Another account in the same text says that Procles, a Carthaginian, believed Medusa to be a Wild Woman of Libya, a form of big-foot, who would harass the people in nearby towns. Perseus was eventually killed by Megapenthes, son of Proetus. Perseus is a godly Greek hero (he was a son of Zeus) whose ancient name just might have modern possibilities along with other so-old-they're-new-again names such as Atticus and Orion. Johnston claimed that it showed men were still frightened of powerful women. When Perseus beheaded her, Pegasus, a winged horse, and Chrysaor, a giant wielding a golden sword, sprang from her body. According to Greek mythology, Mycenaes story goes back to the hero Perseus, the demigod son of Zeus and Danae, who was said to have founded the city of Mycenae. Eventsromagna. They all claimed that Medusa was a horrific creature but could not recall when they first heard the legend. This phenomenon can be viewed yearly in early August and is the result of the path of the Swift-Tuttle Comet. Hercules then went to Tegea and met with Sterope who was the daughter of Cepheus. Today, many surviving bronze shields from ancient antiquity are carved with the Gorgons head as a warning for all who face the wielder. Webchapter 6. chapter 7. chapter 8. chapter 9. book 3. In the 20th century, Bernard Berenson and other leading critics argued against Leonardos authorship of the Uffizi painting. He claimed that both groups of sisters were monsters. In ancient Greek religion, Athena was a goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason. Some legends say Themis created this oracle position while others credit Gaea, who then gave it to her. Zurich: Artemis, 1988. According to Hesiod, Theogony 33335. Hesiod, Theogony 280ff; Ovid, Metamorphoses 4.784ff, 6.119ff; Apollodorus, Library 2.4.2; Hyginus, Fabulae 151. Harrison further backed up her claims with a translation that said the horror did not come from the woman but that the horror gave birth to the woman. Both Proetus and Megapenthes were King of Argos, and Magapenthes was the cousin of Danae. Accessed May 1, 2023. 2022 Wasai LLC. From then on she roamed, shamed, shunned and loathed by everyone. A magazine from 1986 also used this idea and claimed that feminists could learn how to channel their rage through her story. [15] In another version of the myth, Medusa became the enemy of Athena because she claimed that she could rival the goddess in beauty.[16]. When Ovid wrote her story in Metamopheses, he claimed that she was born beautiful before becoming a snake-haired creature and retained her looks over the years. Rhianna chose to dress as the Greek mythological figure when she dressed like her on the cover of GQ in 2013. Perseus had been traveling home from slaying Medusa when he came across a beautiful woman by the sea. The other two Gorgons were named Stheno and Euryale. Dionysus could not be turned to stone, however. Atlas immediately turned to stone, thus becoming the Atlas Mountains. Others think that her story likely had roots in historical facts. Proteus was the brother of Acrisius (Perseus grandfather) and their own war had lasted decades. When Perseus arrived, he forced her to look into the shield and see her reflection, which turned her to stone. The bronze polished shield was quite reflective, which came in very handy. Perseus is a godly Greek hero (he was a son of Zeus) whose ancient name just According to many sources, however, Medusa was beautiful as well as terrifying. Aeschylus: The fifth-century BCE tragedian Aeschylus evoked the uniquely terrifying Gorgons in several of his plays, including the Libation Bearers (1048ff), the Eumenides (46ff) and Prometheus Bound (788ff). The venomous vipers of the Sahara were also sometimes said to have been born from Medusas blood. Athena appears in Homers Odyssey as the tutelary deity of Odysseus, and myths from later sources portray her similarly as helper of Perseus and Heracles (Hercules). Medusas head was finally given to the goddess Athena, becoming part of the armor she wore into battle. Medusa, the daughter of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, was the most feared of the Gorgons. During the height of the #metoo movement, many women began using images of Medusa. In The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a Gorgon travels to Sabrinas town. A Roman cameo from the second or third century contains her head. It is now believed to be a work of an anonymous Flemish painter, active ca. WebAthena appears in Homers Odyssey as the tutelary deity of Odysseus, and myths from later sources portray her similarly as helper of Perseus and Heracles (Hercules). The second version, shown here, is slightly bigger (6055 cm) and is not signed though often dated 1597. How Did Perseus Save Andromeda From The Sea Monster? When I asked why Perseus appeared only to them, and why, unlike all other Egyptians, they celebrate games, they told me that Perseus was by lineage of their city. Euryale could leap with ease, while Stheno was stronger than her sisters. He turned the king to stone. The BBC One series Atlantis (20132015) features Medusa before she became a monster. Athena is associated with birds, particularly the owl, which became famous as the symbol of the city of Athens. Andromeda was a legendary Ethiopian princess who was saved by the Greek hero Perseus from a terrible sea-monster. Together, Perseus and Andromeda lived a happy life until they became constellations in the sky. Perseus and Andromeda, from the imperial villa at Boscotrecase, 1st century BCE, The Met. Caravaggio, Medusa, 1595-1596, Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy. Dionysus, in his rage, might very well have leveled Argos and killed Perseus if it wasnt for Hermes. Feeling as though his work was done, Perseus tracked down Athena and presented her with the head. Sterope used the hair to defend the city and keep it safe. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The sisters convince her to change her mind before the Gorgon can slaughter the men. Atlas attempted to fight but saw her head and turned to stone. Kapach, A. Numerous analyses have made us familiar with the occasion for this: it occurs when a boy, who has hitherto been unwilling to believe the threat of castration, catches sight of the female genitals, probably those of an adult, surrounded by hair, and essentially those of his mother. Harrison believed that there was some evidence that Medusa was simply one woman and that the stories of her sisters came later. Also known as Phorkys, he lay with his sister Ceto. [24] Medusas blood was also used for witchcraft by some mythical figures. Rather than the father of Perseus, Poseidon is a lover of Medusa, a sea monster who Perseus slew. Her superpower was simple gazers upon her face would turn to stone. Both Herodotus and Pausanias wrote passages about what they could discover about this king, including his possible connections in Egypt and Persia. An alternative story was that Zeus swallowed Metis, the goddess of counsel, while she was pregnant with Athena so that Athena finally emerged from Zeus. Greek writers never specified why only one Gorgon sister was mortal. Eventually, he turned the head of Medusa upon himself and turned to stone. One such lock was sometimes said to protect the Greek city of Tegea. They point out that she was a beautiful woman who turned into a monster but that all anyone remembers is that she is a monster. Also in the Iliad, Zeus, the chief god, specifically assigns the sphere of war to Ares, the god of war, and Athena. But the young Medusa offended Athena and was therefore cursed to be a terrible monster, forever hunted by men. However, instead of it being in battle or any form of murder, death came only as an accident. In most versions of the story, she was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who was sent to fetch her head by King Polydectes of Seriphus because Polydectes wanted to marry his mother. The qualities that lead to victory are found on the aegis, or breastplate, that Athena wears when she goes to war: fear, strife, defense, and assault. All Rights Reserved. When Elana Dkyewomon released a series of poems and short stories written by and for lesbians, she chose the Gorgon for the cover. We love art history and writing about it. 3 vols. Artists of the Renaissance, including Titian, were also interested in the story of Perseus and Andromeda, and this subject gained popularity once again in the mid-19th century. The two quarreled and Perseus angrily forced Atlas to look upon Medusas head. The best-known story of Perseus and Dionysus comes from Nonnus, who wrote an entire biography of the bacchic god. A woman in the midst of an unsavory, unrequested task, she stands naked, her hair a tangle of serpents, a sword in one hand, a severed head in the other. The blood from her head slowly found its way to the Red Sea where it formed the basis of the red coral seen there today. While flying over the vast land, Perseus noticed a woman of astonishing beauty standing naked with her hands bound on a rock. Perseus Digital Library. What Do We Know About Historical Perseus? Hesiod, Theogony 27475, trans. For some examples, such as the winding snake in the right foreground, Rubens probably also used casts made from nature, which were particularly popular in northern Italy. Perseus was gone before they ever understood what had happened. Medusa appeared in dozens of television shows and movies over the years. Perseus was the son of Zeus, and the god of gods wanted to protect him on his quest. The most famous story of Perseus is his quest to kill the famous monster, Medusa. She also appeared in the 2010 remake as a monster with a serpentine lower body. Pindar: Perseus battle with Medusa is described in Pythian Ode 12 (490 BCE). This was the Golden Age, a time of peace when the Titan Kronos ruled over all others. Perseus as a boy's name is of Greek origin. WebPerseus Baby girl name meaning, origin, and popularity IN THIS ARTICLE Perseus name popularity Popularity over time Similar names to Perseus Save to list See your list See It is also said that Perseus built the towns of Mideia and Mycenae, and fought to stop the Dionysian mysteries. How old is the United States of America? Hesiod, Theogony 29597 (though the reading of these lines is disputed). Her name in Ancient Greek means guardian, protectress. Both Aeschylus and Hesiod mention Medusa in some of their early stories. The subject of Perseuss quest, she is one of the most iconic monsters in Greek lore. During the French Revolution, those who wanted to defeat the royals used the head of Medusa as a symbol of their freedom. Just in case any man took an interest in Medusa, Athena made it so that the man would turn to stone if he looked in her eyes. Medusa or her Gorgon sisters appear in many video games and role-playing games, including Dungeons and Dragons, God of War, and Final Fantasy. She is not only immortalized in stories but also in history. The two decided to marry, which infuriated the goddess. Perseus, admiring her beauty even in death, beheaded her to show the Greeks upon his return. When Perseus found the Gorgons, he used the helmet of invisibility to sneak up on Medusa. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. When she found them together, Athena transformed her into a woman with serpents in her hair and a cold stare. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Athena-Greek-mythology, Roman and Greek Gods - Facts about Athena, Ancient Origins - Athena: Fiercely Feminine Goddess of War and Wisdom, Athena - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Athena - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). In Greek mythology, Perseus was the heroic slayer of the Gorgon Medusa (pronounced meh-DOO-suh). According to Athenaeus, a Greek author who lived during the late second and early third centuries CE, the Gorgons were long-haired beasts, so terrifying that all who looked upon them were paralyzed and killed. Indian modernists have been vanguards of shaping the narrative of Indian art in the modern world. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. The two goddesses were sort of entwined in their duties, which is why it made sense that they shared a temple in the ancient Greek city of Rhamnous. She also gave birth to Natura, a goddess of the forest. In one of his poems, Pindar applied the epithet euparaos (fair-cheeked) to Medusa. He received a mirrored shield from Athena, gold, winged sandals from Hermes, a sword from Hephaestus, and Hades helm of invisibility. In order to keep Dana childless, Acrisius imprisoned her in a bronze chamber, open to the sky, in the courtyard of his palace: This mytheme is also connected to Ares, Oenopion, Eurystheus, and others. Joseph Campbell was one historian who believed this theory. [2] The composition proved to be one of the most important of Canovas career. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 798800, trans. deTraci Regula. By the fifth century BCE, however, Medusa and the Gorgons were increasingly depicted as beautiful women in the visual arts as in literature.[8]. Benvenuto Cellini, Perseus with the head of Medusa, 1545-1554, Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy. Herodotus, Histories 2.91; Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.52.4; Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.21.6. It was said that anyone who looked directly at her was immediately turned to stone. Legend says this is why so many of the desert areas in that region have so many snakes today. London: Routledge, 2003. She and her sisters were daughters of the primordial sea gods, Ceto and Phorcys. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [17], After Medusa was killed, her two children by Poseidon were born from her blood. Percy trains as a god at Camp Half-Blood and travels America on adventures. In 1782, Leonardo da Vincis biographer Luigi Lanzi discovered a depiction of Medusas head which he erroneously attributed to Leonardo, based on a description of Leonardos painting done by Giorgio Vasari. The nature and purpose of queer art is not something that can be answered with just one article. According to Ovid, as Perseus traveled back to Polydectes, he stopped in the lands of Atlas. The chief characters in the Perseus legend, Perseus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, and the sea monster (Cetus), all figure in the night sky as constellations. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn. Every contribution, however big or small, is very valuable for our future. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Gorgons, or Gorgones, were three winged daimones, or phantoms of Hades. Called Medousa (Medusa), Sthenmo and Euryale, only Medusa was mortal. Thanks to it, we will be able to sustain and grow the Magazine. Uma Thurman took on the film role and was in a pivotal scene. Freud simply stated that the myth is part of the Odepial Complex. Menu. Andromeda was said to be an Ethiopian princess. Only according to the scholia on Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica 4.1399. Her emergence there as city goddess, Athena Polias (Athena, Guardian of the City), accompanied the ancient city-states transition from monarchy to democracy. Medusa by Michelangelo Caravaggio (159596). As the guardian of the welfare of kings, Athena became the goddess of good counsel, of prudent restraint and practical insight, as well as of war. The name Perseus is boy's name of Greek origin meaning "to destroy". Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. There, he married Andromeda, and she would live to old age, giving Perseus many children. Fans of mythology might recognize Perseus Medusa wandered Africa for some time. March 08, 2023. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. Priestesses took a vow of chastity and devoted their lives to her. Poseidon took special interest in her, and one day came down to Athenas shrine and raped the poor woman. Perseus Uses Medusas Head as a Weapon. Next time there is a trivia night, it might be more interesting to choose questions about Perseus than Hercules, and there are some fun facts that make perfect questions. In Libya, he used Medusas head to kill the monster Cetus and save Andromeda, who became his wife. The Death of Medusa I by Edward Burne-Jones (1882). Kapach, Avi. After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. According to most sources, she had two sisters that lived alongside her. To this day, the god can be seen as Mount Atlas. As a war goddess Athena could not be dominated by other goddesses, such as Aphrodite, and as a palace goddess she could not be violated. This shows that the island has protection from Athena. The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao came out the same year and told the traditional story of Medusa. It isnt one hundred percent clear if Perseus was against the worship of Dionysus; mythology texts say that the King of Argos was, but some versions mean Proteus. 1 And having wedded Earth, he begat first the Hundred-handed, as they are named: Briareus, Gyes, Cottus, who were unsurpassed in size and might, each of them having a hundred hands and fifty heads. Lucan: The epic Civil War (60s CE) describes how the venomous vipers of the Sahara were born from Medusas blood (9.624ff). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death Art Historian, founder and CEO of DailyArtMagazine.com and DailyArt mobile app. O Atlas, the oracle said, mark the day a son of Zeus shall come to spoil; for when thy trees been stripped of golden fruit, the glory shall be his. Worried that this son was Perseus, Atlas was always careful. She claimed that Medusa was the only real Gorgon and that her sisters were mere additions to her story. In addition to being snake-haired and winged, she was often pictured with fangs and a wide, menacing face. A lot of focus is put on the Renaissance when learning art history. Andromeda had been left chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. There is no evidence that Poseidon was angry about this action, however, and the god appears to play no other role in the story of the Grecian hero. Woodward, Jocelyn M. Perseus: A Study in Greek Art and Legend. One version of his battle with Atlas claims that Perseus turned his opponent into a mountain. 2023. Charmed also used Medusa as a character. Medusas sisters were immortal but she was mortal. His mother was Danae (pronounced DAN-uh-ee), daughter In his work, he says that she was the queen of those around Lake Tritonis (modern-day Libya), and faced Perseus and his army in battle. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. Two species of snakes contain her name: the venomous pitviper Bothriopsis medusa and the nonvenomous snake called Atractus medusa. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. There are three different ways you can cite this article. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. Hartland, Edwin. London: Reaktion Books, 2013. The once lovely hair was morphed into poisonous, dangerous snakes. Since Medusa was the only one of the three Gorgons who was mortal, Perseus was able to slay her while looking at the reflection from the mirrored shield he received from Athena. When the will of Themis was ignored, her counterpart Nemesis sought to punish those who chose not to listen to the gods. Knowing that Polydectes forced her into marriage, Perseus forced him to look at the head and turned him into stone to free his mother. The myth of Perseus slaying of Medusa is also described in the Shield of Heracles (220ff). While Hermes used the helm of Hades, and many heroes wore the armor of Hephaestus, no other character in Greek mythology obtained that many accouterments from different gods.

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