King Polydictes wished to marry Danae but Perseus, by then an adult, opposed the union of his mother and the untrustworthy king. Agamemnon has a similar shield that shows the image of the Gorgon to inspire fear and dread. Throughout many Greek myths, it reappeared. As in modern . During this transformation, the snake hides in a tree. [5][6][7][8] Like their Serer counterparts, the Dogon people of Mali also have great reverence for the serpent. This awesome sketch art card of Medusa from Greek mythology is drawn by the very talented artist Jane Manalo for our Classic Mythology IV trading card set. In this region, females are more numbered as the worshippers of Nagas, which most closely resemble religious ritual.[27]. Medusa did nothing wrong. Greek writers never specified why only one Gorgon sister was mortal. Frigg is a Norse goddess of love and fertility. His first mission was to find and defeat the Graeae. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Since only one of the Gorgons plays a particularly important role in the story, it seems likely that the legend of the three sisters was an addition to the myth rather than the original version of the story. Keto was synonymous with sea monsters that her name was later used for the great serpents Poseidon conjured from the deep. 12. Its hard for a modern reader to accept this version of events. The Cap Of Invisibility is mentioned in Greek mythology. Ever since Eves transgression in the Garden of Eden, snakes in Christian tradition have been associated with lies, evil and temptation. So let's check out some classic monsters from world mythology and see how accurately they're portrayed in D&D! While Perseus beheaded Medusa, however, he still left two Gorgons alive. She turned the young woman into a terrible monster. This myth, a later addition to the story of Atlas, explained the creation of the Atlas Mountain range in North Africa. In these versions of her story, Medusas beauty would end up being her undoing. In Korean mythology, the goddess Eobshin was the snake goddess of wealth, as snakes ate rats and mice that gnawed on the crops. You say my hair is like the serpent locks of Medusa, that . As the Celtic god of fire, he was worshiped primarily in Gaul and Britain. With monstrous features and snakes in place of her hair, she was a frightful creature that the Greeks believed could scare off even the most potent evil. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. Mythology medusa forearm piece Insta: @leigh . The Gorgons were sent far from the civilized world to make their lair in a dark cavern. From the eddic poem The Sayings of the High One ( Hvaml ), he is said to have hanged himself in a sacrificial ritual on a tree. Feminists reinterpreted Medusa as a woman who used her anger to avenge herself on the male gaze. Aapep would try to engulf the ship and the sky was drenched red at dawn and dusk with its blood as the Sun defeated it.[18]. Soldiers used Medusas head on their shields and armor, emulating the image of Athena, in an attempt to ward off death itself. Looking only at the monsters reflection in the shining metal of the shield, he could creep forward without danger. The Mannarasala Shri Nagaraja Temple is one of the main centers of worship. In this case Athena punished the sisters as well, although they had no involvement in the desecration of her temple. Many Greek goddesses are not explicitly named as a single being in three parts, but are often interpreted within this archetype. Today the word myth is often used to describe something that is not true. A demigod, the son of Zeus and Danae, Perseus is one of the greatest heroes of Greek mythology. [16] Nagas, "the demon cobra"[17] and naginis were human-headed snakes whose kings and queens who lived in jewel-encrusted underground or underwater paradises and who were perpetually at war with Garuda the Sun-bird. Exceptions to this were the Fijian creator-god Ndengei, the dozen creator-gods of the Solomon Islands (each with different responsibilities), the Aztec Mother Goddess Coatlicue, and the Voodoo snake-spirits Damballa, Simbi and Petro. It was often placed at the entrance to buildings, either in a relief carving or a floor mosaic, to prevent malicious spirits from entering. The Yeti in D&D 5e. A huge battle occurs, along with a series of natural disasters that consume the world. Her tryst with the god Poseidon in one of Athenas temples infuriated the virgin goddess, who turned Medusa into a Gorgon as punishment. Perseus, therefore, with Athena guiding his hand, kept his eyes on the reflection in a bronze shield as he stood over the sleeping Gorgones, and when he saw the image of Medousa, he beheaded her. Read on to find out! Medusa was not the only Gorgon, however. Depending on the source, Medusa has different origins. Medusa Caravaggio, Medusa, 1595 Public domain via Wikimedia Commons. "The snake dance is a prayer to the spirits of the clouds, the thunder and lightning, that the rain may fall on the growing crops.."[26] In the northwestern Indian city, Banaras, a festival called Naga Pancami is celebrated during the rainy season of Sravana (July/August) to pay homage to the supernatural snakes or deities. Even after this terrible punishment, Athena had not finished the punishment Medusa. However, Zeus turned into a gold shower and got Danae pregnant. In some myths, the Gorgons were the daughters of the primordial sea deities Phorkys and Keto, who were imagined as . The underworld was part of a mythical world tree. Even with the monster dead, Medusas true power lived on in her remains. The vast majority of stories about the gods in Norse mythology focus on the likes of king Odin, invincible Thor and trickster Loki. Their union was unprecedented and was to shape the course of history forever. The gods often carried their lovers away or used deceit to get their way. In their climactic confrontation, Thor slew the serpent with his mighty hammer, Mjolnir, but only made it nine paces before falling dead himself, poisoned by the serpents deadly venom. From a vicious monster to a symbol of justified rage, the changing interpretations of Medusas nature reflect the changing morals and views of culture itself. Zeus: Zeus is one of the most popular Greek mythology baby boy names. Perseus then travels to the Graiae (the three Gray sisters who share only one eye), and he steals their eye until they . Only they knew the location of the Hesperides and their garden. It is believed that Nagaraja left his earthly life and took Samadhi but still resides in a chamber of the temple. Also, in Norse mythology, the snake biting its tail (Ouroboros) symbolized the sea as the eternal ring which enclosed the world. In turning men to stone, however, Medusas anger reflected the rage women felt about these experiences. [27] Thousands of people gather around snake pools called Naga kuan that are said to lead to Nagaloka, the lavish underwater world of these snake deities or Nagas. She was eventually slain by the hero, Perseus. The death of Medusa had another immediate impact. Many depictions of Athena show the fearsome head of the Gorgon on her aegis. While Perseus beheaded Medusa, however, he still left two Gorgons alive. Passing their eye back and forth, one could be watchful at all times. While Poseidon walked free, Medusa was villainized for the crime of attracting his attention. Everywhere, from Lord of the Rings to The Elder Scrolls games, these creatures are deeply woven into our cultural fabric. Poseidon and Athena were often at odds in the myths, and the disrespect of raping Medusa within her temple infuriated the goddess. The hero drew his sword, prepared to fight, but realized she was nothing more than a hollow wraith. Medusa is a woman with impenetrable scales and snakes for hair, and anyone who looks at her turns to stone - killing her should be an impossible feat. Appearance. The blood and gore that dripped from her neck were portrayed in graphic detail. Athena also told him where to find further assistance. 10. Athena offered to help the hero on his quest. Theres debate over whether the passages in Job about Leviathan and another giant Biblical creature, Behemoth, describe mythological beastsor actual animals that existed at the time but later may have gone extinct. Medusa in this telling was separated from her monstrous family members and lived a more human life. Though Irelandlike New Zealand, Hawaii, Greenland, Iceland and Antarcticais in fact devoid of snakes, that has less to do with St. Patrick than with the fact that since the post-glacial age its been surrounded by water, and before that its climate was too cold for any snakes to survive. Perseus used the same stealth he had practiced with the Graeae to sneak close. The favorite daughter of Zeus. The blood could be used to destroy or restore and enabled him to bring people back from the dead. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? The later Gorgon sisters were not the same monster, but a later generation of the same type. The Chimera was a fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology. There are also stories about Balder, Freyr and Heimdall.But just like the world of men, the realm of the gods was populated by both men and women. Phineus himself was the last of his army to be killed in this way. During the dance, live snakes were handled and at the end of the dance the snakes were released into the fields to guarantee good crops. Classic Mythology IV trading card set scheduled to release in early Summer 2023. The serpent grew until his body encircled all of Midgard (or Earth), and he was able to grasp his own tail in his mouth. According to Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, the Aegis is Zeus' breastplate, and was "awful to behold." On his journeys, he came across the Titan Atlas holding the world on his back and used the head to turn him to stone. While Medusa was one of the most iconic and memorable monsters in Greek mythology, Sthenno and Euryale played only a minor role in the story and were never as well-developed. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. While her sisters Stheno and Euryale were immortals Medusa was a mortal being. Perseus was the child of Zeus and the human woman Danae. According to most sources, she had two sisters that lived alongside her. Norse mythology. WATCH: Full episodes of 'Swamp People: Serpent Invasion' online. Attic tradition, however, said that the Gorgons were created specifically to be enemies of the gods. They continued to believe this even after the development of the story that told of her punishment by Athena. There are various versions of the Legend of the White Snake, which has evolved over the centuries from a horror story, in which Fahai heroically battles the evil snake demon, to a romance, focusing on the thwarted but genuine love between Xu and Bai. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. Director: Desmond Davis | Stars: Laurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin, Claire Bloom, Maggie Smith. ; At the same time, their Greek counterparts number an even dozen (even more . Greek Mythology is known for its many fearsome beasts such Mantikhoras and Cyclopes. Three-part deities are a common theme in ancient mythology, particularly in Indo-European tradition. The Wolf, the Witch, and the Giant by Kit Kat Kata. In Egypt the snake has healing abilities. In their traditional African religious belief, they say that the Serpent Lebe guided the Dogon people from Mand to the Bandiagara Escarpment (their current home) when they decided to migrate to flee Islamization and persecution. Perseus killed the monster and later married the princess. But there is much more to the legend of Medusa than just her beheading, and her legacy is far more complicated than that of any other ancient monster. 13). Family. Tiresias gained a dual male-female nature and an insight into the supernatural world when he killed two snakes which were coupling in the woods. It was after the French Revolution that the Gorgon herself began to take on more heroic connotations. But later depictions tell a much darker tale. Gorgon Medusa. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Behemoth and Leviathan, by William Blake. The complicated nature of Medusas crime and punishment is something our culture still grapples with today. He cut off Medusa's head and gave it to Minerva. The Norns of Norse mythology, the Morrigan and Brigid in Ireland, and the Hindu Tridevi are examples of this motif. But Norse mythology, with its compelling stories . A snake. Outstanding Greek Mythology Essay Topics. ( Assassin's Creed Wiki ) Perseus kills Medusa after Seriphus' king, Polydectes, sends the legendary Greek hero on a quest to bring him Medusa's head. Athena furthered her connection to Medusa by placing rows of snakes around her robes. snakes symbolized the umbilical cord, joining all humans to Mother Earth. Others claim he threw the eye into the depths of Lake Tritonis. Perseus hid, waiting in the dark until two of the Graeae were passing the eye between each other. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. [21] Sea monsters lived in every ocean from the seven-headed crocodile-serpent Leviathan of Hebrew myth to the sea-god Koloowisi of the Zuni people of North America and the Greek monster Scylla with twelve snake-necks. All Rights Reserved. The Hesperides, a sisterhood of nymphs, were guardians of a wondrous garden at the edge of the world. In another myth, the protector Vishnu slept on the coils of the world-serpent Shesha (or "Ananta the endless";). Please like and share this article if you found it useful. Because of this, it has become a widely-recognized icon. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. "In a hymn to the goddess Mertseger, a workman on the Necropolis of Thebes relates how the goddess came to him in the form of a snake to heal his illness (Bunn1967:617). French liberty was not heroic, but it was not content to resign itself to victim hood. The story of Medusa is such a famous Greek myth told in today's world, both to kids and adults alike. The myth of Medusa forces readers to confront an ugly truth the victim isnt always avenged. According to Hesiod, the Gorgon sisters made their home on the farthest side of the western sea. She was beheaded by the hero Perseus, using the sword Harpe, who thereafter used her head as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield (the Aegis . Later writers would try to rationalize the discrepancies by saying that there had once been a single Gorgon that fit Homers description. Nor were the sisters ever described as fully as Medusa. This was where Athenas bronze shield became invaluable. When Heracles was sent there, all the souls of Hades fled from him. Artists of the Renaissance made the slaying of Medusa one of their favorite subjects in sculpture and painting. The runic inscription reads: "Hrvisl and Farbjrn and Gunnbjrn". Seeking a way to get her grown son out of the way, sent Perseus on a seemingly impossible quest. This created the first coral. The aegis (/ i d s / EE-jis; Ancient Greek: aigs), as stated in the Iliad, is a device carried by Athena and Zeus, variously interpreted as an animal skin or a shield and sometimes featuring the head of a Gorgon.There may be a connection with a deity named Aex or Aix, a daughter of Helios and a nurse of Zeus or alternatively a mistress of Zeus (Hyginus, Astronomica 2. While some later writers claimed that Sthenno had a scream that was as deadly as Medusas gaze, this does not seem to fit the legend of how Perseus escaped by becoming invisible. In ancient Slavic paganism a deity by the name of Veles presided over the underworld. Snakes have been associated with Hecate, the Greek goddess of magic and the lower world.[20]. In games and books, however, she actively attacks her enemies or lures them in with her sexuality. In Greek mythology, Chaos comes from the Greek word and Eris, the God of Chaos, was known among the other Greek gods for her short temper, moodiness, and bloodlust. According to some myths, Medusa, the most famous of the Gorgons, was originally a beautiful woman. Despite her family connection to monsters, she fit the mould of many beautiful young human women in mythology. The earliest versions of the Gorgons connected them to sharp reefs and the storms that could drive ships onto them. This ancient Chinese myth tells the story of a powerful female white snake demon who lives underwater but takes human form as Madame White, or Bai Suzhen. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. She is killed by the hero Perseus, who cuts off her head.To the Greeks, Medusa is the leader of an ancient, older matriarchal religion that had to be obliterated; in modern culture, she represents vital sensuality and a power that is threatening to males. Bragi-Apollo. To them, the initial punishment and the subsequent death were both justified. In this, the Gorgon was not only a symbol of protection. Medusas punishment was more explicit and harsh than most victims in the Greek myths, but it was not entirely out of place. Medusa began to look more like the woman she was described as in the texts. With so many great entries, even that limitation only made it slightly easier! He also defeated Medusa. In these roles, Medusa is more of an active monster than she ever was in Greek myths. The Yeti in Himalayan Mythology. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. It was just a trick so the king could get closer to Perseus' mother, Danae. The serpent plays an active role in Dogon religion and cosmogony. When Athena heard the cries of the Gorgons as they cried for their sister, she sought to emulate their mournful sounds. Medusa is one of the spirits often said to lurk at the gates of the underworld, lifeless but unable to fully pass into the next realm. Snakes were called upon by the creator of Kerala, Parasurama, to make the saline land fertile. For this reason, it is taboo in Serer culture to kill snakes. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Did Archaeologists Find the Minotaurs Labyrinth? What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? In mythology, the Medusa can petrify people with a look - which is a good thing, I think. The tradition of the three Gorgon sisters appears to not be the only one in Greek mythology. Medusas body was often shown as abnormally large and disproportionate. By the time of Ovid, she was one of the worlds great beauties. In art, Medusa and her sisters had every terrifying feature the Greeks could imagine. Athena later helped the hero Perseus slay Medusa, giving him a shiny bronze shield that he used to watch the Gorgons reflection rather than looking directly at her. In fact, some writers did not seem to agree that there were three Gorgons at all. When he arrived at the sisters lair, the Gorgon was sleeping. The interpretation can vary by image, person, and context. In the Iliad, Homer says that the head of the Gorgon is prominently displayed on Athenas aegis. But the gods help Perseus, and Hermes appears to him and gives him a magical sword, and Athena gives him a mirrored shield. I guess this makes Pegasus, Chrysaor and Amphisbaena triplets, haha! Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), DEA / C. BALOSSINI / Contributor / Getty Images, Godong/Universal Images Group/Getty Images, Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images, Sepia Times/Universal Images Group/Getty Images, Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket/Getty Images, protectors of Siddhrtha Gautama, the Buddha, various versions of the Legend of the White Snake, https://www.history.com/news/snake-symbol-history-mythology, 9 Powerful Snakes from History and Mythology. In Greek mythology, the Gorgons were snake-women whose gazes would turn people to stone; they had serpents for hair, long claws, sharp teeth and scales covering their bodies. She and her sisters, Sthenno and Euryale, were daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Keto. -Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. Perseus manages to kill her, but only with the . Also, in Norse mythology, the snake biting its tail symbolized the sea as the eternal ring which enclosed the world. Lost in the telling are Medusas tragic origins and the unbelievable fate of her famous head. [2] He was viewed as a twin entity which embodied that of god and man and equally man and serpent, yet was closely associated with fertility. In East Asia snake-dragons watched over good harvests, rain, fertility and the cycle of the seasons, whilst in ancient Greece and India, snakes were considered to be lucky and snake-amulets were used as talismans against evil. Ovid, however, makes it very clear that Poseidons actions were not romantic. The fairest of the three Gorgons became the most hideous of them all. The name Medusa summons forth images of a terrible and cruel monster, but she was not always this way. It is thought to depict inn, rr and Freyr. Some versions of the story claim that Medusas sisters underwent the same change from beautiful to horrible, reconciling the disparity of showing only Medusa herself in that way. The roots of this tree (usually growing in water) were guarded by Veles (Volos) the serpent god. The anthropomorphic basis of many myth-systems meant snake-gods were rarely depicted solely as snakes. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. The story of the monster Medusas death at the hands of the great hero Perseus is one of the most widely told myths from the Greek world. When a person dies, the Serer believe that their soul must make its way to Jaaniiw (a place where good souls go). Medusa. She is the mother of Balder. In the original story she was killed in her sleep with no chance of fighting back, and most of the deaths caused by her powers were when she was used as a weapon by someone else. As the next item in our list of mythical creatures, Medusa is another addition from Greek mythology. Kidnapping was a valid form of marriage in Greek mythology and women were often described as fleeing from or fearing the amorous gods. The power of Medusas head was so potent that it could petrify even the largest and strongest of the Titans. Only two humans and a few gods survive. Donatella Versace. In Indian myth, Shiva had a cobra coiled on his head and another at rest on his shoulder, ready to strike his enemies. The winged stallion Pegasus is the offspring of the god Poseidon and the Gorgon Medusa, from whose neck he was born . [22] Representations of two intertwined serpents are common in Sumerian art and Neo-Sumerian artwork[22] and still appear sporadically on cylinder seals and amulets until as late as the thirteenth century BC. As the Roman world embraced Christianity and its texts, Medusas evil status was furthered. In northern Europe and West Asia, snakes were associated with healing whilst in parts of South Asia, snakes are regarded as possessing aphrodisiac qualities. Homer, however, mentions only one Gorgon and does not give her name. A fascinating tale from Norse Mythology that demonstrates once more the desire of Odin to pursue all possible sources of . In Egypt the snake has healing abilities. She frequently appears as a villain in comic foods, video games, and fantasy movies. The Pomo people told of a woman who married a rattlesnake-prince and gave birth to four snake-children who freely moved between the two worlds of their parents. Hesiod said they flicked their tongues, much like snakes. The creatures would remain common in North Africa forever after. Some stories say that Perseus first used the Gorgons head while travelling back to his homeland. The world of fantasy is packed full of amazing mythical creatures such as Elves, Dwarfs and Giants. He did the same to many citizens who supported his would-be stepfather, creating the rocky terrain of the island of Seriphos. The story of Medusa from Greek mythology is perhaps less well known than Medusa herself. Norse Mythology Thesis Odin, Thor, Freya, Loki, Frigg Do these names ring a bell to you? Medusa - whose name probably comes from the Ancient Greek word for "guardian" - was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, and sisters of the Graeae, Echidna, and Ladon. Belenus, also known as Belinos or Belenos, is one of the most important Celtic deities. Some say he honored the agreement and left the watchful Graeae in peace. Even a piece of Medusas head, like the one Heracles gave to Sterope, was enough to repel enemies and cause uneasiness even if it didnt have the power to petrify. During the multi-day ritual, which is aimed at encouraging rainfall and fertility for the land, male dancers from the Snake Clan put live snakesranging from small garter snakes to rattlesnakesin their mouths and around their necks. Athena used it to terrify her enemies and even a crude representation of it could strike fear into evil spirits and malicious beings. The Gorgons were the three sisters named Stheno (meaning Strength), Medusa (meaning Queen) and Euryale (meaning Wide-leaping), and were the children of Phorcys, son of Gaia. The Aztec spirit of intelligence and the wind, Quetzalcoatl ("Plumed Serpent"). The head of Medusa was the single most frequently used symbol in ancient Greek art. Top 10 Greek Mythology Movies by caspian1978 | created - 20 Jan 2014 | updated - 20 Jan 2014 | Public . The first humans of hers became high-class, but second ones became low-class. It was more rare for a victimised woman to be helped and avenged than it was for her to be punished. Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three sisters, who was cursed by Athena and became a monster. Day in and day out Nw amused herself making mud figures and watching them come to life.[15]. If you think you know the whole story of Medusa, think again heres everything you never knew about the mythical Gorgon. It's a new tale of a Greek hero but follows a template similar to the story of Theseus. In A Tale of Two Cities , for example, Charles Dickens compares the exploitative French aristocracy to "the Gorgon" even devoting an entire chapter to . This was in contrast to English liberty, which had been depicted as wise and powerful Athena. The Gorgons personified just one of the many dangers of the sea. Hymns and offerings were made to it since it was believed that the Goddess could manifest through the snake. It was a helmet used by the goddess Athena, the gods Hermes and Hades , and the hero Perseus whenever they wanted or needed to become invisible.
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