Medusa
creatureA winged Gorgon with serpents for hair whose gaze could turn any living creature to stone. Once beautiful, she was cursed by Athena and later beheaded by Perseus.
The Myth
Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden and priestess of Athena. When Poseidon ravished her in Athena's temple, the goddess — unable to punish Poseidon — directed her fury at Medusa, transforming her beautiful hair into writhing serpents and making her face so terrible that anyone who looked upon it turned to stone.
Medusa and her two immortal sisters, Stheno and Euryale, lived at the ends of the earth. Many heroes attempted to slay Medusa, but all were turned to stone. Perseus succeeded only with divine help: Athena's reflective shield, Hermes's winged sandals, and the cap of invisibility.
Even in death, Medusa's head retained its petrifying power. Perseus used it as a weapon — turning the sea monster Cetus to stone to save Andromeda, and later petrifying Atlas and the tyrant Polydectes. He eventually gave the head to Athena, who mounted it on her aegis shield.
Parents
Phorcys and Ceto
Children
Pegasus, Chrysaor (born from her blood)
Symbols
Fun Fact
Jellyfish of the genus Medusa are named for their resemblance to her snake-covered head.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth: