“You cursed my soul, my mind is dead. Eyes like a weapon, snakes on my head. A priestess I was, the pride of Athena. Now I’m banned to live the life of a beast.”  - Grave Digger

The words from the song “Medusa” by Grave Digger very ingeniously bring out the essence of the myth of Medusa. But they hold a spell within them; a spell which threatens to distort our perception of a tale of monstrosity into a tale concealing much more than it reveals.

However, it's not just this myth and this song. This is true for mythology in general. A myth is made of layers, some of which just tend to remain forgotten in some corner of the mythological canon. Myths are often accounted for by words, sometimes written but more often spoken, and passed on as anecdotes from one generation to another, and because these tales seep down through ages, they naturally change course. But sometimes while changing course, they also change form.

Through this article, we will briefly explore Greek mythology, specifically diving into the myth of Medusa, navigating through the mainstream ideas of the tale, and fishing for the relatively overlooked layers of the same.

Greek Mythology: A brief introduction

“Greek mythology is a body of stories concerning the gods, heroes, and rituals of the ancient Greeks.” - Source: Britannica

Greek mythology is evidently one of the most popular forms of classical mythology. It is fascinating not just for the sheer volume of tales which come under it, but also the intriguing intricacies with which those tales are woven to give meaning to the world, its phenomenon, and everything that is a part of it. It is about the gods, the goddesses, the heroes, but also about how people saw life around them, how they sought to explain what they saw and how they perceived the universe. More than storytelling, it is world-building, giving everything in existence a meaning beyond the physicality of being. 

The Greek myths often circle around the Olympian gods and goddesses, the earthly heroes with god-given gifts, mythical creatures and the interactions between all of these, that eventually gavr reason to phenomena and sometimes, something more.

The myths are very enticing for the kind of stories they narrate, and their impact on history, literature, and culture, both ancient and contemporary, is greater than one can fathom. 

Greek mythology laid the foundation of Greek literature, art, architecture and in some ways, philosophy and even history, and it is evidently considered as something that laid the foundation of the contemporary manifestations of the same subjects. The Greeks started a lot of traditions which travelled to Rome and then eventually, to the world. 

Some Greek myths and the characters they’re about are obviously much more popular and mainstream than the others, and one such myth is the myth of Medusa, the woman who had snakes for hair, and whose gaze could turn anyone to stone. 

Medusa: From Beauty to Horror

Most of us know of Medusa. She is embedded in our subconscious with her grotesque and terror-inducing image. But even with snakes for her hair, and a petrifying gaze, she is evidently quite a popular mythological character and often appears in several pop-culture-related references. She is undoubtedly an icon, and many revere her for the power she symbolizes. But while she is a symbol of power, she is also a metaphor for survival. Her story is much more than what meets the eye.

Medusa was one of the three Gorgon sisters born to Ceto (Keto) and Phorcys, both sea deities. All three sisters are believed to be associated with similar characteristics of having snakes for hair, and a gaze that could turn people to stone, but unlike her sisters Stheno and Euryale who were immortal, Medusa was not. Apart from this difference, it is also said that Medusa was once very beautiful, and in some versions of the myth, a priestess of the Goddess of War, Athena, one of the three virgin goddesses of the Greek Pantheon of gods. Medusa's beauty caught the attention of Poseidon, the God of the Sea, and he decided to pursue Medusa.

At this point, the mythical accounts of this tale diverge into two significantly different paths, but the end is the same. Some versions of the myth recount that Medusa ended up giving in to Poseidon and the two ended up having an intimate encounter in a temple of Athena. The version paints Medusa as a tragic victim of Poseidon's assault in Athena's temple. Regardless of the version, however, Athena is said to have been enraged at the sheer disrespect of the encounter in the temple of the virgin goddess, and the result of her anger and disgust was a curse laid upon Medusa. The curse gave Medusa her snake hair and her gaze and took away her beauty which led her to defile Athena's sacred place. 

There is also a theory that Athena's supposed punishment was actually not a curse, but a blessing which was meant to help Medusa ward off such a threat from other men with malicious intent, and keep her safe. Medusa's gaze from thereon indeed kept her out of limits and turned her from a woman objectified for her beauty into an entity feared by everyone, a being that became a symbol of grotesque monstrosity.

Enter Perseus: The Gorgon Slayer

Greek mythology has its fair share of great heroes who continuously seek adventure, including Theseus, Hercules, Jason, Perseus, and so many more. All have their own monsters to slay, gods to aid, and heroines to woo. But the story of Medusa is incomplete without the advent of Perseus.

Perseus was the son of Danae and the King of Gods, the God of thunder, Zeus, who was also the father to many other Greek heroes, gods and goddesses alike, borne sometimes through questionable means. Perseus's birth too is a curious affair, as he was conceived after Zeus visited the mortal princess Danae in the form of a "golden shower".

A prophecy which stated that his daughter's child would kill King Acrisius of Argos, Danae's father, led him to lock his daughter away so that she may never bear a child. This was the reason that had "forced" Zeus to come down as a "golden shower" to consummate his lust for Danae. Despite all of his efforts, Perseus was born and Danae had to flee with her child to the island of Seriphos, where Polydectes was king. Perseus grew up on the island and witnessed Polydectes trying to woo his mother, much to their dismay. Eventually, at an event, while trying to humiliate Perseus, Polydectes asks him to bring the head of Medusa as a gift. Perseus readily accepts the quest and sets off.

But he didn't know where to find Medusa or how exactly to slay her, so he seeks the help of the gods. Hermes gave him his winged sandals which help with swiftness, Athena her mirrored shield so he doesn't directly have to look at Medusa, and Hades his helmet to help make him invisible. With all the equipment prepared, Perseus made it to Medusa's hideout and beheaded her in her sleep. From her severed head, sprang out the hero Chrysaor and the winged horse Pegasus/Pegasos. Medusa's sisters try to catch Perseus but Hermes's sandals rendered him with great speed and he made an escape. He carries Medusa's severed yet potent head in a special sack and makes it back home to Seriphos, helping Princess Andromeda on the way. Polydectes receives the gift presented without the protective sack and ends up in stone.

Perseus is one of the best-known Greek heroes, and his quests go on beyond the slaying of Medusa and give him some of the most interesting stories in all of Greek mythology. 

Medusa Beyond the Myths

The tale of Medusa is without a doubt a very interesting one. Medusa serves more that her tale. She is truly an inspiration, regardless of the version of myth that you choose to follow. She is a symbol of feminine power despite her backstory, but she is also a victim garbed in a monstrous gear to shun what rendered her with momentary vulnerability. She stands as a testament to  survival beyond the circumstances that sought to ruin and annihilate her for her beauty, and wronged her without repair. She is power herself, a muse to all those who seek to discover and unleash their own power. 

Medusa is a complex character with so many layers, and facets that can only be explored if one chooses to understand her story without bias. This complexity is the reason she is the muse of several artistic, and literary works and even luxury brands like Versace, and Medusa's makeup. 

Several people have tried to interpret and interact with the myth of Medusa in their own ways and every interpretation is truly unique and insightful. Some of the best works inspired by Medusa include the painting Caravaggio's "Medusa" which captures the horror and fascination of Medusa's tale; the poem "Medusa" by Carol Ann Duffy which provides a feminist perspective of Medusa's story; "The Silence of the Girls" by Pat Barker a reimagining of Medusa's myth with fresh perspective, and "The Laugh of Medusa" by Helen Cixous, a critical work which uses Medusa's myth to lay the groundwork for a deep feminist critical theory. 

Apart from this Medusa's influence also extends to the a much more humane world. Survivors of sexual assault often get Medusa tattooed on their skin to express their own power and potential as survivors. The tattoo serves as a refusal to submit to the plight of hurt victims and a refusal to accept blame, or shame for what they had to face. 

Medusa continues to direct power and resonate with individuals who seem to have run out of hope, giving them a hope for an opportunity of survival. She is also considered a feminist icon, and as mentioned, has been the subject and inspiration of many feminist studies. 

It creates a bridge between existing, ancient narratives and new, creative ideas, and the power of mythology to ignite the sparks of creation. 

Medusa's story forces us to question pre-existing notions of popular stories and characters, and gives us an opportunity to look beyond monstrosity and ugliness. It compels us to look beneath the surface and discover beauty and power originating from pain and encourages us to look for a similar strength which lies dormant within us. 

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