Medusa was a Gorgon. She had snakes instead of hair and a gaze that turned people to stone, therefore she lived alone. It depends on how you look at it as to whether or not she was evil, but I know that she was turned into stone by her own gaze because (I think it was Jason (of Jason and the Golden Fleece fame) but don't quote me on it) someone held up a reflective shield to protect himself from her gaze, and she caught her reflection and it turned her to stone.
It's greek mythology, in the least.
I never learned it at school, my friends and I were massive mythology nerds.
I think she was one of the disciples of Athena? And she got raped by Neptune (I think). And she and her sisters became all "grr, men" towards the males and became all vindictive and stuff. So Athena, because her disciples were supposed to be pure and celebate and shit turned her and her sisters into Gorgons. Then they enjoyed torturing people until Perseus, if it was him which it probably was, turned them into stone.
Another story of Medusa's creation was that she was a gorgeous woman, lived in Athena's temple and one day desecrated it by lying with Neptune. So she wasn't raped in this story, and Athena, angered, turned her into a monster.
I guess that's what I was getting at. I was always taught that Medusa was beautiful but boastful and proud. It wasn't until I was watching the Clash of the Titans the other night that sent me on a Greek mythology hunt online. I was surprised to learn that Medusa was raped by Poseidon, then punished for it.
The book Female Rage: Unlocking Its Secrets, Claiming Its Power by Mary Valentis and Anne Devane notes that "When we asked women what female rage looks like to them, it was always Medusa, the snaky-haired monster of myth, who came to mind ... In one interview after another we were told that Medusa is 'the most horrific woman in the world' ... though none of the women we interviewed could remember the details of the myth."
Pretty much what Will said. I remember that she was the Queen of the Gorgons with snakes for hair but she didn't start out that way. She was one of the heroic tasks the Gods liked to inflict upon mankind and their illegitimate offspring and her gaze could turn men to stone.
I believe, eventually, someone cut off her head and it should be noted that even detached it still could turn people to stone. Which is powerful fug, man.
I guess I was just really, really surprised to learned that she was raped. I almost wish it was the other way around (her being conceded.) I wonder what the point or moral of Medusa's story is in regards to her rape.
Well, I mean, in a mythological sense, that wasn't that unique or shocking. Zeus got around a lot some of it consensual, some of it not. (This is not even touching the whole swan thing. *shudders*)
And every tale of cheating deities is more or less matched by one involving a jealous female god who then curses them. But hey, coming from a culture where it was a smart move to eat your offspring and other daughters burst fully born from their parents head... what can you do?
I guess when you're king of the gods you get to do what you want.
I guess I'm just shocked! I've never heard a story where the rapee gets punished. There's a psychoanalysis journal article I really want to read:
The mythological early histories of both Athena and the female monster Medusa are examined for the light they can shed on female developmental vicissitudes and resultant conflicts in both women and men. Unconscious split representations of women as assertive, phallic and dangerous, or alternatively passive, castrated and receptive result in defensive repudiation of the idea that a woman can be both actively assertive and also feminine and sexual. Athena's enraged action of transforming the beautiful young maiden Medusa into a monster as punishment for the 'crime' of having been raped in her temple is discussed as illustrating an outcome of the lack of resolution of the little girl's early triangular conflicts.
...lady with snakes for hair? Turns you to stone if you look at her. Some...prince dude? Was commissioned to kill her, so he blindfolded himself, lopped off her head and took her back to court, only to have her decapitated head turn people to stone?
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It's greek mythology, in the least.
I never learned it at school, my friends and I were massive mythology nerds.
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Tell me of that.
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Another story of Medusa's creation was that she was a gorgeous woman, lived in Athena's temple and one day desecrated it by lying with Neptune. So she wasn't raped in this story, and Athena, angered, turned her into a monster.
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The book Female Rage: Unlocking Its Secrets, Claiming Its Power by Mary Valentis and Anne Devane notes that "When we asked women what female rage looks like to them, it was always Medusa, the snaky-haired monster of myth, who came to mind ... In one interview after another we were told that Medusa is 'the most horrific woman in the world' ... though none of the women we interviewed could remember the details of the myth."
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I believe, eventually, someone cut off her head and it should be noted that even detached it still could turn people to stone. Which is powerful fug, man.
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And every tale of cheating deities is more or less matched by one involving a jealous female god who then curses them. But hey, coming from a culture where it was a smart move to eat your offspring and other daughters burst fully born from their parents head... what can you do?
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I guess I'm just shocked! I've never heard a story where the rapee gets punished. There's a psychoanalysis journal article I really want to read:
The mythological early histories of both Athena and the female monster Medusa are examined for the light they can shed on female developmental vicissitudes and resultant conflicts in both women and men. Unconscious split representations of women as assertive, phallic and dangerous, or alternatively passive, castrated and receptive result in defensive repudiation of the idea that a woman can be both actively assertive and also feminine and sexual. Athena's enraged action of transforming the beautiful young maiden Medusa into a monster as punishment for the 'crime' of having been raped in her temple is discussed as illustrating an outcome of the lack of resolution of the little girl's early triangular conflicts.
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OR IS THAT ALL LIES OMG XD
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Click this link: HERE!
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And omfg you have no idea how ashamed I am about my BLINDING MEDUSA IGNORANCE
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And don't worry - I didn't realize either until I went on a Google hunt after watching Clash of the Titans!
Did you take my poll? I'm starting a new game! I'm getting the gang back together!
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