What is the story of Medusa and Athena all about? In this version, Medusa is angry at all men because Poseidon didn’t defend or protect her from Athena’s wrath, letting her be transformed into a monster. Athena was enraged at the disrespect to her shrine and took her revenge.Īgain, because she couldn’t punish Poseidon for insolence, she only took it out on Medusa cursing her. Inspired, they went to the temple and had sex on the altar. One day, they were passing through a very romantic forest of olives in which was Athena’s temple.
MEDUSA GODDESS FULL
In the version where Poseidon and Medusa are a couple, they were fervent lovers, full of passion and celebration of their love. Enraged by what happened to her, she vowed to turn to stone any man who would venture into her lair ever since.Īnother version of this tale has Poseidon and Medusa being lovers, instead of Poseidon pursuing her without success. Horrified, grieved, and frightened, Medusa hid her face with her shawl and fled from the temple and her town, to be isolated and avoid people. “From now on and forever, whoever gazes upon you, whomever you see, will be turned into stone.” The young woman wailed in horror, as Athena further said, completing her curse:
Her face didn’t lose its beauty, but instead of charm, it inspired terror in the hearts of mortals. Her beautiful flaxen hair fell off, and in its place horrible, venomous snakes grew, covering all her head. In her fit of anger, she carried out her revenge on Medusa, cursing her. When Medusa refused, Poseidon pinned her against Athena’s altar and had his way with her anyway.Īthena was enraged that a rape took place in her temple, but she couldn’t punish Poseidon for it. He accosted Medusa in Athena’s temple, once again asking for her affections. She was alone during that time, and that’s when Poseidon seized his chance. She was always surrounded by her friends or family, and so it was impossible for him to make any kind of move.īut there came one day when Medusa went to Athena’s temple to give offerings.
But it was very hard to find Medusa on her own. Poseidon was angered, and his desire for her grew even more. And, to Poseidon’s consternation, she wouldn’t give herself to him either. So beautiful was she, that the god Poseidon also desired to have her.īut Medusa wouldn’t yield to any man. She had many suitors, but she wouldn’t choose one, all wanting her hand in marriage, won over by her rare beauty.
Medusa is said to have been coveted across the land. Her features were in perfect symmetry, her lips red like the purest wine.
She had stunning golden hair, with perfect ringlets framing her beautiful face. She was a priestess of Athena all her life.īut if you ask Ovid, the Roman poet that lived during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus, the story is entirely different- and it’s Athena’s fault.ġ.3 What does Medusa’s name mean? The Story of Medusa and Athena What is the story of Medusa and Athena according to Ovid?Īccording to Ovid, Medusa originally was a beautiful young woman. She also had the name Gorgo, and like her sisters, she was born with a monstrous appearance: Snake hair, a terrible face that struck fear into the heart of anyone who looked at them, wings, and a reptilian body were featured by all three sisters.Īccording to Hesiod and Aeschylus, she lived in a town at the coast of Aeolis, in Asia Minor, opposite of the island of Lesbos. That depends on who you ask! The original Ancient Greek myths describe Medusa as the only mortal sister out of three Gorgons. Her power to turn a mortal (or a man, depending on the myth) into stone by a single glance has allured and inspired artists and even activists and social scientists for centuries!īut who was Medusa, and how did she end up a monster for Perseus to kill? Her powerful image of a woman with a full head of snake hair is unforgettable. Medusa is one of the most recognizable pop culture and fashion icons!
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