Winton Eliott
In ancient Greek art, Medusa is an instantly recognizable character. Her face may be stern and ugly or beautiful and composed, appearing in almost every medium in a variety of settings.
She is always easy to spot because of her most defining characteristic: a head full of writhing, hissing snakes instead of hair.
Medusa’s story has been told and retold so many times that it has become muddled and confusing.
Who was Medusa, really? Was she a victim or a monster?
Read also: When Thanksgiving Was First Celebrated? The History of Thanksgiving
Who was Medusa?
Medusa was, at her core, a victim. She was a beautiful woman who was raped by Poseidon in Athena’s temple.
As punishment for this desecration, Athena turned Medusa’s hair into writhing snakes. Medusa was then banished to a remote island where she lived in seclusion with other outcasts.
It was here that she was discovered by Perseus, who would ultimately be her undoing.
Read also: Who Was Jack The Ripper – The History Of London Cold Blooded Serial Killer
What is the tragic story of Medusa?
The story of Medusa is a tragic one. A beautiful woman with flowing golden hair, she was blessed with the power to turn anyone who looked upon her to stone.
However, she was also cursed, and her hair was turned into writhing snakes. One day, while she was bathing in the spring, the god Poseidon saw her and was overcome with desire.
He raped her, and she was so filled with shame and anger that she turned him to stone. As punishment for her crime, the goddess Athena turned Medusa’s own hair into snakes.
From then on, anyone who looked upon her would be turned to stone.
For many years, Medusa resided in a dark cave, preying on any unfortunate souls who crossed her path. Eventually, she was slain by the hero Perseus, who used her own reflection to avoid looking directly at her.
In some versions of the story, Medusa’s head continued to have the power to turn people to stone even after her death, and it was eventually presented to Athena as a trophy.
While Medusa has become a symbol of terror in popular culture, her story is a reminder of the power of rage and despair.
Read also: The Most Influential Inventions in History That Changed The World
How did Medusa got killed?
Perseus was sent to kill Medusa by King Polydectes, who wanted to marry Perseus’s mother. However, before he could complete the task, Perseus fell in love with Andromeda, who was about to be sacrificed to a sea monster.
In order to save her, Perseus killed the monster and then went to kill Medusa. He used her head to turn the sea monster to stone and then gave it to Athena, who placed it on her shield.
Afterward, Perseus freed Andromeda from her chains and married her. He later killed King Polydectes with a discus throw and became king himself.
Read also: The Incredible History of The Invention of Braille
Did Medusa has a child?
In some versions of the story, Poseidon and Medusa had a child together, a creature called the Gorgon.
Other accounts claim that Poseidon simply took Medusa’s head and placed it on his own shield or that he gave the head to Athena.
Regardless of the specifics, it seems clear that the myth of Medusa’s child is steeped in tragedy. Either way, the child was conceived in violence and born of a monster.
Read also: The History of Australia – Who and How Was Australia Discovered?
What is the moral of the story? (The takeaway)
The moral of Medusa’s story varies depending on who is telling it. Some say that it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of vanity, while others see it as a story about the power of rage and
The story of Medusa is a tragic one, but it also has a moral: be careful who you trust. Medusa was betrayed by Poseidon, the god she trusted, and then by Athena, the goddess she worshipped.
Her story is a reminder that even those we think are on our side can turn against us. Trust must be earned, and even then, it can be misplaced.
