Athena also realizes that Poseidon will likely blame Medusa, and she will be forced to punish her in some way. Hermes lent Perseus winged sandals to fly, and Athena gave him a polished shield.Perseus then proceeded to the Gorgons' cave. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. Who Is The Son Of Medusa? - Broadband phone Athena's shield was patterned with a gorgon's head in the center; many stories claim this was Medusa's actual head. Ovid pits woman against woman, Athena vs. Medusa, as a way for men to hide the fact that Medusa is the victim throughout the entire story, her entire life. We can never really know, but with her shield, Perseus chops off Medusa’s head and kills her. Clash of the Gods: Medusa | Literature Quiz - Quizizz Athena then used the head on her shield to scare her opponents. While the Gorgons slept, the hero attacked, using Athena's polished shield to view the reflection of Medusa's awful face and avoid her petrifying gaze while he beheaded her with a harpe, an adamantine sword. Athena's 88 saints, although Perseus's saints contain the dreadful killer Medusa's Shield, it cannot be defined as The reason for evil lies in: is the Perseus silver saint with the shield of Medusa, but its meaning does not refer to Medusa, but the Greek mythical hero Perseus who beheaded Medusa. That depends on who you ask! Why is Medusa head on Athena's shield? But Medusa wouldnât yield to any man. Medusa's head ultimately ends up. Symbol Reason. This story is a prime example of rape culture. By her very existence, Medusa throws into question the morality of one of the most favored Olympians in Athena. Why did Athena curse Medusa? - Answers Pegasus in Greek Mythology - Greek Legends and Myths Chimera To kill someone with just a glance is frightening, and can be used to cause destruction. These wails often had destructive power. But what if the story could be interpreted differently, with Medusa is as a victim, and Athena as her protector. Read in-depth answer here. Polydectes either does not understand the concept of self-defence, or doesn’t care either way. If someone takes a vow as important to them as their virginity, they wouldn’t act against it in such a blasé way consentingly. She can now turn people who look at her into stone. Especially because children and teens read these stories, and are impacted by the views and opinions of the characters. Q. Found inside“Well, I met Athena, Goddess of War.” Mandy breathed. “Can you believe it?” “What? Are you serious? ... Swords, armor, shields, implements of war, the aegis.” She paused. “Athena's shield with Medusa's head.” “You saw the shield? Athena lent a shield to Perseus when the latter took on his quest to slay Medusa. Because the gods showed favor on him, he was given Hades ' Helm of Invisibility, Winged Sandals from Hermes, a magnificent sword made by Hephaestus, and a shield from Athena which would later become the Aegis. Inspired, they went to the temple and had sex on the altar. Medusa's visage has since been adopted by many women as a symbol of female rage; one of the first publications to express this idea was a 1978 issue of Women: A Journal of Liberation.The cover featured the image of a Gorgon, which the editors explained "can be a map to guide us through our terrors, through the depths of our . In more modern times, Medusa has become somewhat of a feminist icon! So, one day, he corners her at the steps of Athena’s temple where she was flagrantly raped. Perhaps more than any other, Athena and Medusa’s story is greatly open to analysis and controversy both by classicists and those with an amateur interest in mythology. Medusa's head was featured on Athena's shield, and it was said to provide swift death and complete protection from anyone who dared attack her- exactly what her name describes! Aegis also refers to Athena's protective cloak . While that's certainly not a bad thing, it's just something you should be aware of before being seduced by Medusa's beauty. But if you ask Ovid, the Roman poet that lived during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus, the story is entirely different- and itâs Athenaâs fault. Medusa was one of three sisters born to Phorcys and Ceto known as the Gorgons. Goddess of wisdom, war and the crafts, and favourite daughter of Zeus , Athena was, perhaps, the wisest, most courageous, and certainly the most resourceful of the Olympian gods. CL 222 Test 2. The shield has the head of Medusa molded into the bronze, and even though it won't turn you to stone, it's so horrible, most people will panic and run from the sight of it.Percy Jackson Aegis is a shield that has the face of Medusa on it. The frightening head of the Gorgon is often shown on Athena's aegis. Once a beautiful mortal, Medusa fell victim to Poseidon's advances. Her symbols are, an owl . We could even take her transformation into a monster as allegorical rather than factual: a person that has no regard for what others consider sacred, a person that crosses lines without much thought, is one that turns into a monster. But how her head ended up on Athena's shield is a story for another time. A replica of the original shield is owned by Thalia Grace. Along with the beautiful Scylla, she foreshadows the conceit of the seductive but threatening female that emerges in the late nineteenth century in reaction to women's empowerment. Tags: Question 3 . For it is not her fault that people decided to try their fate, and attempt to kill her. It is often used by Zeus and his daughter Athena. Medusa, along with her two sisters Stheno and Euryale, was known as a Gorgon, a powerful mythical creature in ancient Greek mythology. Another woman, Elizabeth Johnston, an english professor, writes in an essay about how Medusa seems to reappear when talking of certain women in today’s society. What is the myth of Athena? Her powerful image of a woman with a full head of snake hair is unforgettable. The goddess’s shield has a gorgon head in the center. One day Poseidon, god of the sea and earthquakes, took Medusa into Athena's temple and raped her. Some examples include: The Percy Jackson books. Perseus, son of Greek god Zeus and princess Danae, decapitated Medusa using a shield given by Athena. Suspenseful and vividly imagined, The Cold Is in Her Bones is a novel about the dark, reverberating power of pain, the yearning to be seen and understood, and the fragile optimism of love. Athena has been depicted with snakes near her and with snake haired Medusa's head upon her shield. Medusa lost her sexual autonomy and was hunted by blood-thirsty men looking to destroy her, so some may see her as the original “angry woman.” With a male-focused hero story, she is seen as enraged and vindictive, killing men as a way to get back at Poseidon. Because the gaze of Medusa turned all who looked at her to stone, Perseus guided himself by her reflection in a shield given him by Athena and beheaded Medusa as she slept. Found inside – Page 93Then, with winged heels and Athena's shield, he goes swiftly further west. He asks Atlas, who is holding up the world on his shoulders, to explain where the Graiae are living. Atlas asks him to return with the head of Medusa so that he ... Sometimes she would be wearing a cloak or shield (Aegis) adorned with the head of the monster Medusa. Found inside – Page 11017] And so, too, is the “apotropaic transformation" of the head itself, which was realized by Athena's subsequent incorporation of Medusa's face into the decoration on her shield, whence “the threat becomes a kind of protection; ... All three were lovely and humanoid before the curse of Athena, which turned them into hideous monsters. When Medusa refused, Poseidon pinned her against Athenaâs altar and had his way with her anyway. They were not worshipped for their perfection – rather, for their virtues. Medusa's head was mounted in the centre of Athena's shield the Aegis *man she really didn't like her* where it would stay, at least throughout the Trojan war. By blaming Medusa and then getting mad at her for being angry and defending herself, the story perpetuates the idea that it’s the woman’s fault. By viewing Medusa's reflection in his polished shield, he safely approached and cut off her head. Let’s end the scene there for now, with Medusa, a mortal woman, and Poseidon, one of the most powerful gods in Greek mythology, and talk about it. She had stunning golden hair, with perfect ringlets framing her beautiful face. Stheno and Euryale were cursed simply for standing with their sister. Medusa's name derives from an ancient Greek verb that means "to protect and guard," which may be a nod to Athena's attempt to guard and protect Medusa from further abuse at the hands of Poseidon and other men. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Again, because she couldnât punish Poseidon for insolence, she only took it out on Medusa cursing her. The most well known of Medusa’s stories is written by the Roman poet, Ovid. Athena, enraged at the desecration of her temple, turned her into a mortal Gorgon. Medusa eventually became such a dangerous monster that Perseus was aided by the gods – especially Athena and Hermes – in slaying her by removing her head. She spends her time drawing, painting, and participating in her community through protests, and fighting what she believes is right. Some sources have her as a hideous tusked monster, while most have her as a monstrous woman with red snakes for hair. The character Dusa in Hades is a floating head who serves as a maid in the House of Hades. But, this is not the end of her tale, because while dead, her power still persists. 94 terms. Her design has been used in branding, logos, protests, and more. The human Paris chose Aphrodite, and the angry runners up retaliated. Medusa mosaic (Roman period), National Archaeological Museum, Athens. He looked into the shield at Medusa's reflection and cut off her head. Q. Change ). Through this interpretation of Medusa’s tale, we can educate and change the narrative to hopefully help people understand and support others like her. Enraged by what happened to her, she vowed to turn to stone any man who would venture into her lair ever since. According to some myths, this was the real head of Medusa. Because the gaze of Medusa turned all who looked at her to stone, Perseus guided himself by her reflection in a shield given him by Athena and beheaded Medusa as she slept. The aegis is a shield carried primarily by Zeus in Greek mythology, which he sometimes lent to Athena. Medusa's stare and Athena's shield together were thought to offer protection from unwanted visitors, especially of the supernatural kind. He grabbed up the head, snakes and all, shoved it in the bag, and headed for home. Athena herself was a virgin goddess who never had a childhood. What is the story of Medusa and Athena according to Ovid? Athena is then given Medusa's head, and she puts it onto her shield as a protective amulet. Depending on the myth, Poseidon either raped her or had consensual sex with her in one of Athena’s temples. answer choices One day, they were passing through a very romantic forest of olives in which was Athenaâs temple. After Perseus removed Medusa's head, some stories claim that he gifted it to Athena. One TikTok user explained: "That's why a lot of people have this tattoo, because if they were, they are . Found inside – Page 214gon's head is found at the shrines of both Artemis and Demeter, as well as in connection with Athena. The Gorgon could have once ... Perhaps this is the meaning of the Gorgon Medusa's head on Athena's shield. While the snakes emerging ... Since Athena's shield had Medusa's head on it, or can print a picture out and stick it on there. But how her head ended up on Athenaâs shield is a story for another time. Versace (fashion brand) Medusa’s enigmatic smile makes up their logo Gianni Versace claimed that her “fatal passion” made her the ideal face of his company. Through the pages of this blog, I want to help you make the very most of your visit to Athens and show you how to navigate the city like an insider. Found inside – Page 34With Athena's help , Perseus decapitated Medusa as she slept , using a mirror to avoid looking directly at her face . The severed head was then placed in the center of Athena's shield , where Medusa's staring eyes maintained their ... In one story, a beautiful woman named Medusa fell in love with Poseidon, and the two mated in Athena's temple. He offered her more than a throne. This way, she hopes to take revenge on Athena. In this fascinating study of the legend of Medusa, Stephen R. Wilk begins by refamiliarizing readers with the story through ancient authors and classical artwork, then looks at the interpretations that have been given of the meaning of the ... She is now one of Athena’s priestesses for her temple. But, hey, Zeus sleeps around so much that maybe it doesn't mean much to Athena that she's related to the mortal hero. Tags: Question 17 . Found insideAthena changed Medusa's hair into hideous snakes because Medusa and Poseidon are said to have made love in Athena's temple, violating the sacred space. Athena's shield is decorated with Medusa's head as a reminder of her powers. She was cursed by the Greek goddess Athena, who turned her into the venomous monster she was. Now why, some may ask, would Athena give up a gift to help murder the women she protected? There are a few versions of the story of Medusa. When he got close enough, he used the sickle to decapitate the Gorgon Medusa with Athena directing his hand. 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! Giving Western literature and art many of its most enduring themes and archetypes, Greek mythology and the gods and goddesses at its core are a fundamental part of the popular imagination. Athena's shield: 15 feet in diameter and has a symbolic meaning of protection of Athens people. Some modern readings like to reinterpret Athena’s transformation of Medusa as not a curse but protection and strength. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The king calls Perseus a liar. Athena fastened the head to her shield after Perseus gave it to her. Medusa, a protectress, alongside Athena, a protector. That’s not to say that Medusa is never used as a good old monstrous villain, though. Panathenaea Festival and the Panathenaic Procession, Interesting Facts About Hera, Queen of the Gods, Interesting Facts About Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. He makes it easy to hate Medusa, easy to see past the flaws in his story. Medusa's Lair is an unusual mix of a game with lots of attention paid to the design, but with a very simple format and features. Reading stories containing victim-blaming and rape, specifically by an all-powerful god, impacts how people see those things. Athena gives Perseus her mirror shield to use so he can look through the shield at Medusa instead of directly upon her. Athena placed Medusa's head on her shield…. Found inside – Page 3(Metamorphoses, Book IV, 873–875) (Hesiod's “Shield of Achilles” similarly says that Perseus was made of gold.) ... comparison of Perseus and Medusa exists here, for the watery reflection mimics that of the Gorgon on Athena's shield. Some Classicists note how the usually competitive and wise Athena blamed Medusa for an act which, whether rape or consensual, was clearly an insult to her by Poseidon. Kratos asked Athena why she would sacrifice herself. Athena was often depicted as a warrior goddess armed with a spear, a shield, and a helmet. By turning Medusa into a gorgon, something seen as a punishment but is actually a blessing in disguise, Athena and Medusa can turn against the patriarchy that is set against them. She was beautiful and was desired by many men. In the version where Poseidon and Medusa are a couple, they were fervent lovers, full of passion and celebration of their love. The young woman wailed in horror, as Athena further said, completing her curse: âFrom now on and forever, whoever gazes upon you, whomever you see, will be turned into stone.â. Such a violent act resulted in the birth of Medusa's children, the winged horse Pegasos and the giant Chrysaor, who sprung from her . Athena also helped many of the Greek heroes such as Hercules and Odysseus on their adventures. 94 terms. Imagine what could have happened if she had resisted, he could have killed her, or done any manner of terrible things as an almighty god. … A further deed attributed to Perseus was his rescue of the Ethiopian princess Andromeda when he was on his way home with Medusa's head. Medusa's Ankles celebrates the very best of A. S. Byatt's short fiction, carefully selected from a lifetime of writing. Peopled by artists, poets, and fabulous creatures, the stories blaze with creativity and color. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Later, Perseus cuts her head off with the help of the gods through their gifts to him. Medusa's shield. She became the deadliest Gorgon of them all, killing more men than her sisters combined. Athena did not only curse Medusa but also her sisters. Thank you for visiting! The Castlevania games have Medusa as a recurring enemy. Sage is a 16 year old junior in Howard County, MD. Athena's curse was not a punishment for Medusa, but a punishment for the gods and men who intended to harm her. Eventually Athena Þnds a courageous Athenian, Perseus, and asks him to kill Medusa and bring back her head. This symbolically was to enforce Athena's power of victory through death and destruction of the enemy. He cut off Medusa's head and slipped it into a magical sack. She was scared of her powers and angry at the gods for cursing her. Ironically Medusa winds up protecting Athena after all; her decapitated head winds up on Athena's shield serving to petrify her enemies with fear and disgust without even the touch of a bow. "Athena," Medusa said, her tone both calm and commanding at the same time. She was asking for it, when Posiedon raped her, and he did nothing wrong at all. Her beautiful flaxen hair fell off, and in its place horrible, venomous snakes grew, covering all her head. That shield turned out to be the key. Later, seen through the lens of feminism, the myth was taken to represent the patriarchic structure of traditional society, where men go unpunished for the abuse they commit, while women are doubly punished: they are the victims also receiving the punishment of their aggressor. But one day, her power turns against her, and one man comes to kill her. Why did Athena choose a gorgon as punishment? Found inside – Page 206Now consider this White Head, Gorgon Medusa's severed snake-squirming head, in its context, namely set within the Elohim-Cyclopes ... “You might ask next, how can Gorgon Medusa's head be on Pallas Athena's shield and be at Mycenae too? Athena gave him the shield, Hermes gave him the sword. It has become a symbol for combatting the culture of victim-blaming, as Medusa was a woman made into a monster for her own rape. It then says Athena does not openly acknowledge him. How did Perseus demonstrate proof of heroic status? For this task, he used a mirror given to him by the goddess. Why was Perseus after Medusa? In Ovid’s tale, he crafts a story where Medusa is the perpetrator, and Perseus is the protector of mankind when he kills her. She knows, as she is only a goddess below Poseidon, that she can’t punish him for his disgusting acts. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, set in Ancient Greece, features a Medusa who was not transformed by Athena but instead transformed by experimentation gone wrong. Look at this story through the eyes of a woman who just went through a terrible event, and now has a way to protect herself from others who could repeat it. Rather than literally turning men to stone, Medusa avoids meeting people’s eyes as they show the truth about the bleakness of the world. 85 terms. 69 terms. Perseus takes the reflective bronze shield from Athena and holds it up to use as a mirror to locate Medusa. Changing narratives helps change society. Dusa is a shade in the form of a floating, disembodied Gorgon's head. She was alone during that time, and thatâs when Poseidon seized his chance. Medusa was asleep and Perseus, using the reflection in Athena's bronze shield as . Why did Athena give Perseus the shield? Why would Athena, the goddess of wisdom, blame the victim of a rape? Medusa was cast away as evil, with snakes for hair, and finally, had a chance to say no. With the help of Athena and Hermes, and after compelling the Graeae for Medusa's whereabouts, Perseus finally reached the fabled land of the Gorgons, located either in the far west, beyond the outer Ocean, or in the midst of it, on the rocky island of Sarpedon. Medusa – Her lovely long hair turned to green snakes, and her gaze could turn someone to stone. Some read it as a reflection of the complex relationship between Athena and the other Olympians, especially her father, Zeus. The normalization of rape culutre and vtctim-blaming is not a new concept. Originally read as an immoral seductress, the shifting perspective to unjustly blamed victims shows changes in how we view women, society, and power. Realizing what’s going on, she’s justifiably angry about it. He then returned to Seriphus and rescued his mother by turning Polydectes and his supporters to stone at the sight of Medusa's head. Either way, Perseus accepts Polydyctes’ query for murder. Her face didnât lose its beauty, but instead of charm, it inspired terror in the hearts of mortals. [316] So saying, she smote the mules with the shining whip, and they quickly left the streams of the river. Perseus was told to kill Medusa by Polydectes. If you think about the power imbalance between these two people, Medusa never had a chance to safely say no. Athena is also noted for having a turbulent history with Poseidon, the god of the sea. What phenomenon does the myth of Perseus explain? The goddess is often portrayed in art with the head of Medusa either on her armor or her shield. Medusa was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who thereafter used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone, as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield. But she lived on an island, isolated from anyone except her sisters, or anyone who came to kill her. Medusa was asleep and Perseus, using the reflection in Athena's bronze shield as . … A further deed attributed to Perseus was his rescue of the Ethiopian princess Andromeda when he was on his way home with Medusa's head. Medusa cupped Athena's cheeks, silencing her. Found inside – Page 35Medusa , and you won't have to look directly at Medusa as long as you have Athena's mirrored shield . ” “ Athena's shield ? Who's Athena ? ” PJ now wished he had read his mythology book . “ The warrior goddess ; you'll meet her soon . Even after the formation of the myth of Athena's punishment, they firmly believed it. Found inside – Page 240Before Perseus sets out to kill Medusa , the nymphs bestow upon him Hades ' cap of darkness , which renders the wearer ... The goddess Athena gives the hero a special mirror ( or , in some versions , she loans him her shield ) . Medusa also appeared as a character in the 1981 Clash of the Titans and its 2010 remake. . Poseidon, a powerful and important god, has taken a liking to Medusa. Because the design is often found on floors of reception halls, it is likely that people believed placing them here would repel evil from entering the building. As evidenced with this myth, blaming women for the terrible acts of men is a timeless tradition passed down throughout society. If we consider the version where Poseidon violated Medusa, but only Medusa got punished, we have a tale of oppression: Athena represents the powerful who only mete out punishment to the weak, not those that hold the same power as them. The nymphs gave him 3 objects: cap of invisibility (borrowed from Hades), pair of winged sandals to fly, sack to store Medusa's head. The beauty of Medusa was such that Poseidon forced himself upon the priestess in Athena's temple, and as a result Medusa became pregnant. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). "Breathe. Storyteller 3 tells you. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Is DUSA a Medusa? Medusaâs name is closely connected to the original Ancient Greek myth, which is also the story of Perseus, rather than Ovidâs origin story. It is strongly implied that she was a monstrous Gorgon whose decapitated head took on a new life, especially as she claims that she is very different from other Gorgons. In Greek mythology, Medusa Μέδουσα, "guardian, protectress, queen". These men used Medusa, a powerful woman, only when it was useful for them. One of the most famous Greek myth iconographies is Perseus wielding the still-dangerous severed head of Medusa against his enemies to turn them to stone. Hermes lent Perseus winged sandals to fly, and Athena gave him a polished shield. Gorgoneion Ovid Metamorphoses Athena Perseus Medusa, The rape of Medusa in the temple of Athena: Aspects of triangulation in the girl, The Timeless Myth of Medusa, a Rape Victim Turned Into a Monster Why the Original ‘Nasty Woman’ Keeps Reappearing. The shield has the head of Medusa molded into the bronze, and even though it won't turn you to stone, it's so horrible, most people will panic and run from the sight of it.Percy Jackson Aegis is a shield that has the face of Medusa on it. But Lore's decision to rejoin the hunt, binding her fate to Athena's, will come at a deadly cost—and it may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees. In the cave he came upon the sleeping Medusa. She was a priestess of Athena all her life. Athena looked down in anger and cursed Medusa for betraying her. Her gaze could sometimes cause people to turn to stone, but her power was in the loud cries and wails she could release from her mouth. But there came one day when Medusa went to Athenaâs temple to give offerings. answer choices . On the exterior, in high relief, is a depiction of Greek heroes and Amazons. A monster that fills his/her environment with venom (hence the venomous snake hair) and who causes everyone around them to be hurt (hence the turning into stone anyone who comes near). Just like the original Perseus, Medusa is an antagonist against Percy and his friends. I’m Chrysoula, born and raised in Athens. Perseus caught up with Medusa, waited until she was asleep, and using the polished inside of Athena's shield as a mirror, was able to cut off Medusa's head without looking directly at her. But who was Medusa, and how did she end up a monster for Perseus to kill? But it was very hard to find Medusa on her own. Young Perseus grows up, unaware of his royal birth. Before he can claim his heritage, the hero is ordered to slay a hideous monster named Medusa, whose gaze turns men into solid stone. Written with harmful thoughts and ideas against women like victim-blaming and rape culture, this story has many holes, so reading from a different perspective might change the blame and fill in the gaps.
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