <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #c00000; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #c00000; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> Medusa was one of the daughters of Typhon and Echidna, two ancient s'ea monsters. She was the most beautiful maiden in the land and was the envy of everyone. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #c00000; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #c00000; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> But one fateful day, in one of his many sexual encounters, Poseidon slept with Medusa in the Temple of Athena. Athena, enraged with Medusa for desecrating her temple, turned Medusa's beautiful hair into snakes. In addition, Athena made Medusa both terrifying and hideous. So terrifying and hideous, in fact, that anyone who gazed upon her would instantly be turned to stone. <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #29832d; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 28pt; color: #365f91; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">

Slain by Perseus <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #365f91; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">While pregnant by Poseidon, Medusa encountered Perseus. Perseus had been sent by King Polydectes to retrieve the Gorgon's head. Armed with Hades ' Cap of Invisibility, Hermes ' winged sandals, and a mirrored shield provided by Athena, Perseus went to confront Medusa. <span style="color: #15b309; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #365f91; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">Using his polished shield as a mirror, Perseus was able to view Medusa via her reflection, and was able to behead the terrifying Gorgon. Upon being beheaded, out of her severed neck sprang Pegasus and Chrysaor. As Perseus escaped, the other two Gorgon sisters gave chase. However, they were unable to a a <span style="color: #15b309; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #365f91; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">pprehend him as he possesed the Cap of Invisibility. Upon his return, Perseus presented the head to Athena, who placed it on her shield.

I Made a Slideshow! You can view it Here--> [|Medusa Slideshow.wmv] View the Bibliography Here

All Research performed and compiled by Devin Kuchcinski