Was Medusa born evil?

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

Minerva

(Roman mythology) The goddess of wisdom, especially strategic warfare, and the arts, especially crafts and in particular weaving. She is the Roman counterpart of Athena.

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Minerva - Wiktionary

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How did Medusa become evil?

She was lovely, according to the poem—until she was raped in Athena's temple by Poseidon. Athena then punished her for this violation, by turning her into the monstrous, stony-glanced creature that we know.

Was Medusa considered 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.

Who was Medusa before she was evil?

In a late version of the Medusa myth, by the Roman poet Ovid (Metamorphoses 4.794–803), Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden, but when Neptune/Poseidon had sex with her in Minerva/Athena's temple, Minerva punished Medusa by transforming her beautiful hair into horrible snakes.

Was Medusa evil before she became a monster?

Before Medusa was known as a terrifying monster, she was a beautiful maiden who was very kind and pious. Medusa was the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. Phorcys was a sea god and Ceto was the goddess of sea monsters.

The Punishment of Medusa: The Story of The Cursed Priestess - Mythological Comics - Greek Mythology

What is the true story behind Medusa?

The snake-haired Medusa does not become widespread until the first century B.C. The Roman author Ovid describes the mortal Medusa as a beautiful maiden seduced by Poseidon in a temple of Athena. Such a sacrilege attracted the goddess' wrath, and she punished Medusa by turning her hair to snakes.

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.

Why didn t Athena help Medusa?

Medusa prayed to Athena after her rape, begging for forgiveness, guidance, mercy on her broken vow of celibacy. Now, Athena was very much a Goddess in a God's club at this point. But Athena wouldn't – couldn't – blame her priestess Medusa for being raped by her God enemy Poseidon.

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.

Was Medusa good or bad?

Is Medusa evil or good? There are no stories that tell us of Medusa turning people to stone, nor any tales of her harassing or killing people (unlike other Greek monsters such as Scylla and Charybdis). Although she had the power to kill, she was not inherently evil.

How did Medusa get pregnant?

Medusa's death is tied to the story of Perseus, the hero.

Danae's father was given a sign that her son would kill him so he locked her away in a bronze chamber to avoid the chance of her becoming pregnant. But, Zeus, being Zeus, became a golden shower and impregnated her anyway. The child that was born was Perseus.

Was Medusa pregnant by Poseidon?

At the time of her death, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon. When Perseus beheaded her, Pegasus, a winged horse, and Chrysaor, a golden sword-wielding giant, sprang from her body.

Was Medusa the victim?

In the original story, the Medusa was a beautiful woman who held a very positive role. Tragedy fell upon her when she was confronted with endless hardships brought upon by male actions. Medusa was a beautiful woman who was raped, killed and beheaded by various gods.

Did Medusa love Poseidon?

One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. She went against her vow and married him.

What bad things did Medusa do?

What we knew about Medusa? Medusa is a monster; she kills everyone, the one who ever gets looked upon by her turns into a stone, she is cursed, people of her time never ever like her, never want to see her.

Why are girls getting Medusa tattooed on them?

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 happens if Medusa is your tattoo?

Why are people getting Medusa tattoos? The Medusa tattoo has become popular among women who have experienced sexual assault. By reclaiming the Medusa identity, they are dispelling the belief that being victimized means they ought to be cursed or punished.

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.

Did Athena get jealous of Medusa?

In fact, Athena was jealous of Medusa's beauty and lustrous hair. Poseidon ravaged her and took what she held dearly, her purity. Athena, outraged by this incident, cursed Medusa and turned her wonderful hair into venomous snakes, her beautiful face turned so ugly that any man who gazed upon would turn to stone.

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 does Athena hate Poseidon?

Poseidon produces a spring of water but it was salty. Athena bested Poseidon by producing an olive tree on the Acropolis. Poseidon also raped Medusa—a mortal who had the reputation of being beautiful—in Athena's temple, desecrating it.

What came out of Medusa when she died?

Perseus eventually discovers Medusa with her sisters, the Gorgons. Unlike her they are all immortal. Using Athena's mirror to defend himself, Perseus beheads Medusa, at which point the winged horse Pegasus and the warrior Chrysaor spring from her decapitated body.

Where did Medusa go after she was cursed?

Between those two events, she retreated to an island called Sarpedon with her sisters, where they lived in a large cave. The powers of the Gorgons were well known, and people viewed them as terrifying monsters to be avoided at all costs.

Is Medusa story true or fake?

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.

Was Medusa a black woman with dreadlocks?

Short answer: no. Long answer:Medusa is part of Greek mythology which has existed longer than the current misinformation of her being an African Goddess.