She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. Everywhere, from Lord of the Rings to The Elder Scrolls games, these creatures are deeply woven into our cultural fabric. It was often placed at the entrance to buildings, either in a relief carving or a floor mosaic, to prevent malicious spirits from entering. In another myth, the protector Vishnu slept on the coils of the world-serpent Shesha (or "Ananta the endless";). 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. The most famous story of Medusa is that of her death at the hands of the great hero Perseus. birth to the two boys, Medusa's blood spilled onto the sands of Libya and a baby girl, Amphisbaena was born, during which Perseus was flying over the desert with the poor gorgon's head. As a result, God banishes Adam and Eve from the garden and curses the snake. A great degree of respect is afforded to snakes in Serer culture, as they are the very embodiment and symbol of their saints and ancestral spirits. Medusa is the most famous Gorgon in Greek mythology, but did you know she was not alone? While some later writers claimed that Sthenno had a scream that was as deadly as Medusas gaze, this does not seem to fit the legend of how Perseus escaped by becoming invisible. In mythology, the Medusa can petrify people with a look - which is a good thing, I think. From a monster to a passive victim, Medusa evolved into an example of the femme fatale archetype. Passing their eye back and forth, one could be watchful at all times. Ever since Eves transgression in the Garden of Eden, snakes in Christian tradition have been associated with lies, evil and temptation. According to most sources, she had two sisters that lived alongside her. Perseus allowed them to recreate a male form that fit classical notions of perfection. The snakes are painstakingly gathered and washed before the ceremony, which also involves members of the Antelope Clan. The blood and gore that dripped from her neck were portrayed in graphic detail. The practice was so widespread that it is seen on the famous mural that depicts Alexander the Greats battle against the Persians. Later writers would make Sthenno and Euryale resemble their sister more, even as Medusa took on a more human appearance in art. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. As art interpretation focused on the ways in which art represented the female body for the view of men, Medusas ability to punish men for looking at her became a powerful symbol. These were Medusas sisters, who were dangerous monsters in their own right. He, in turn, gave the jar to Sterope to protect her city from invasion. She turned the young woman into a terrible monster. Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. The underworld was part of a mythical world tree. Its been suggested that Behemoth could have been a hippopotamus, an elephant or even a dinosaur, while Leviathan may have been an ancient species of crocodile. In North America, the Brule Sioux people told of three brothers transformed into rattlesnakes which permanently helped and guided their human relatives. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. In these she takes two forms. Medusa, the daughter of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, was the most feared of the Gorgons. Even in its more beautiful form, the gorgoneion was used as a symbol to ward off greater evils. This meant that, particularly in a time when legends were passed through oral tradition instead of writing, the two authors likely heard different versions of the stories. As a virgin goddess, the act was particularly loathsome. French liberty was not heroic, but it was not content to resign itself to victim hood. One day, a witch and a wolf met and fell in love. Donatella Versace. But Perseus was able to spite the king by killing Medusa while she was sleeping, thanks to some help from the gods. 11. Although men may have found her name synonymous with monotonousness, in Medusa women could find a reflection of their own fury. [5][6][7][8] Like their Serer counterparts, the Dogon people of Mali also have great reverence for the serpent. In Nordic myth, evil was symbolized by the serpent (actually a dragon) Nidhogg (the 'Dread Biter') who coiled around one of the three roots of Yggdrasil the Tree of Life, and tried to choke or gnaw the life from it. So Minerva advised Perseus to only look at Medusa's reflection. Valhalla is depicted as a splendid palace, roofed with shields, where the warriors feast on the flesh of a boar slaughtered daily and made whole again each evening. Medusas famously beautiful hair was transformed into a writhing mass of snakes. Unfortunately, as was often the case in the ancient world, the victim bore the brunt of the punishment. Apollo and Artemis. Hesiods account of three Gorgon sisters, possibly a corruption of the three-part goddess archetype, became the more well-known version of an ancient story. Aldrich). In one version of the creation story, he and another god, Tezcatlipoca, transformed themselves into snakes and ripped a giant sea monster named Cipactli in half; one part of her became the earth, the other the sky. Perseus and Medusa. The tradition of the three Gorgon sisters appears to not be the only one in Greek mythology. According to Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, the Aegis is Zeus' breastplate, and was "awful to behold." Hod is the blind god of winter who kills his brother Balder and is in turn killed by his brother Vali. The Chimera's image remained consistent throughout the Greco-Roman era. "In mythology, the Medusa can petrify people with a look, which is a good thing, I think. Medusa Caravaggio, Medusa, 1595 Public domain via Wikimedia Commons. Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three sisters, who was cursed by Athena and became a monster. Since only one of the Gorgons plays a particularly important role in the story, it seems likely that the legend of the three sisters was an addition to the myth rather than the original version of the story. Because of this, it has become a widely-recognized icon. [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. Perseus used the same stealth he had practiced with the Graeae to sneak close. Day in and day out Nw amused herself making mud figures and watching them come to life.[15]. But, here we are! The blood could be used to destroy or restore and enabled him to bring people back from the dead. 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. [11][12][13], In the Sumerian culture snakes were also very important as a healing symbol. To do this, Perseus received help from the gods. Like her immortal sisters, she had snakes for hair, and one look at her face could turn any . Nymphs who fled the gods were cursed or turned into trees and flowers. Poseidon did not seduce or charm Medusa in the later myths. The Medusa in Greek Mythology. Let's transport ourselves to the Scandinavian lands with this funny template filled with illustrations of Norse gods, Viking ships and a beautiful design! She invented the flute for this purpose. 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. The Norns of Norse mythology, the Morrigan and Brigid in Ireland, and the Hindu Tridevi are examples of this motif. 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. The creatures would remain common in North Africa forever after. Shesha in turn was supported on Kurma and when Kurma moved, Shesha stirred and yawned and the gaping of its jaws caused earthquakes.[14]. In the story, the snake convinces Eve to eat fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which she then convinces Adam to do as well. Later stories had them living in Libya, a favorite setting for myths taking place outside of the Greek world and its cultural influence. In that usage, the image of Medusa as a woman who can petrify men takes a more negative connotation than it does in feminist circles. This myth, a later addition to the story of Atlas, explained the creation of the Atlas Mountain range in North Africa. . The interpretation can vary by image, person, and context. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. 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 complicated nature of Medusas crime and punishment is something our culture still grapples with today. The modern take on Medusa often emphasizes her femininity by making her a seductive, sexual figure. In art, Medusa and her sisters had every terrifying feature the Greeks could imagine. It was a helmet used by the goddess Athena, the gods Hermes and Hades , and the hero Perseus whenever they wanted or needed to become invisible. The circle was particularly important to Dahomeyan myth where the snake-god Danh circled the world like a belt, corseting it and preventing it from flying apart in splinters. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. She made humans one at a time with clay. The affairs and children of Zeus. Horrified, the Graeae demanded the return of their sight. Strong, Unique, Thinking. Medusa has survived in art as a popular motif in tattoo culture. In some myths, the Gorgons were the daughters of the primordial sea deities Phorkys and Keto, who were imagined as . Hesiod claimed that the head mentioned in Homers works was that of only one Gorgon, Medusa. In Greek mythology, Pegasus is primarily known for one tale which sees the winged horse used by the hero Bellerophon. Even this was not the end of the story for Medusas head, however. In this region, females are more numbered as the worshippers of Nagas, which most closely resemble religious ritual.[27]. While Medusa was the only one whose gaze petrified men, her sisters killed and mutilated many. Though Irelandlike New Zealand, Hawaii, Greenland, Iceland and Antarcticais in fact devoid of snakes, that has less to do with St. Patrick than with the fact that since the post-glacial age its been surrounded by water, and before that its climate was too cold for any snakes to survive. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae. From a vicious monster to a symbol of justified rage, the changing interpretations of Medusas nature reflect the changing morals and views of culture itself. His first mission was to find and defeat the Graeae. Daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, Hel rules the realm of the dead in Norse mythology. In Buddhism, naga were often depicted as protectors of Siddhrtha Gautama, the Buddha, and the dharma (Buddhist teachings), but they were also seen as powerful, and potentially dangerous when angered. 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. King Polydictes wished to marry Danae but Perseus, by then an adult, opposed the union of his mother and the untrustworthy king. Horned Serpents were major components of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex of North American prehistory. Perseus: Perseus was a demi-God in the Greek mythology who rescued Andromeda from a sea-monster. 125 Copy quote. Ragnarok is a major event in the legends of the Norse. Medusa is a woman with impenetrable scales and snakes for hair, and anyone who looks at her turns to stone - killing her should be an impossible feat. Despite her family connection to monsters, she fit the mould of many beautiful young human women in mythology. Perseus stuffed the head of Medusa in the bag and made his escape. Of the many naga mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures, one particularly famous one was Mucalinda, a naga king who spread his great cobra hood to shelter the Buddha from a storm that arrived while the prophet was deep in meditation. Athena also gave Heracles a bronze snake cut from Medusas head in a jar. These were: Muspelheim, the realm of the fire giants. Perseus made a deal with the monsters. In their traditional African religious belief, they say that the Serpent Lebe guided the Dogon people from Mand to the Bandiagara Escarpment (their current home) when they decided to migrate to flee Islamization and persecution. In Hammurabis Law Code (c. 1700 BC) the god Ninazu is identified as the patron of healing, and his son, Ningishzida, is depicted with a serpent and staff symbol (Bunn 1967:618), Snakes were a common feature of many creation myths, for example many people in California and Australia had myths about the Rainbow Snake, which was either Mother Earth herself giving birth to all animals or a water-god whose writhing created rivers, creeks and oceans. Later writers would try to rationalize the discrepancies by saying that there had once been a single Gorgon that fit Homers description. A snake. Medusas severed head provided the shock factor of gore and violence. The head of Medusa was the single most frequently used symbol in ancient Greek art. The Yeti in D&D 5e. While Poseidon walked free, Medusa was villainized for the crime of attracting his attention. Such regional variations could explain why Hesiod wrote about three Gorgon sisters while Homer mentioned only a single monster. Some images gave them wings, others a thick black beard. 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. A huge battle occurs, along with a series of natural disasters that consume the world. 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. (Lyons Press, 2017), which chronicles some of history's most famous disappearances. The religion went into decline around a thousand years ago when Christianity swept through the north of Europe. The story of Perseus's defeat of the Gorgon is one of the most legendary in Greek mythology. The story of Medusa from Greek mythology is perhaps less well known than Medusa herself. WATCH: Full episodes of 'Swamp People: Serpent Invasion' online. Perseus later gave the head to Athena, who affixed it to her shield. Frigg is similar to Hera as the patron of marriage and motherhood. They also shared a single tooth, taking turns to eat their meals. This symbol has come to be known as the Ouroboros. The only difference between Medusa and a human, or even a goddess, was the snakes that crowned her head. Medusa in Greek Mythology. Myths often relate the creation of the world and sometimes its future destruction as well. In turning men to stone, however, Medusas anger reflected the rage women felt about these experiences. In ancient Mesopotamia, Nirah, the messenger god of Itaran, was represented as a serpent on kudurrus, or boundary stones. By the 5th century BC this was well-established in art and literature, but the appearances of Medusas sisters were still unknown. Perseus, therefore, with Athena guiding his hand, kept his eyes on the reflection in a bronze shield as he stood over the sleeping Gorgones, and when he saw the image of Medousa, he beheaded her. The Graeae represented sea foam, while the other children of Phorcys and Keto were monsters of the ocean. The Gorgon was mentioned again in the Odyssey. Fighting the Ethiopian king Phineus, Perseus used the head against his enemies. Hesiod would write the story that would become well-known. Her large head and thick legs gave her a notably inhuman appearance that contrasted with the perfect forms of the gods and heroes. Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology. The idea of snake-people living below the Earth was prominent in American myth. However, in her case, the snakes leaned into her ears and whispered the secrets of the universe (i.e. Kincaid. In this, the Gorgon was not only a symbol of protection. [22] It seems to have originally been the attendant of the Underworld god Ninazu,[22] but later became the attendant to the Hurrian storm-god Tishpak, as well as, later, Ninazu's son Ningishzida, the Babylonian national god Marduk, the scribal god Nabu, and the Assyrian national god Ashur.[22]. When he arrived at the sisters lair, the Gorgon was sleeping. To them, the initial punishment and the subsequent death were both justified. The earliest stories of Medusa said that she always had a terrible, inhuman form. Throughout many Greek myths, it reappeared. The menacing face of the monster became a totem of protection. Outside a specifically Greek context the monsters are now seen as a universal type. snakes symbolized the umbilical cord, joining all humans to Mother Earth. Medusa in this telling was separated from her monstrous family members and lived a more human life. Kidnapping was a valid form of marriage in Greek mythology and women were often described as fleeing from or fearing the amorous gods. Phineus himself was the last of his army to be killed in this way. Medusa. It's a new tale of a Greek hero but follows a template similar to the story of Theseus. 14. Sarah Pruitt is a writer and editor based in seacoast New Hampshire. A man. Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. Medusa was not the only Gorgon, however. 13). These white supremacists often co-opt fields like Classics, medievalism, and Norse mythology to support their racist ideologiestwisting these disciplines and repressing or ignoring evidence for the multicultural and multiracial realities of the ancient and medieval world. Medusa is one of the more unusual divine figures of ancient Greece mythology. He did the same to many citizens who supported his would-be stepfather, creating the rocky terrain of the island of Seriphos. . There are Many Norse and Greek Gods. Snakes were called upon by the creator of Kerala, Parasurama, to make the saline land fertile. In this case Athena punished the sisters as well, although they had no involvement in the desecration of her temple. SHARES. Their parents were early sea gods, predating the Olympians. The gods often carried their lovers away or used deceit to get their way. The gis (Greek ), already attested in the Iliad, is the shield or buckler of Zeus, which according to Homer was fashioned for him by Hephaestus, furnished with golden tassels and bearing the Gorgoneion (the Gorgon Medusa's head) in the central boss.