What killed Medusa?

Perseus set out with the aid of the gods, who provided him with divine tools. 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.

How did Perseus slay Medusa?

Meet Perseus, a demigod of Greek mythology who was famous for killing Medusa by cutting off her head, which he displays in one hand.

Why did Medusa get killed?

Medusa was seduced by Neptune (Poseidon) in a temple to Minerva (Athena), and in revenge, Minerva turned Medusa's beautiful head of hair into snakes. As she was both mortal and had the ability to turn men to stone, Perseus was sent to cut off her head.

What was Medusa pregnant with?

During that time, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon. When Perseus beheaded her, Pegasus, a winged horse, and Chrysaor, a giant wielding a golden sword, sprang from her body.

What is the real story behind Medusa?

Medusa prayed to Athena for guidance and forgiveness. After all, in those days, the gods claimed their mates as their partner forever, and Medusa was now Poseidon's wife. Athena looked down in anger and cursed Medusa for betraying her. Medusa was sent to a faraway island and was cursed so that no man would want her.

Why did Athena Help Perseus Kill Medusa? - (Greek Mythology Explained)

Why Medusa is a female?

In Ovid's telling, she was once a beautiful maiden. But after Poseidon, the god of the sea, raped her in the temple of Athena, the goddess sought revenge for what she viewed as an act of defilement. Rather than punishing Poseidon, Athena transformed his victim, Medusa, into a hideous monster.

Did Poseidon love Medusa?

Poseidon was enamored by Medusa's beauty, and Medusa returned the same feelings. Medusa and Poseidon engaged in a love affair and would have two children together, but not before Athena discovered the illicit affair.

Why did Medusa get turned?

The snake-haired Medusa does not become widespread until the first century B.C. The Roman author Ovid describes the mortal Medusa as a beautiful maiden seduced by Poseidon in a temple of Athena. Such a sacrilege attracted the goddess' wrath, and she punished Medusa by turning her hair to snakes.

Why was Athena mad at Medusa?

According to Apollodorus' version of the myth, Athena was angry with Medusa because she had claimed to be more beautiful than the goddess. In both cases, however, the result was the same. In the end, Athena turned Medusa into a figure of horror, a Gorgon with venomous snakes instead of hair.

What does a Medusa tattoo mean?

What does the Medusa tattoo mean? “The Medusa tattoo can mean many things, but it's generally a symbol of survival, strength, and overcoming assault,” says tattoo artist Ruby Rose. “Medusa has become a figure of protection to women who have experienced sexual assault or assault on some level, particularly by men.”

Who is Poseidon's wife?

Amphitrite, in Greek mythology, the goddess of the sea, wife of the god Poseidon, and one of the 50 (or 100) daughters (the Nereids) of Nereus and Doris (the daughter of Oceanus). Poseidon chose Amphitrite from among her sisters as the Nereids performed a dance on the isle of Naxos.

Did Medusa used to be good?

In the original story, the Medusa was a beautiful woman who held a very positive role. Tragedy fell upon her when she was confronted with endless hardships brought upon by male actions. Medusa was a beautiful woman who was raped, killed and beheaded by various gods.

What did Poseidon do after seeing Medusa?

Poseidon (Neptune), god of the sea, also noticed the girl – Medusa – and decided she would be his. Fleeing from him, Medusa came to the temple of Athena (Minerva), goddess of wisdom. Poseidon captured Medusa in the temple and violated her.

What was Medusa's weakness?

Just as a person who has extra-acute hearing can be more easily overwhelmed by very loud noises, so too is Medusa particularly prone to psychic attacks. Her openness to others also leaves her open to attack. Medusa refers to this as a 'weakness.

Where is Medusa's head?

Archaeologists in southern Turkey have discovered a marble head of Medusa. The head was discovered by a team of Turkish students at an excavation under the direction Michael Hoff, art historian at the University of Nebraska.

Did Perseus marry his mother?

King Polydectes told the entire kingdom he was marrying a fictional woman, and that everyone should bring him gifts. Perseus was so delighted that he wasn't marrying his mother, that he offered Polydectes any gift his heart desired.

Is Athena a virgin goddess?

In her aspect as a warrior maiden, Athena was known as Parthenos (Παρθένος "virgin"), because, like her fellow goddesses Artemis and Hestia, she was believed to remain perpetually a virgin. Athena's most famous temple, the Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis, takes its name from this title.

Why was Athena jealous of Medusa and Poseidon?

In fact, Athena was jealous of Medusa's beauty and lustrous hair. Poseidon ravaged her and took what she held dearly, her purity. Athena, outraged by this incident, cursed Medusa and turned her wonderful hair into venomous snakes, her beautiful face turned so ugly that any man who gazed upon would turn to stone.

Who did Medusa have a baby with?

Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. From the blood that spurted from her neck sprang Chrysaor and Pegasus, her two sons by Poseidon.

Why is Medusa head upside down?

Based on this, the Head of Medusa was engraved on the sword hilt in Byzantium and placed opposite to the column bases. The reason it is placed upside down is the fear of rumor.

Can Medusa turn females to stone?

Yes. When Perseus decapitated her head, her head was still active, meaning that her head could be used as a weapon, and could still turn people (and other creatures) into stone. The Gorgon sisters were Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. Their gaze could turn anyone who looked at them to stone, regardless of gender.

How did Poseidon get Medusa pregnant?

So, when Poseidon raped Medusa she became pregnant. When her head was chopped off by Perseus, her children came to be. Pegasus and Chrysaor sprung from the severed neck of Medusa.

How did Medusa have a child?

Medusa's Children · The Lament of the Gorgons

For Medusa was pregnant at the time of her death, and when Perseus severed her head, her two unborn children, Chrysaor and Pegasus, suddenly sprang from her neck.

What color was Medusa?

Some Greek artists depicted Medusa as having a beautiful human face with green snakes for hair, while others represent Medusa as a hideous monster with a reptilian body. In many interpretations of Medusa, she has a link with the colour green. Many paintings of Medusa show her snakes as being bright green.