Herodotus points out that Assyrians believed Perseus to have been from Persia, hence the similar name. WebIn one version of the Medusa story, she was a gorgeous young woman who agreed to become one of Athenas priestesses. Modern linguists, however, dismiss this etymology as a coincidence. Gorgon head on terracotta tile, South Italy (c. 540 BC). Though she has a different name, she has the power to turn people to stone when they look into her eyes. Hades gave Perseus the helmet of invisibility, Hermes his winged sandals, Hephaestus a mighty sword, and Athena a reflective bronze shield. In one version of the Medusa story, she was a gorgeous young woman who agreed to become one of Athenas priestesses. The name Perseus is boy's name of Greek origin meaning "to destroy". Perseus then headed to Ethiopia to rest and set her head down on the ground. Atlas attempted to fight but saw her head and turned to stone. There Perseus killed the current King, Proteus, and took his place on the throne. Her gaze is not triumphant, exactly, but resolute. Medusa wandered Africa for some time. Medusa, the daughter of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, was the most feared of the Gorgons. 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). 4, 288345. The myths of Medusa are addressed in Book 3. Perseus flew into the air like an ancient superhero, drew his sword, and dived at the creature. Whether it is Pausanius or Apollodorus you read, the story is remarkably the same. Yet the Greek economy, unlike that of the Minoans, was largely military, so that Athena, while retaining her earlier domestic functions, became a goddess of war. The man who stole her mask then used the story to frighten others. Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.21.6, 5.12.2. He claimed that the story of her decapitation shared much in common with castration. He made armor for Heracles and Achilles, arrows for Appolo and Artemis, and an Aigis (or goat-skin breastplate) for Zeus. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. The Roman version of her story is the same but changes the location to Minervas temple and her partner to Neptune. 02. of 12. Perseus hunted the King down and showed him the head of the Gorgon literally. 1 According to Hesiod ( Hes. The terror of Medusa is thus a terror of castration that is linked to the sight of something. Medusa also appeared in multiple pieces of art from the Renaissance and later. Of this, Ovid said, Now his hair and beard were changed into trees, his shoulders and hands into ridges. Perseus was often represented in ancient times in the act of removing Medusas head. In post-Mycenaean times the city, especially its citadel, replaced the palace as Athenas domain. After Perseus had beheaded Medusa and put her head into his satchel, he used his winged sandals to quickly fly away from the other two vengeful Gorgons. Though he used it to save his mother, Perseus then went to Argos and buried her head there. 2023 Nameberry.com.Nameberry is a registered trademark of Nameberry, LLC. Leeming, David. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order Her long, beautiful hair became a head of snakes. Many of the women only knew her as a monster and not what she looked like before. Apollodorus, Library: A mythological handbook from the first century BCE or the first few centuries CE. Perseus, admiring her beauty even in death, beheaded her to show the Greeks upon his return. 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. She was someone who would kill anyone who saw her, and the snakes were simply the curly and knotted hair that was naturally on her head. 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). Many considered the princess as the worlds most beautiful woman. 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. Her name in Ancient Greek means guardian, protectress. One was the Giant Chrysaor, who became the father of the monster Geryon. In Ovids telling, Perseus describes Medusas punishment by Minerva (Athena) as just and well earned. Nonnus: The myth of Medusa, her death, and her monstrous offspring are alluded to throughout the epic poem Dionysiaca (fifth century CE), which relates the travels of the young god Dionysus. In Homers Iliad, Athena, as a war goddess, inspires and fights alongside the Greek heroes; her aid is synonymous with military prowess. The second version, shown here, is slightly bigger (6055 cm) and is not signed though often dated 1597. In almost every version of the Medusa myth, King Polydectes of. Athena immediately added the head to her shield called Aegis. It was interpreted both as a triumph of stoic reason over the foes of virtue and as the possibility of controlling passions and exercising stoical equanimity through implacable realism. Pseudo-Hyginus states, By Joves [Zeus] will, it was borne to the island of Seriphos, and when the fisherman Dictys found it and broke it open, he discovered the mother and child. Unfortunately for the citys people, the celebrations did not last long. For Perseus to take his place as King would be considered a good thing for many of the people of Argo. Angry at Perseus (instead of the gods that wished her to be sacrificed) he took up arms and started a great fight. He then used her severed head as a weapon during his travels, turning his enemies to stone. In Pompeii, a fresco shows an infant Perseus, holding aloft the Gorgons head, and this pose is replicated in statues and artwork around Greece. Gorgons, or Gorgones, were three winged daimones, or phantoms of Hades. Called Medousa (Medusa), Sthenmo and Euryale, only Medusa was mortal. Medusas siblings awoke but could not find her killer as he wore the Helm of Hades. When Perseus arrived, he forced her to look into the shield and see her reflection, which turned her to stone. Classic Medusa, in contrast, is an Oedipal or libidinous symptom. Zeus. Johnston claimed that it showed men were still frightened of powerful women. From then on, all who looked upon her were turned to stone. While her sisters were immortal gods themselves, Medusa was a mortal woman only. Ogden, Daniel. Here are the five most famous paintings depicting Medusa. She believes that the story relates more to Athena than others do. They manage to escape when Percy beheads her. Perseus took the beautiful woman with him back to Argos. Then he grew to an immense height in every part (so you gods determined) and the whole sky, with its many stars, rested on him.. 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. She was also worshipped in many other cities, notably in Sparta. The two quarreled and Perseus angrily forced Atlas to look upon Medusas head. It's hard to imagine Zeus misplacing his thunderbolt, as he does as a crucial plot point in "The Lightning Thief", but stranger things have happened in Greek 1 And having wedded Earth, he begat first the Hundred-handed, as they are 1. In Homers Iliad, Athena, as a war goddess, inspires and fights alongside the Greek heroes; her aid is synonymous with military prowess. The two had three daughters, including Euryale and Stheno. This piece dates back to around 450 BC. He handed the kingdom to Dictys, who had protected Danae from his brother. Perseus had been sent to fetch Medusas head by Polydectes, a cruel king who wished to have Perseus out of the way so he could marry his mother, Danae. According to Pausanias, they say that the god, having made war on Perseus, afterward laid aside his enmity, and received great honors at the hands of the Argives, including this precinct set specially apart for himself.. From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology. [27] The antiquarian Diodorus of Sicily claimed that they were wiped out by Heracles when he traveled through Libya.[28]. Themis was one of the first twelve Titans, direct descendants of Gaea (Mother Earth) and Uranus (Father Sky), the first beings to ever See Ingrid Krauskopf, Gorgo, Gorgoneion in Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, Vol. In some traditions, Perseus also met Atlas, the Titan charged with holding up the heavens, during his travels. 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. Medusa spent the rest of her days wandering the earth alone. Defining their individualistic artistic Never miss DailyArt Magazine's stories. Favourite of Athena. These children of Poseidon would go on to have their own stories in Greek mythology. In ancient Greek astronomy, it represented the head of Medusa. After her death, Perseus immediately left to fight Atlas. About the first version, the 17th-century poet Gaspare Murtola wrote: Flee, for if your eyes are petrified in amazement, she will turn you to stone. Either way, Perseus was known for boasting and would not shame himself by returning empty-handed. Both Aeschylus and Hesiod mention Medusa in some of their early stories. In ancient Greek religion, Athena was a goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason. Legend claims the was a giant who carried a golden sword. He pointed out that a simple translation shows that the woman wore a mask to scare intruders and those who thought to bring her harm. Webchapter 6. chapter 7. chapter 8. chapter 9. book 3. In The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a Gorgon travels to Sabrinas town. No, he was sent to kill her by King Polydectes of Seriphos. London: Spottiswoode and Company, 1873. Medusa was the only one of the three who was not immortal. Medusa followed the goddess for many years before she met and fell in love with Poseidon. Detail. Feeling as though his work was done, Perseus tracked down Athena and presented her with the head. Kapach, Avi. Polyidus, frag. However, Atlas also remembered the sayings of an Oracle, as told by Themis. Art World The Artist Behind a (Very Questionable) Nude Public Statue of Medusa as a Feminist Avenger Defends His Work The monument has its fair share of It is pronounced P AH R-Siy-ahS in English . Perseus is of Old Greek origin. Perseus is a form of the English and Greek Persis. See also the related category greek. Perseus is uncommon as a baby girl name. It is not in the top 1000 names. Perseus was the child of Danae, a princess of Argos. [17], After Medusa was killed, her two children by Poseidon were born from her blood. Perseus had been traveling home from slaying Medusa when he came across a beautiful woman by the sea. deTraci Regula. The Romans identified her with Minerva. Gorgo. In A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Other sources gave Ladon different parents. London: Nutt, 189496. 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. Early artwork depicted both Medusa and her sisters as gruesome creatures capable of frightening any man. Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica 4.828ff; Eustathius on Homers Odyssey 12.85; scholia on Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica 4.828; scholia on Platos Republic 9, 588c. Indian modernists have been vanguards of shaping the narrative of Indian art in the modern world. Themis is often seen holding a sword, which represents her ability to separate, or cut, the truth from the lies. Perseus is one of the few people besides Hermes to wear the winged sandals. Legend says that when invaders attacked the city, Sterope used the hair to bring forth a storm that sent them running away in fear. Unfortunately for Acrisius, the oracles prophesy eventually came true. Medusa represents philosophy, beauty and art. In the versions that name Perseus, the story is grim. 2023. Athenas punishment came with great and terrible features. The two decided to marry, which infuriated the goddess. Thank you for your help! Homer: Medusa is not named in the eighth-century BCE epics the Iliad and the Odyssey, but whenever Athena marches into battle, she is said to carry the head of the Gorgon on her armor. When Perseus beheaded her, Pegasus, a winged horse, and Chrysaor, a giant wielding a golden sword, sprang from her body. Depictions of this Gorgon head were often believed to be apotropaic, meaning they could ward off evil. WebPerseus Early Life Perseus was the demigod offspring of the unusual union between Zeus and Danae: the supreme god came to the imprisoned princess of Argos in the form of a golden shower through a crack in the roof of her chamber. 4 (Zurich: Artemis, 1988), 288345. [1] Alcmene was the daughter of Electryon, the king of Mycenae and a son of the hero Perseus. While the books are filled with characters and tropes from Greek mythology, they are original tales set in modern times. There are many stories and interpretations of the Gorgon Medusa from Greek mythology and later years. In this myth, the vipers emerged from the droplets of Medusas blood as Perseus flew over the Sahara with the Gorgons severed head. Legend says that Medusa was one of three children born to Phorcys. 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. Pindar: Perseus battle with Medusa is described in Pythian Ode 12 (490 BCE). 3 vols. Gorgophone, daughter of Perseus, was to give birth to Tyndareus. While the instrument itself was created by Pallas Athene, Pindar says that she wove into music the dire dirge of the reckless Gorgons which Perseus heard and imitate with musical instruments the shrill cry that reached her ears from the fast-moving jaws of Euryale. Yes, the high-pitched notes of the flute were the screams of the Gorgons as they mourned over the death of their sister. 2023. https://mythopedia.com/topics/medusa. 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 most famous story of Perseus is his quest to kill the famous monster, Medusa. The Greek hero came to see her on the orders of King Polydectes who ruled over Seriphus. Perseus was quite protective of his mother, with all they had been through, and was cautious about the King. To cite this article in an academic-style article or paper, use: Thomas Gregory, "Perseus: The Argive Hero of Greek Mythology", History Cooperative, September 24, 2022, https://historycooperative.org/perseus/. Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.55; Pliny, Natural History 4.31. The bronze polished shield was quite reflective, which came in very handy. Priestesses took a vow of chastity and devoted their Hesiod used her in Theogony. The Amphisbaena came from her blood, too. [3] Other authors have proposed still more remote dwelling places, including the obscure Gorgonean Plains near Cisthene in Asia Minor[4] and the island of Sarpedon.[5]. Athenas moral and military superiority to Ares derives in part from the fact that she represents the intellectual and civilized side of war and the virtues of justice and skill, whereas Ares represents mere blood lust. Kapach, A. [1], Medusa and her sisters were called the Gorgons. Perseus only succeeded by owning special armor and weapons from the gods and later took advantage of holding Medusas head when confronted with the Titan Atlas. 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. Hermes, the messenger of the Greek gods, wore winged sandals that let him fly at supernatural speed around the world to pass messages between gods, and also bring warnings and prophesies to mortals. Poseidon took special interest in her, and one day came down to Athenas shrine and raped the poor woman. Medusa had promised to keep her chastity in honor of her deity, and took this vow seriously. According to Ovid, this is what first got her into trouble: when Medusa slept with Poseidon in a temple of Athena, Athena turned her hair into snakes as a punishment. [26], Other authors believed the Gorgons were an ancient race of wild, hairy women. When Elana Dkyewomon released a series of poems and short stories written by and for lesbians, she chose the Gorgon for the cover. Harrison believed that there was some evidence that Medusa was simply one woman and that the stories of her sisters came later. Danae was the firstborn child of King Acrisius, and he was concerned that he would not have a son to take over his kingdom. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Dana, the daughter of Acrisius, King of Argos. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. London: Reaktion Books, 2013. She was particularly known as the patroness of spinning and weaving. Though Athena helped Perseus defect the woman, she knew the powers that her former head held. 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. Rather than die on the field, she was assassinated during the night. And sometimes, shes holding a scale, a symbol for justice and balance. However, classical and renaissance artists loved depicting the creature being ridden by the better-known hero, so the two myths are often confused. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death This creature had a snake on the end of its tail and the body of a dragon. So Zeus and his brothers got together armor and weapons to help Perseus succeed against Medusa. 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. That she ultimately became allegorized to personify wisdom and righteousness was a natural development of her patronage of skill. Virgil: In the epic the Aeneid (19 BCE), Medusa and the Gorgons are included among the monsters living at the outskirts of the Underworld (6.287ff). 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. Thus the prophecy was fulfilled, and Perseus was officially the rightful claim to the throne of Argos. [25], Not all ancient sources interpreted the myth of Medusa literally. This phenomenon can be viewed yearly in early August and is the result of the path of the Swift-Tuttle Comet. According to Apollodorus, Asclepius received a phial of her blood from Athena and used it to cure the sick. Athena was customarily portrayed wearing body armour and a helmet and carrying a shield and a lance. 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). Her blood also led to the creation of the venomous vipers that roam the Sahara. A magazine from 1986 also used this idea and claimed that feminists could learn how to channel their rage through her story. It is said that the priestesses of Chorea, women who followed Dionysus, were slaughtered by Perseus and his followers and dumped into a communal grave. Freud simply stated that the myth is part of the Odepial Complex.
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