Kibisis
The magical satchel given to Perseus to safely contain the severed head of Medusa
The Meaning of Kibisis
The Kibisis was the enchanted bag or wallet that Perseus used to carry the head of the Gorgon Medusa after he beheaded her. It was one of several divine gifts that Perseus received for his perilous quest. The Hesperides (or in some versions, the nymphs to whom the Graeae directed him) provided the kibisis along with the cap of invisibility (the helm of Hades) and winged sandals. The kibisis was essential because Medusa's head retained its lethal power even after death — anyone who gazed upon it was turned to stone. The bag was specially fashioned to safely contain this deadly object, expanding to fit the Gorgon's head despite its writhing serpent hair. After slaying Medusa by looking only at her reflection in his polished shield, Perseus placed the head in the kibisis and slung it over his shoulder. He carried it throughout his subsequent adventures, drawing it out when he needed to petrify enemies: he used it to turn the sea monster Cetus to stone (saving Andromeda), to defeat King Polydectes and his court, and to petrify Atlas into the mountain range that bears his name. Perseus eventually gave the head to Athena, who mounted it on her aegis as a terrifying emblem of divine power.
Parents
None recorded
Symbols
Fun Fact
The kibisis is one of the earliest examples in literature of a magical container — an enchanted bag that holds something far more powerful than its appearance suggests
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