Is Medusa an Egyptian god?

Some suggest that the origins of the character Medusa may be rooted in the Egyptian Cobra Goddess Wadjet. Depicted as a snake-headed woman or a cobra she was associated with the land as matron and protector of Egypt; of kings and of women in childbirth.

Is Medusa Greek or Egyptian?

Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful.

Was Medusa originally Egyptian?

She was born far across the ocean from Greece; Later contributing authors to Medusa's myth placed her homeland as Libya. Some believed that Africa became the home to many varieties of snakes as Medusa wandered the continent and shed them from her hair. She was one of three sisters, all known as creatures named Gorgons.

What type of God is Medusa?

According to Hesiod's Theogony, she was one of three Gorgon sisters born to Keto and Phorkys, primordial sea gods; Medusa was mortal, while the others, Stheno and Euryale, were immortal.

What is the origin of Medusa?

Medusa's story comes from very deep in Greek mythography: in the Theogony, by the 8th-century BC poet Hesiod, she is described as being the child of Phorcys and Ceto, chthonic sea deities. In various versions of her story she has sisters, among whom are the Graiae, a trio of women who share a single eye between them.

Medusa of Ethiopia

What race was Medusa?

In Greek mythology, Medusa (/mɪˈdjuːzə, -sə/; Ancient Greek: Μέδουσα "guardian, protectress"), also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Those who gazed into her eyes would turn to stone.

Who originally killed Medusa?

Discover. Meet Perseus, a demigod of Greek mythology who was famous for killing Medusa by cutting off her head, which he displays in one hand. Medusa had live, hissing snakes for hair, and anyone who looked at her face instantly turned to stone.

What does Medusa tattoo symbolize?

Today, survivors of sexual assault use tattoos of Medusa to fight back against the narrative that victims should be shamed, blamed or punished for their assault. Medusa and her story have been reclaimed as a symbol of strength and power, with her image also being used as a mark of protection against evils.

Which god created Medusa?

Generally speaking, earlier poets depicted Medusa as a monster from birth, alongside her immortal sisters, but later writers say she began as a beautiful maiden but was turned into a monster by Athena or Minerva.

Which god cursed Medusa?

Zeus impregnated Medusa in a temple of Athena, a powerful Greek goddess. This unholy act in the temple of a virgin goddess so enraged Athena that she put a curse on Medusa to rid her of her beauty.

Who is Medusa based on?

In early Greek myths and legends, Medusa is the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, both sea gods of the ancient Greek myths. According to this account of Medusa's origins, Medusa is one of three sisters, all of which are Gorgons, and like her sisters Medusa has monstrous wings as well as snakes for hair.

What is the Egyptian equivalent of Athena?

Neith (Nit (Net, Neit) is a predynastic Egyptian goddess who is compared with the Greek goddess Athena. She is mentioned in Plato's Timaeus as coming from the Egyptian district of Sais. Neith is depicted as a weaver, like Athena, and also like Athena as a weapon-bearing war goddess.

Was Medusa an African?

Yes, she was. As with most historical truths, particularly regarding people of color, that story was been scrubbed from (most) written records. The lady with the head full of snakes who turned men to stone, when they looked in her eyes…nah. The truth is she was a beautiful African woman with dreadlocks (snakes).

Who is the cobra goddess of Egypt?

Wadjet, also spelled Wadjit, also called Buto, Uto, or Edjo, cobra goddess of ancient Egypt. Depicted as a cobra twined around a papyrus stem, she was the tutelary goddess of Lower Egypt.

Is Medusa from the Bible?

Medusa isn't even in the Bible.

What is Medusa's real story?

Medusa prayed to Athena for guidance and forgiveness. After all, in those days, the gods claimed their mates as their partner forever, and Medusa was now Poseidon's wife. Athena looked down in anger and cursed Medusa for betraying her. Medusa was sent to a faraway island and was cursed so that no man would want her.

Who was Medusa in love with?

Poseidon was enamored by Medusa's beauty, and Medusa returned the same feelings. Medusa and Poseidon engaged in a love affair and would have two children together, but not before Athena discovered the illicit affair.

Why do females get Medusa tattoos?

What does the Medusa tattoo mean? “The Medusa tattoo can mean many things, but it's generally a symbol of survival, strength, and overcoming assault,” says tattoo artist Ruby Rose. “Medusa has become a figure of protection to women who have experienced sexual assault or assault on some level, particularly by men.”

What does a Medusa head mean?

Medusa was ultimately beheaded by the Greek hero Perseus, who then used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone, as a weapon. Tattoos of Medusa have become a symbol of strength for survivors of sexual assault, inverting the narrative that women should be punished for their victimhood.

What does Medusa symbolize feminism?

While a seemingly straightforward tale, Medusa's story explores female dynamics, female power against patriarchal forces, and the ultimate defense against the male gaze. Medusa was the emblem of female power back in Ancient Greece and a symbol of both protection and aggression.

Did Medusa ever existed?

The short answer is no, medusa was not real. For someone who has been depicted as a monster with poisonous snakes for hair, having the ability to turn men into stone, it may seem evident that Medusa was not a real historical figure.

What was Medusa before she was cursed?

Legend states that Medusa was once a beautiful, avowed priestess of Athena who was cursed for breaking her vow of celibacy. She is not considered a goddess or Olympian, but some variations on her legend say she consorted with one. When Medusa had an affair with the sea god Poseidon, Athena punished her.

Was Medusa ever evil?

Throughout history, Medusa got the bad reputation as a scornful, evil woman who turns people into stone with a mere glance. However, much like most women of ancient mythology, she was a victim of patriarchal societal norms.

What color was Medusa's blood?

As the waves lapped at the bag, Medusa's blood seeped into the water, turning soft green seaweed into hard, blood-red coral whose shape echoed its snake-haired mother. Born of the blood of a monster, coral is said to protect against evil influences.

What color was Medusa's eyes?

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful woman named Medusa. She had ravishing locks and exquisite blue eyes, looks that didn't go unnoticed by many a male suitor. She was pursued by Poseidon for whom she had mutual affection.