According to Apollodorus, Asclepius received a phial of her blood from Athena and used it to cure the sick. Andromeda: The Legendary Princess Of Greek Mythology The name Perseus is boy's name of Greek origin meaning "to destroy". When Perseus beheaded her, Pegasus, a winged horse, and Chrysaor, a giant wielding a golden sword, sprang from her body. When Andromedas former fianc Phineus attacked him, Perseus killed him, too, using Medusas head. The qualities that lead to victory are found on the aegis, or breastplate, that Athena wears when she goes to war: fear, strife, defense, and assault. 4, 288345. Smith, William. 8 CE). This work is privately owned, signed, and now known as Murtola. For standing by their sibling, she did the same to the other two gorgons. Both Proetus and Megapenthes were King of Argos, and Magapenthes was the cousin of Danae. During the height of the #metoo movement, many women began using images of Medusa. Hermes, the messenger of the Greek gods, wore winged sandals that let him fly at supernatural speed around the world to pass messages between gods, and also bring warnings and prophesies to mortals. Athena was customarily portrayed wearing body armour and a helmet and carrying a shield and a lance. Medusas sisters were immortal but she was mortal. The subject of Perseuss quest, she is one of the most iconic monsters in Greek lore. Hartland, Edwin. According to Greek mythology, Mycenaes story goes back to the hero Perseus, the demigod son of Zeus and Danae, who was said to have founded the city of Mycenae. They also had another group of sisters called the Graeae who appeared in Prometheus Bound written by Aeschylus. When Perseus sought a place to rest, Atlas refused him. Her emergence there as city goddess, Athena Polias (Athena, Guardian of the City), accompanied the ancient city-states transition from monarchy to democracy. He then used the mirrored shield to kill her, looking at Medusas reflection rather than directly at her so that he would not be turned to stone. He owned a giant diamond, the gem made stone in the showers of Zeus, which prevented the magic of Medusas head. To this day, the god can be seen as Mount Atlas. Defining their individualistic artistic Never miss DailyArt Magazine's stories. Many later versions of the myth claimed that she was once a beautiful At the time of her death, no one knew that the creature was with child, one she hoped to raise with Poseidon. Perseus Uses Medusas Head as a Weapon. Proteus was the brother of Acrisius (Perseus grandfather) and their own war had lasted decades. Medusa. Accessed April 4, 2021. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DG%3Aentry+group%3D9%3Aentry%3Dgorgo-bio-1. See Ingrid Krauskopf, Gorgo, Gorgoneion in Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, Vol. Nameberry is a registered trademark of Nameberry, LLC. He would then marry the princess, Leda. The best-known star within the constellation is Algol, Horus, or Beta Persei. Perseus was eventually the person to kill his grandfather. Gorgophone, daughter of Perseus, was to give birth to Tyndareus. Athena was probably a pre-Hellenic goddess and was later taken over by the Greeks. Acrisius, not knowing his grandson was present and not being careful as a spectator, was struck by one of these discs and died instantly. The Romans identified her with Minerva. In some stories, it was only then that he went and killed Proteus, but the chronology is different throughout history. Also in more modern art, the subject of Medusas head became quite popular. According to Pausanias, they say that the god, having made war on Perseus, afterward laid aside his enmity, and received great honors at the hands of the Argives, including this precinct set specially apart for himself.. Hephaestus also helped the young man with the gift of a sword. Depictions of this Gorgon head were often believed to be apotropaic, meaning they could ward off evil. According to many sources, however, Medusa was beautiful as well as terrifying. Sterope used the hair to defend the city and keep it safe. Legend says that when invaders attacked the city, Sterope used the hair to bring forth a storm that sent them running away in fear. Medusas Head is a study released in 1940 after Freuds death. Fans of Percy Jackson & the Olympians will find that she pops up in both the original book and the film based on the book. Many later versions of the myth claimed that she was once a beautiful maiden loved by Poseidon. Thence, by Athenas curse anyone she looked upon turned to stone. Together with Zeus, Themis bore the Horae, or the goddesses of the seasons. Pseudo-Hyginus states, By Joves [Zeus] will, it was borne to the island of Seriphos, and when the fisherman Dictys found it and broke it open, he discovered the mother and child. While Medusa once had soft and supple white skin, it turned green. Athenas moral and military superiority to Ares derives in part from the fact that she represents the intellectual and civilized side of war and the virtues of justice and skill, whereas Ares represents mere blood lust. Disappointed by his lack of luck in having a son, Acrisius consulted the Oracle at Delphi, who warned him that he would one day be killed by his daughter's son. When I asked why Perseus appeared only to them, and why, unlike all other Egyptians, they celebrate games, they told me that Perseus was by lineage of their city. The History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods. However, those myths which mention three women call them sisters, and say that the other two were punished simply because of Medusas transgressions. It isnt one hundred percent clear if Perseus was against the worship of Dionysus; mythology texts say that the King of Argos was, but some versions mean Proteus. According to some tellings of the myth, Perseus turned all the kings soldiers and even the entire island to stone. While the name Perseus has been given to a number of ships, mountains, and even early computers, the Greek hero doesnt have the same name recognition today as Heracles/Hercules. Perseus is a godly Greek hero (he was a son of Zeus) whose ancient name just In Homers Iliad, Athena, as a war goddess, inspires and fights alongside the Greek heroes; her aid is synonymous with military prowess. Perseus - Wikipedia It is bordered by Taurus and Ares to the south, Andromeda to the west, Cassiopeia to the north, and Auriga to the east. How is Perseus Otherwise Portrayed in Modern Culture? This shows that the island has protection from Athena. In most versions of the story, she was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who was sent to fetch her head by King Polydectes of Seriphus because Polydectes wanted to marry his mother. The Gorgon came out in 1964 and was a Hammer film that told a modern version of her story. For some examples, such as the winding snake in the right foreground, Rubens probably also used casts made from nature, which were particularly popular in northern Italy. Greek writers never specified why only one Gorgon sister was mortal. WebPerseus Baby girl name meaning, origin, and popularity IN THIS ARTICLE Perseus name popularity Popularity over time Similar names to Perseus Save to list See your list See Detail. Others think that her story likely had roots in historical facts. Athena, the daughter of Zeus, was produced without a mother and emerged full-grown from his forehead. Athena immediately added the head to her shield called Aegis. Strabo, Geography: A late first-century BCE geographical treatise and an important source for many local Greek myths, institutions, and religious practices from antiquity. Heracles was the son of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, and a mortal woman named Alcmene. No human-made weapon could pierce the armor of the great blacksmith, and only a weapon he made himself had a chance the sword of Hephaestus. Next time there is a trivia night, it might be more interesting to choose questions about Perseus than Hercules, and there are some fun facts that make perfect questions. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Despite releasing the winged horse when he killed Medusa, no ancient mythology has Perseus ever riding Pegasus. She was someone who would kill anyone who saw her, and the snakes were simply the curly and knotted hair that was naturally on her head. However, the same text says that Danaes father, Acrisius, was of Egyptian stock, so Perseus may have been the first Greek in the family through both lines. Johnston claimed that it showed men were still frightened of powerful women. WebPerseus was one of the oldest out of all of the Greek mythological heroes. The Medusa head is part of fashion designer Gianni Versaces symbol. Perseus Mythopedia 2023. https://mythopedia.com/topics/medusa. In book 47 of the text, Perseus kills Ariadne by turning her into stone, while a disguised Hera warns the hero that, to win, he would also need to kill all the Satyrs. In most versions of the story, she was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who was sent to fetch her head by King Polydectes of Seriphus because Polydectes wanted to marry his mother. These children of Poseidon would go on to have their own stories in Greek mythology. Essentially urban and civilized, Athena was probably a pre-Hellenic goddess later taken over by the Greeks. O Atlas, the oracle said, mark the day a son of Zeus shall come to spoil; for when thy trees been stripped of golden fruit, the glory shall be his. Worried that this son was Perseus, Atlas was always careful. Polyidus, frag. The full story of Medusa, taking into account the oldest myths and the younger poems and stories that survived through the Roman empire, is one of tragedy. She was able to see the future, and because of this, became one of many in a line of Oracles of Delphi (also known as Pythia). Perseus had no personal grudge against Medusa. It was said that Sthenmo and Euryale tried to kill Perseus but could not find him due to the special helmet he wore. The best-known story of Perseus and Dionysus comes from Nonnus, who wrote an entire biography of the bacchic god. Medusa is also a character in the first installment of Rick Riordans Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and is portrayed by Uma Thurman in the 2010 film adaptation. Themis Goddess of Order and Justice The Her name in Ancient Greek means guardian, protectress. He also wrote a tragedy, now lost, called Phorcides in which he described Perseus quest to hunt down and kill Medusa. A Roman cameo from the second or third century contains her head. Freud simply stated that the myth is part of the Odepial Complex. However, instead of it being in battle or any form of murder, death came only as an accident. Unlike other stories that claim she caught them in the throes of passion, this version says that she was upset that her priestess went against her rules. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. 1. It was said that anyone who looked directly at her was immediately turned to stone. Also in the Iliad, Zeus, the chief god, specifically assigns the sphere of war to Ares, the god of war, and Athena. Poseidon tempted her into having sexual intercourse with him in a temple to Athena. Caravaggio painted two versions of Medusa, the first in 1596 and the other around 1597. Medusa, the daughter of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, was the most feared of the Gorgons. The goddess was so upset over what she saw and the issues she had with Zeus who was her father that she flew into a rage. In Pompeii, a fresco shows an infant Perseus, holding aloft the Gorgons head, and this pose is replicated in statues and artwork around Greece. Some vases have also been found that depict the story of the golden shower, in which Danae is locked away. Perseus stayed in Ethiopia where he met Andromeda, daughter of Cassiopeia. Medusa was said to have once been a lover of Poseidon. From then on, all who looked upon her were turned to stone. A Summary and Analysis of the Myth of Perseus and the Gorgon The terror of Medusa is thus a terror of castration that is linked to the sight of something. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Medusa: In the Mirror of Time. During that time, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon. Herodotus found some evidence that she appeared in Berber mythology where she was a major part of their religion. Looking at the forbidden mother stiffens the subject in illicit desire and freezes him in terror of the Fathers retribution. The Helmet of Hades was one of the gifts of the Cyclopes to the young Olympian gods when they first fought the Titans in the Titanomachy. Peter Paul Rubens contemporaries saw in the Medusa more than a horrifying creature. Some ancient Greek art would depict all three gorgons as having serpentine hair, tusks like pigs, and big round heads. The messenger god stepped in. Hercules then went to Tegea and met with Sterope who was the daughter of Cepheus. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. She was portrayed using stop motion animation in the 1981 film Clash of the Titans. Every contribution, however big or small, is very valuable for our future. From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology. Modern literary experts also point to the legend as one of the first times in history when men blamed a victim for her rape. Athena took things a step further. Accessed May 1, 2023. Michelangelo and Picasso are just two of the famous artists who created work based on her. Popularity: 2996. Themis was a Titaness (the female version of Titan), which was a generation of gods that came before the Olympians.This was the Golden Age, a time of peace when the Titan Kronos ruled over all others. Though some point to the version of the story where Athena came across Medusa in her temple, others claim that the legend never says whether she willingly agreed to intercourse with Poseidon. In ancient Greek religion, Athena was a goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason. Kapach, Avi. According to author Jane Ellen Harrison, Medusas power came from her head and anyone who carried it gained that power. Ovids Metamorphoses tells the story of how Perseus, traveling back from killing the Gorgon, came across the beautiful Ethiopian, Andromeda, and saved her from a vicious sea monster (Cetus). Perseus was assisted by the gods, who provided him with a mirrored shield, winged sandals, a helmet of invisibility, an adamantine sword, and a magical satchel that could carry Medusas head. Gorgons, or Gorgones, were three winged daimones, or phantoms of Hades. Called Medousa (Medusa), Sthenmo and Euryale, only Medusa was mortal. Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.55; Pliny, Natural History 4.31. [1] Alcmene was the daughter of Electryon, the king of Mycenae and a son of the hero Perseus. By looking at the bronze shields reflection, he never had to gaze directly upon the monster. After Perseus had beheaded Medusa and put her head into his satchel, he used his winged sandals to quickly fly away from the other two vengeful Gorgons. While the books are filled with characters and tropes from Greek mythology, they are original tales set in modern times. When Perseus beheaded Medusa, from the remains of her body came the winged horse, Pegasus, and Chrysaor. In the view of the woman, He had built a wall around his fields, and protected them with a dragon. Hades gave Perseus the helmet of invisibility, Hermes his winged sandals, Hephaestus a mighty sword, and Athena a reflective bronze shield. Her superpower was simple gazers upon her face would turn to stone. The priestess was able to foretell divine prophecies once filled with the spirit of Apollo. Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire and blacksmith to the Olympians, would create armor and weapons for many heroes over the years. The Artist Behind a (Very Questionable) Nude Public Statue of Apollodorus, Library: A mythological handbook from the first century BCE or the first few centuries CE. 1 According to Hesiod ( Hes. H. G. Evelyn-White. Webchapter 6. chapter 7. chapter 8. chapter 9. book 3. Her birth and her contest with Poseidon, the sea god, for the suzerainty of the city were depicted on the pediments of the Parthenon, and the great festival of the Panathenaea, in July, was a celebration of her birthday. Freud disregards any myths that claim she turned men to stone. WebAthena appears in Homers Odyssey as the tutelary deity of Odysseus, and myths from later sources portray her similarly as helper of Perseus and Heracles (Hercules). Medusa or her Gorgon sisters appear in many video games and role-playing games, including Dungeons and Dragons, God of War, and Final Fantasy. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has a terracotta jar created by Polygnotos that shows Perseus murdering her in her sleep. 1 And having wedded Earth, he begat first the Hundred-handed, as they are This piece dates back to around 450 BC. Subscribe to DailyArt Magazine newsletter, A Very Florentine Story: Perseus and the Head of Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini, Greek Mythological Creatures That Combine Female Beauty and Beastly Ugliness, scariest creatures that Greek mythology created, Proto-Renaissance 101: From Guilds to Giotto, Hags and Slags?