Who 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.

What is the original story of 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 is Medusa's actual name?

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.

Why did Athena turn Medusa into a monster?

It is in the Roman poet Ovid's Metamorphoses that her story is most deeply elaborated. 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.

Who originally killed Medusa?

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.

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

Was Medusa pregnant when she was killed?

However, when she was killed, Medusa was still pregnant from her liaison with Zeus. When Perseus cut off Medusa's head, her two children sprang out of her severed neck: Pegasus and Chrysaor. Pegasus took the form of a winged horse, while Chrysaor had the form of a golden giant.

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.

What does it mean when you get a tattoo of Medusa?

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.

Why 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.

What is the sad story of Medusa?

Medusa was a beautiful woman who was raped, killed and beheaded by various gods. However even in the face of tragedy and disgrace, the Medusa was portrayed as meaningful. Following the moment her head was removed, a Pegasus flew out of her body, representing the birth of beauty.

Are Medusa's sisters still alive?

Medusa was the only mortal of the three Gorgons, with her sisters Stheno and Euryale both being immortal.

How did Medusa look before the curse?

Before the curse that Athena placed on her, Medusa was exceptionally beautiful. She was one of the loyal priestesses of the temple of Athena. She even used to be considered the odd member of her family due to her looks, and gracefulness.

Was Medusa rapped?

Medusa was originally a very beautiful young girl, especially renowned for the beauty of her hair. Her tragedy began with her rape in the temple of Athena. Accounts of who raped her vary, some saying it was Zeus, others Poseidon, god of the seas and Zeus's brother.

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.

What happened to Medusa before she was killed?

When Medusa had an affair with the sea god Poseidon, Athena punished her. She turned Medusa into a hideous hag, making her hair into writhing snakes and her skin was turned a greenish hue. Anyone who locked gaze with Medusa was turned into stone. The hero Perseus was sent on a quest to kill Medusa.

Why did Poseidon hate Athena?

Not satisfied with lordship over the sea, Poseidon coveted earthly realms as well. In his dispute with Athena for dominion over Athens, the two gods had a contest as to which one could give the Athenians the best gift. Poseidon shoved his trident into the Acropolis and produced a flowing stream or a horse.

Is Medusa a victim or villain?

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.

Was Medusa prettier than Athena?

Medusa was very proud of her beauty and thought or spoke only of herself. Each day she boasted of how pretty she was. Medusa even boasted that she was prettier than Athena, goddess of wisdom, who watched over Athens. Athena decided to punish Medusa for her pride.

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.

What does a semicolon tattoo mean for a girl?

A semicolon tattoo is a tattoo of the semicolon punctuation mark (;), which is used as a message of affirmation and solidarity with those who have dealt with suicide, depression, addiction, and other mental health issues.

What tattoo means anxiety?

If you're looking for anxiety tattoos, you've probably seen a lot of options with semicolons. Semicolon tattoos were inspired by Project Semicolon – a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention. Over time, the semicolon has been used to represent mental health awareness, including anxiety.

What was Medusa pregnant with?

Pegasus, the divine, winged white horse, was the offspring of the god Poseidon and the gorgon Medusa. He was born from Medusa's blood after she was beheaded by Perseus, arising from her head or from the blood that had seeped into the earth.

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.

What ethnicity was Medusa?

Most recognizable for her locks of snakes, Medusa was the daughter of ancient chthonic deities of the sea. She was born far across the ocean from Greece; Later contributing authors to Medusa's myth placed her homeland as Libya.