Medusa

Vana Nikolaidou

HistoryIn Greek mythology Medusa 

(Greek: Μέδουσα) was a monster, generally

described as having the face of a hideous human female

with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Known as the person who looked at

someone and they turned to stone at the same time.

Medusa in classical mythology

• The three Gorgon sisters were Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale.

• In a late version of Medusa myth, related by the Roman poet Ovid, Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden.

Medusa’s Death

In most versions of the story, she was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who was sent to fetch her head by King Polydectes. In his conquest, he received a

mirrored shield from Athena, gold, winged sandals from Hermes, a sword from Hephaestus and Hades' helm of invisibility. Medusa was the only one of

the three Gorgons who was mortal, so Perseus was able to slay her while looking at the reflection from the mirrored shield he received from Athena.

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

sprang from her body.