The story of Medusas punishment following her rape by Poseidon has a much different meaning in the modern world than it did in Greek times. Director: Desmond Davis | Stars: Laurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin, Claire Bloom, Maggie Smith. 14 Blood Of Zeus (2020) One of the latest additions to the pantheon of Greek mythology shows was Netflix's Blood of Zeus. Other tales say that Medusas head was used to destroy the great sea monster that threatened to devour Andromeda. The cunning snake convinced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge, telling her that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. When God learned of Adam and Eves transgression, he banished both of them from Eden and cursed the snake for its role, saying You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. Debate has long raged over whether the serpent in Genesis was a literal reptile, an allegory for sexual desire or temptation or even Satan himself. To them, the scene was a vivid illustration of the triumph of human ingenuity and heroism. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. They were created by Gaia to help the giants in their war against Zeus and the Olympians. Medusa wasnt just mentioned again on earth. Later writers would make Sthenno and Euryale resemble their sister more, even as Medusa took on a more human appearance in art. Snakes were associated with wisdom in many mythologies, perhaps due to the appearance of pondering their actions as they prepare to strike, which was copied by medicine men in the build-up to prophecy in parts of West Africa. Norse mythology holds there to be nine realms. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. They wore snakes around their waists instead of normal belts. On his journeys, he came across the Titan Atlas holding the world on his back and used the head to turn him to stone. Norse mythology is a source of inspiration for many art enthusiasts, particularly when it comes to tattoos. Saint George killing a maiden-devouring serpent or Saint Columba lecturing the Loch Ness Monster which then stopped eating humans and became shy of human visitors. While her sisters Stheno and Euryale were immortals Medusa was a mortal being. While a few tellings say that Pegasus helped Perseus escape, most agree that the mythical horse would not be tamed until Bellerophon fought the Chimera. Egyptian myth has had several snake-gods, from the 'coiled one' Mehen who assisted Ra in fighting Aapep every day to the two-headed Nehebkau who guarded the underworld. The Gorgon was mentioned again in the Odyssey. In fact, some writers did not seem to agree that there were three Gorgons at all. The connection to the French Revolution and a famous story of beheading is obvious, but Medusa had also begun to be portrayed more sympathetically. Magical Cap Of Invisibility Worn By Athena, Hades, Hermes, And Perseus Even in the stories that came before descriptions of her beauty, Medusas tale was bound to the god Poseidon. He was the God of thunder and the sky. The story makes more sense as an allegory: Snakes were a symbol of paganism, and Patrick was given credit for driving the pagans out and bringing Christianity to the Emerald Isle. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae. A detailed view of Aztec art depicting the god Tez-Calipoca and Quetzalcoatl (right) devouring a human being. While the tale of her death at the hands of Perseus is one of the most famous moments in Greek mythology, it was not the end of Medusas story. [2], The West African kingdom of Dahomey regarded snakes as immortal because they appeared to be reincarnated from themselves when they sloughed their skins. Nor were the sisters ever described as fully as Medusa. Hod is a son of Odin. His first mission was to find and defeat the Graeae. Greek Mythology is known for its many fearsome beasts such Mantikhoras and Cyclopes. The Story of Medusa in Greek Mythology Explained Why Kill Medusa? Dear Colleagues, Much of the Western world has a rising problem with white nationalists. Her name is even used in politics, being invoked in unfavorable descriptions of female politicians. Medusa is seen by some today as the first example of victim blaming. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Did Archaeologists Find the Minotaurs Labyrinth? Snakes were often also associated with immortality because they were observed biting their tails to form a circle and when they coiled they formed spirals. However, Zeus turned into a gold shower and got Danae pregnant. The winged stallion Pegasus is the offspring of the god Poseidon and the Gorgon Medusa, from whose neck he was born . She is the mother of Balder. Carved stones depicting a seven-headed cobra are commonly found near the sluices of the ancient irrigation tanks in Sri Lanka; these are believed to have been placed as guardians of the water. The pointed tusks and extended tongue disappeared. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. The three gray-skinned sisters of the Gorgons were born with only one eye which they shared between them. You say I have the most wicked face of any woman. The Gorgons of Greek myth were snake-women (a common hybrid) whose gaze would turn flesh into stone, the most famous of them being Medusa. He did the same to many citizens who supported his would-be stepfather, creating the rocky terrain of the island of Seriphos. The religion went into decline around a thousand years ago when Christianity swept through the north of Europe. Theres debate over whether the passages in Job about Leviathan and another giant Biblical creature, Behemoth, describe mythological beastsor actual animals that existed at the time but later may have gone extinct. The vast majority of stories about the gods in Norse mythology focus on the likes of king Odin, invincible Thor and trickster Loki. The Mannarasala Shri Nagaraja Temple is one of the main centers of worship. The cloak of invisibility that belonged to Hades allowed him to escape the lair of the Gorgon sisters without being seen after he killed Medusa. Everywhere, from Lord of the Rings to The Elder Scrolls games, these creatures are deeply woven into our cultural fabric. Horses and the Heavens - Archaeology Magazine Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology. Rape was often a feature of Greek mythology, as much as the stories hide it in terms of seduction and marriage. Paris was famous for for marrying Helen of Troy, which led to the Trojan War. The loops and curves of a snakes body have always been a favorite subject in art for this reason, and the figure of Medusa provided many of them for the artist to show off their skill. [23] Details vary among tribes, with many of the stories associating the mystical figure with water, rain, lightning and thunder. The story of Medusa from Greek mythology is perhaps less well known than Medusa herself. An actress plays the role of the White Snake in Baishe Zhuan (The Legend of White Snake) in a Chinese opera, 2000. Some versions of the story claim that Medusas sisters underwent the same change from beautiful to horrible, reconciling the disparity of showing only Medusa herself in that way. It was after the French Revolution that the Gorgon herself began to take on more heroic connotations. Even this was not the end of the story for Medusas head, however. Medusa has survived in art as a popular motif in tattoo culture. Quickly and deftly, he snatched the eye from their grasp. The god of the sea, like many of his peers, had frequent affairs with mortal women and minor goddesses. Medusa was one of three Gorgon sisters born from ancient marine gods Phorcys and Ceto, the offspring of Oceanus and Gaia. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Some versions of the character emphasize her feminine features, while she is given more attributes of a snake at times when shes shown as particularly monstrous. Kincaid. Hesiod only said that the Gorgon sisters had jagged teeth and snakes hanging at their belts, even saying that they were indescribable. The infamous snake hair of Medusa did not appear in his description. In some cultures, eels (which spend their early lives in freshwater before returning to the sea as adults) were regarded as magical creatures. She invented the flute for this purpose. 11. Medusa, the daughter of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, was the most feared of the Gorgons. Her large head and thick legs gave her a notably inhuman appearance that contrasted with the perfect forms of the gods and heroes. Perseus made a deal with the monsters. Medusa - Mythopedia By the time of Ovid, she was one of the worlds great beauties. Myths often relate the creation of the world and sometimes its future destruction as well. But Pegasus, the winged horse, became a figure in many legends. In games and books, however, she actively attacks her enemies or lures them in with her sexuality. Explore. The blood could be used to destroy or restore and enabled him to bring people back from the dead. Athena later helped the hero Perseus slay Medusa, giving him a shiny bronze shield that he used to watch the Gorgons reflection rather than looking directly at her. Such regional variations could explain why Hesiod wrote about three Gorgon sisters while Homer mentioned only a single monster. Zeuss lovers were harassed by his jealous wife. Its hard for a modern reader to accept this version of events. Also, in Norse mythology, the snake biting its tail (Ouroboros) symbolized the sea as the eternal ring which enclosed the world. This was where Athenas bronze shield became invaluable. Classic Mythology IV trading card set scheduled to release in early Summer 2023. If you think you know the whole story of Medusa, think again heres everything you never knew about the mythical Gorgon. In these versions of her story, Medusas beauty would end up being her undoing. Medusas spirit stayed and faced him down. Mythology Part 3, Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts 15. Perseus allowed them to recreate a male form that fit classical notions of perfection. Belenus, also known as Belinos or Belenos, is one of the most important Celtic deities. Aldrich). The Almighty Johnsons, TV3 (2011 - 2013) Hailing from New Zealand, The Almighty Johnsons is another series set in modern times that borrows from Norse mythology in the form of reincarnations of the gods. The power of Medusas head was so potent that it could petrify even the largest and strongest of the Titans. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. Snakes were regularly regarded as guardians of the Underworld or messengers between the Upper and Lower worlds, because they lived in cracks and holes in the ground. Medusas severed head provided the shock factor of gore and violence. When Perseus ran from the surviving Gorgons, he took their sisters head with him as proof of his deeds. This ancient Chinese myth tells the story of a powerful female white snake demon who lives underwater but takes human form as Madame White, or Bai Suzhen. Athena also gave Heracles a bronze snake cut from Medusas head in a jar. And very often in mythology, as in life, the victim paid the price. 12. While Medusa was the only one whose gaze petrified men, her sisters killed and mutilated many. In most Norse texts, Odin is depicted as a long-bearded, one-eyed man wearing a broad hat and a cloak. She had many suitors and was especially known for her beautiful long hair. Attic tradition, however, said that the Gorgons were created specifically to be enemies of the gods. Hesiod said they flicked their tongues, much like snakes. 125 Copy quote. [9][10] The Dogon believe that Lebe is the very reincarnation of the Dogon's first ancestorwho was resurrected in the form of a snake. During the dance, live snakes were handled and at the end of the dance the snakes were released into the fields to guarantee good crops. Like many pretty young women in Greek legend, she attracted the attention of a god. The story of Perseuss defeat of the Gorgon is one of the most legendary in Greek mythology. The head of Medusa was the single most frequently used symbol in ancient Greek art. Hod. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. Pegasus - Wikipedia Odin - World History Encyclopedia One of a trio of Gorgon sisters, Medusa was the only sister who was not immortal. This created the first coral. [22] This creature, known in Akkadian as the muuu, meaning "furious serpent", was used as a symbol for particular deities and also as a general protective emblem. The snakes are painstakingly gathered and washed before the ceremony, which also involves members of the Antelope Clan. Gorgon - Wikipedia Hesiod claimed that the head mentioned in Homers works was that of only one Gorgon, Medusa. Some stories say that there was one more unnamed Gorgon who was older than the others. Medusa :: The Real Story of the Snake-Haired Gorgon - Greek Mythology The Hopi people of North America viewed snakes as symbols of healing, transformation, and fertility. Irish culture is brimming with myths and legends, perhaps none so prevalent as that of St. Patrick, Irelands patron saint, banishing every last snake from the Emerald Isle. Today the word myth is often used to describe something that is not true. Ovid, however, makes it very clear that Poseidons actions were not romantic. It is possible that the Gorgon, one of the most terrifying monsters of Greek mythology, was imagined by some to be an evil counterpart to a three-part goddess. Italian fashion company Versace took a completely different view of Medusa when they made her their logo. 10. Medusas head was still treated as a frightening object, even when it was shown as being almost entirely human. Medusa is remembered, more than anything else, for a face that was so hideous that one look at it would literally turn men to stone. It had the front of a lion, the torso of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. Her powers are expanded in modern media. Homer, however, mentions only one Gorgon and does not give her name. With monstrous features and snakes in place of her hair, she was a frightful creature that the Greeks believed could scare off even the most potent evil. The menacing face of the monster became a totem of protection. Medusa. Unlike Medusa, Sthenno and Euryale could not be killed. Early Greek and English authors also said that Athena was the help Perseus had to behead Medusa. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? He is almost always portrayed as a serpent or dragon depending on the particular myth. Bellerophon had been tasked with killing the Chimera, the fire breathing monster of antiquity. By the 5th century BC this was well-established in art and literature, but the appearances of Medusas sisters were still unknown. And a fateful apple. Medusa is a dimorphic character in the popular imagination; either a tragic feminist hero or a terrifying monstrous villain. While her sisters killed men with their fangs and claws, Medusas power was passive. The Curse of Medusa From Greek Mythology - ThoughtCo But a myth is not just a made-up story. But Norse mythology, with its compelling stories . Medusa in Greek Mythology: Story & Role | Who Killed Medusa? It's a new tale of a Greek hero but follows a template similar to the story of Theseus. The Hesperides, a sisterhood of nymphs, were guardians of a wondrous garden at the edge of the world. The 13 Best TV Shows About Norse Gods and Norse Mythology - TVShowPilot It was said that anyone who looked directly at her was immediately turned to stone. But their children had work to do first. But there is much more to the legend of Medusa than just her beheading, and her legacy is far more complicated than that of any other ancient monster. When a person dies, the Serer believe that their soul must make its way to Jaaniiw (a place where good souls go). Why So Many Mythological Monsters Are Female - Smithsonian Magazine While Poseidon walked free, Medusa was villainized for the crime of attracting his attention. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! In ancient Slavic paganism a deity by the name of Veles presided over the underworld. Medusa in Greek Mythology. Niflheim, the realm of the ice giants. Why is Medusa Important? - Myth Nerd Delighted, she made another figure, and another and another, and each came to life in the same way. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. I guess this makes Pegasus, Chrysaor and Amphisbaena triplets, haha! The Mythology In God Of War Explained - Looper.com Phineus himself was the last of his army to be killed in this way. Medusa is seen by some today as the first example of victim blaming. Appearance. He waved his staff, driving all Irelands snakes into the sea. Many myths date back to ancient times. They tell how gods created men. The fairest of the three Gorgons became the most hideous of them all. She is famed for her snake-like hair and her gaze, which turns those who look at her to stone. 13). Even after this terrible punishment, Athena had not finished the punishment Medusa. More than ever before, the popular view of Medusa is a complex one. By the time the Roman Empire was established, the face of Medusa was almost indistinguishable from that of any other woman. Some later writers would say that Sthennos scream could kill a man, but this seems at odds with the story of Perseus and his escape from their lair. The tradition of the three Gorgon sisters appears to not be the only one in Greek mythology. . From the Aztec god of wind, rain and creation to the semi-divine human-snake creatures that guarded the Buddha, here are nine snakes or serpents that have emerged, through history or myth, to play important roles in the cultures they represent. [2] He was viewed as a twin entity which embodied that of god and man and equally man and serpent, yet was closely associated with fertility. Only they knew the location of the Hesperides and their garden. In ancient Greek mythology, Medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters known as the Gorgons. Judeo-Christian belief had always seen snakes as part of mankinds fall from perfection and her serpentine hair made Medusa more recognizably evil than ever. As the Celtic god of fire, he was worshiped primarily in Gaul and Britain. Free templates for Google Slides and PPT about mythology Ragnarok is a major event in the legends of the Norse. Even with the monster dead, Medusas true power lived on in her remains. This story only appears in one source, however. Medusa is one of the more unusual divine figures of ancient Greece mythology. The Chimera was a fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology. She and her sisters, Sthenno and Euryale, were daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Keto. Perseus holding Medusa's head. In both ancient Greek and Norse mythology, too, there are supernatural horses. Medusas famously beautiful hair was transformed into a writhing mass of snakes. Kratos also acquires the wax wings of Icarus and the Golden Fleece. For instance, after slaying Medusa, he severs her head and carries it with him, using its gaze to petrify enemies. The good guy sometimes doesn't win and innocent people are sometimes harmed. While she always retains the power to petrify her enemies, now she scratches, poisons, and grapples as well. They were associated with rocks, which when hidden below the surface of the water spelled disaster for ships passing by. Gorgon Medusa. She is killed by the hero Perseus, who cuts off her head.To the Greeks, Medusa is the leader of an ancient, older matriarchal religion that had to be obliterated; in modern culture, she represents vital sensuality and a power that is threatening to males. King Polydictes wished to marry Danae but Perseus, by then an adult, opposed the union of his mother and the untrustworthy king. It was more rare for a victimised woman to be helped and avenged than it was for her to be punished. The first humans of hers became high-class, but second ones became low-class. Ever since Eves transgression in the Garden of Eden, snakes in Christian tradition have been associated with lies, evil and temptation. Snake-gods were more often portrayed as hybrids or shape-shifters; for example, North American snake-spirits could change between human and serpentine forms whilst keeping the characteristics of both. The Mayan sky-goddess was a common attribute. But, here we are! They noted that in the myths there was never an instance of Medusa turning a woman to stone. Rivers and lakes often had snake-gods or snake-guardians including Untekhi the fearsome water-spirit of the Missouri River. Norse gods and their similar greek counter part by Jessica Helmers - Prezi Pegasus in Greek Mythology - Greek Legends and Myths Danae's father, Acrisius, King of Argos was told that he would be murdered by Danae's son. Belenus is associated with the . The presiding deity here is Nagaraja - a five-headed snake god born to human parents as a blessing for their caretaking of snakes during a fire. While they didnt have the power of the Gorgons head, they served as a frightening reminder of Athenas curse. Greek myth held that people could acquire second hearing and second sight if their ears or eyes were licked by a snake. In Korean mythology, the goddess Eobshin was the snake goddess of wealth, as snakes ate rats and mice that gnawed on the crops. The Birth of Pegasus, by me : r/mythology - Reddit [22] A dragon-like creature with horns, the body and neck of a snake, the forelegs of a lion, and the hind-legs of a bird appears in Mesopotamian art from the Akkadian Period until the Hellenistic Period (323 BC31 BC). A woman. Strong, Unique, Thinking. In ancient Mesopotamia, Nirah, the messenger god of Itaran, was represented as a serpent on kudurrus, or boundary stones. In an unusual and macabre turn of events, Medusas death was only the beginning of her adventures. The name Medusa summons forth images of a terrible and cruel monster, but she was not always this way. Frigg is the Norse patron of marriage and motherhood, and the goddess of love and fertility. Please like and share this article if you found it useful.
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