David leeming seeks to answer this question in medusa, a biography of the mythical creature. One approach is that people who lived in the ancient past were little more than cave men. Then she was beheaded by perseus with the help of athena and the other gods. Ancient history encyclopedia receives a small commission for each book sold through our affiliate partners. In the world of greek mythology, medusa is one of the more famous villainous characters because of her monsterlike looks and abilities. She had the face of a hideous woman, but had poisonous snakes on her head, instead of hair. Whispers ran through all the people in the temple who quickly began to leave for everyone knew that athena enjoyed watching over the people of athens and feared what might happen if the goddess had overheard medusas rash remarks. He cut off her head, with the help of gifts from hades via the stygian nymphs, athena, and hermes. In fact, the name medusa comes from an ancient greek verb meaning to guard or protect. Oct 10, 2019 8 lost masterpieces of art from a russian national treasure looted by the nazis to a da vinci painting that no one has ever seen, find out more about eight of art history s missing masterworks. The three gorgon sisters medusa, stheno, and euryalewere all children of the ancient marine deities phorcys or phorkys and his sister ceto or keto, chthonic monsters from an archaic world.
The mythological greek hero perseus performed a service to mankind by ridding the world of her fearsome power. According to this ancient author, the three sisters, sthenno, euryale, and medusa, were the children of phorcys and ceto and lived beyond famed oceanus at the worlds edge hard by. You need to know before you start reading that all greek legends have connections to all other greek legends. Although these two great epic poems of ancient greece have always been attributed to the shadowy figure of homer, little is known of him beyond. Greek myths were a huge part of the religion in ancient greece, and offer a glimpse into the lives of the ancient people who told them. Solving the mystery of the gorgon and over 8 million other books are available for amazon kindle. Medusa in ancient greek art essay the metropolitan. Apr 15, 20 david leeming seeks to answer this question in medusa, a biography of the mythical creature.
Does historys selfpositioning as the successor of myth result in the exclusion of alternative narratives of the past. Devils gate by thea harrison, sweet venom by tera lynn childs, medusa, a love story by sasha summers, the deep end of the sea b. Medusa was one of the three gorgons, daughters of phorcys and ceto, sisters of the graeae, echidna, and ladon all dreadful and fearsome beasts. On and on medusa went about her beauty to anyone and everyone who stopped long enough to hear her.
Their genealogy is shared with other sisters, the graeae, as in aeschyluss prometheus bound, which places both trinities of sisters far off on kisthenes dreadful plain. This blog is an excerpt from my essay medusa and athena. The legendary history of tegea, however, provides one such occasion. On the medusa of leonardo da vinci in the florentine gallery, by percy bysshe shelley. Facts about the ancient greek gorgon primary facts. Medusa was a monster in greek mythology, known as a gorgon. Medusa is an ancient greek mythological character known for her ability to turn one into stone if they looked at her even by accident, and for her head of snakes instead of hair and winged human female form. But the image of medusa is on one of the most beautiful pieces of art in history. Medusa having a good heart, secluded herself in a cave to avoid being seen by people.
Laughing with medusa explores a series of interlinking questions, including. Medusa became very popular in ancient greek art, and her image was often placed in homes and on armor and tombstones in hopes of protecting the bearer. Ancient coins depicting medusa medusa in myth and literary history english. Jun 23, 2017 medusa is the mortal one of the three gorgon sisters and is often called gorgon medusa.
Perseus and medusa book ancient history encyclopedia. Theodore gericault, raft of the medusa, 181819, oil on canvas, 4. Medusa was one of three sisters born to phorcys and ceto known as the gorgons. In this fascinating study of the legend of medusa, stephen r. A beautiful mortal, medusa was the exception in the family, until she incurred the wrath of athena, either due to her boastfulness or because of an illfated love affair with poseidon. The curse of medusa from greek mythology thoughtco. The timeless myth of medusa, a rape victim turned into a monster. Classical presences brings the latest scholarship to bear on the contexts, theory, and practice of such use, and abuse, of the classical past. Myths include king midas, perseus, medusa, persephone, the minotaur, theseus, odysseus, ariadne, with ancient greek. For nearly 50 years, we have dedicated ourselves to providing private collectors, art dealers, and museums with egyptian ancient art and classical antiquities. In ancient greek mythology, medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters known as the gorgons.
Today we look at one of the most misunderstood characters in greek mythology, medusa. Discover all our printable coloring pages for adults, to print or download for free. Medusa is famous for the snakes in her hair and her ugly appearance. Aug, 20 this would be an appropriate name since she is the daughter of ancient sea deities.
Though she is considered one of the most horrifying creatures of ancient greek mythology coming in at second place on classical wisdom weeklys top ten most terrifying monsters of greek mythology her origin story is much more complex than most people. Medusas head was said to ultimately be buried under the agora at argos. Perseus and the monstrous medusa 12 heroes in training by joan holub, suzanne williams and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Pegasus, symbolizes her mothers gentleness and beauty. Medusa was a monster, one of the gorgon sisters and daughter of phorkys and. This is a transliteration of her original greek name. Alexander the great was an ancient macedonian ruler and one of historys greatest military minds who, as king of macedonia and persia, established the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen. This would be an appropriate name since she is the daughter of ancient sea deities. One glance upon a gorgon would turn the onlooker into stone. For a poetic account, see the ending of the fourth book of ovids metamorphoses.
We examine how she became the monster that she is so widely regarded as. There are a few differences between the two dominant accounts of medusa, and the main change from the greek norm came w. They showed that even the gods, like mortal men, could be punished or rewarded for their actions. The author explores the myth and history of the gorgon from every. Medusa in ancient greek art essay heilbrunn timeline of art history. Its purpose was to act as a guardian for female power, keeping the book. 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 myth through the years. In greek mythology, medusa was usually depicted with hair consisting of snakes. Medusa, the gorgon, who turns those who gaze upon her to stone, is one of the most popular and enduring figures of greek mythology. Ancient origins articles related to medusa in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends. Medusa is one of the more unusual divine figures of ancient greece mythology. Archaeologists unearth marble head of medusa at roman ruins in turkey. In her book literature and fascination, sibylle baumbach argues that the myth.
She was the only mortal gorgon and was killed by perseus who cut off her. In the parthenon was the goddess of wisdom and that was athena. Apr 18, 2019 although medusa is commonly regarded as a monster, her head is often seen as a protective amulet that would keep evil away. In ancient greek mythology, medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters. The medusa enigma book ancient history encyclopedia. Medusa is a deadly and cryptic other, but she is also ubiquitous, with an undeniable energy that inspired artists to repeat her semblance and story in diverse ways across literature, lore, and art through ancient greece, rome, and beyond. Originally a fair maiden, she was violated by poseidon in a temple of the goddess athena, and athena then punished her by transforming her into an ugly monster with snakes for hair. Medusa painted on a wooden shield by caravaggio, circa 15921600 ce. Transformed into a vicious monster with snakes for hair, she was. Medusa was a gorgon one of three sisters with venomous snakes for hair and the ability to turn people to stone. While ancient greek vasepainters and relief carvers imagined medusa and. Rarely is the head of medusa associated with mortals, because of its ability to petrify living flesh. Searching for the origins of medusas myth in cultures that predate ancient greece, leeming explores how and why the mythical figure of the gorgon has become one of the most important and enduring ideas in human history. Medusa is a deadly and cryptic other, but she is also ubiquitous, with an undeniable energy that inspired artists to repeat her semblance and story in diverse.
Solving the mystery of the gorgon and millions of other books are. Her superpower was simple gazers upon her face would turn to stone. She was the daughter of phorcys, a god of the sea, and ceto, a. Medusa also had wings in most depictions, and hair made of snakes. In greek mythology, medusa also called gorgo, was one of the three monstrous gorgons. Medusa, one of the three gorgons of greek mythology.
In later myths mainly in ovid medusa was the only gorgon. Wilk begins by refamiliarizing readers with the story through ancient. The story of medusa greek mythology explained youtube. Key stage 2 history teaching resources with ancient greek myths and legends. Aug 20, 20 medusa was a formidable foe, since her hideous appearance was able to render any onlooker into stone. Based upon the greek mythological figure of the same name, she is one of the three snakehaired gorgons and an adversary of the superhero wonder woman. Like her gorgon sisters, euryale and stheno, medusa was a hideous fanged monster. May 23, 2018 medusa was one of the ugliest creatures that greek mythology created. Medusa was a formidable foe, since her hideous appearance was able to render any onlooker into stone. Alexander the great was an ancient macedonian ruler and one of history s greatest military minds who, as king of macedonia and persia, established the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen. Medusa is the mortal one of the three gorgon sisters and is often called gorgon medusa. Ancient allies in healing womens trauma, forthcoming in revisioning medusa. She is famed for her snakelike hair and her gaze, which turns those who look at her to stone. Medusa kurt austin, bk 8 book ancient history encyclopedia.
The editors of encyclopaedia britannica this article was most recently revised and updated by adam augustyn, managing editor, reference content. Medusas name is extremely fittings as it is synonymous with what a gorgons head became representative of. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. In later myths mainly in ovid medusa was the only gorgon to possess snake locks, because they. Medusa in ancient greek art essay the metropolitan museum. This page mentions creatures and connections that arent explained, because if i tried, the page would go on forever. For medusa was pregnant at the time of her death, her two unborn children, chrysaor and pegasus, sprang from her blood. In some variations of the myth, medusa was born a monster like her sisters, described as girded with serpents, vibrating tongues, gnashing their teeth, having wings, brazen claws, and enormous teeth. Medusa was one of the ugliest creatures that greek mythology created. Medusa occasionally spelled medousa is a fictional character appearing in dc comics publications and related media. Ancient history encyclopedia receives a small commission for each book sold.
Learn more about medusa from greek mythology, including legend. Until one day medusa and her friends went to the parthenon. Details of the ancient tales have been found on everything from pottery to temples to stone statues. Medusa whose name probably comes from the ancient greek word for.
Long after many other figures from greek myth have been forgotten, she continues to live in popular culture. Since ancient greece, the snakehaired gorgon has been a sexualized. Our collection embraces the rich cultural history centered on the mediterranean sea, the early civilizations of the modern middle east and ancient egypt. She is not to be confused with myrra rhodes, a member of the creature commandos who calls.
Theodore gericault, raft of the medusa smarthistory. Recommended by numerous educational institutions recommend us, including oxford university, michigan state university, and university of minnesota. Chief of the gorgons, medusa was the serpentheaded monster of greek mythology whose hideous appearance turned men into stone. What is the roman name for medusa and are there any. Medusa and her two sisters euryale and stheno, were. Ancient history encyclopedia receives a small commission for. The extraordinary journey of the tazza farnese 2012 is that of greek myth, once a beautiful woman punished by athena who braided snakes into medusas hair rendering her hideous. She was a monster, described as a winged female with living venomous snakes in place of hair. The earliest known record about the story of medusa and the gorgons can be found in hesiods theogony. Medusa is one of the more unusual divine figures of ancient greece mythology one of a trio of gorgon sisters, medusa was the only sister who was not immortal. Her eyes also have the ability to turn men into stone whenever they look at her. Modern american poetry medusa in myth and literary history. In the british writer iris murdochs novel a severed head 1961, the heroine is a medusa figure.
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