Unlike Medusa, Sthenno and Euryale could not be killed. Zeus had intercourse with her in the shape of a stream of gold which poured through the roof into Danaes lap., Enraged that she was to fall pregnant, and believing that it was Proteus, not Zeus, that had gotten into the chamber, Acrisius dragged Danae back out of the chamber. This series is often compared to the British Harry Potter series, and the first book was adapted into a film in 2010. Perseus was often represented in ancient times in the act of removing Medusas head. A magazine from 1986 also used this idea and claimed that feminists could learn how to channel their rage through her story. Priestesses took a vow of chastity and devoted their lives to her. 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. For this Athena punished her hideously. While no longer as famous as Heracles or Odysseus, the Argive king and Greek hero Perseus has just an interesting story. This phenomenon can be viewed yearly in early August and is the result of the path of the Swift-Tuttle Comet. And sometimes, shes holding a scale, a symbol for justice and balance. Pegasus, the famous horse with wings, arose from her dead body. What Do We Know About Historical Perseus? Some authors today believe that the legend showed the control that a man could have over a woman. Perseus was attending sporting games (either for competition or part of funeral celebrations), where he was playing quoits (or discus throw). When Minerva caught them in the act, she changed Medusa into a terrifying Gorgon. Link will appear as Medusa: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net - Greek Gods & Goddesses, February 7, 2017, Greek Gods and Goddesses 2010 - 2023 | About | Contact | Sitemap | Privacy, Seriphus sent Perseus to return with her head, Medusa: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net. It is said he was killed because of the death of Proetus. DailyArt Magazine needs your support. There are several versions of the Medusa myth. As she traveled, some of the serpents in her hair fell to the ground and slid away. It came out in 2013 as part of a limited edition series.-Many people use an image of her head because they believe it will protect them from others. WebPerseus was the son of the Greek god Zeus and the woman Danae. He claimed that the story of her decapitation shared much in common with castration. [1] Alcmene was the daughter of Electryon, the king of Mycenae and a son of the hero Perseus. Yet the Greek economy, unlike that of the Minoans, was largely military, so that Athena, while retaining her earlier domestic functions, became a goddess of war. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Athena-Greek-mythology, Roman and Greek Gods - Facts about Athena, Ancient Origins - Athena: Fiercely Feminine Goddess of War and Wisdom, Athena - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Athena - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Just as Andromeda had told Perseus her tale, the monster rose from the waters. He was conceived when Zeus came to Danae disguised as a shower of gold. The two had three daughters, including Euryale and Stheno. At this time, Zeus was given his thunderbolts, and Poseidon his famous Trident. Perseus - Wikipedia 2023. https://mythopedia.com/topics/medusa. 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. A Roman cameo from the second or third century contains her head. Medusa. Link will appear as Themis Goddess of Order and Justice: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net - Greek Gods & Goddesses, October 21, 2019, Greek Gods and Goddesses 2010 - 2023 | About | Contact | Sitemap | Privacy, Themis Goddess of Order and Justice: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net, Goddess of divine order, law, natural law and custom, oracles. : In Pompeiis House of the Faun, Medusa was on the breastplate of. Herodotus the historian said her home was Libya. In Greek mythology, Perseus was the heroic slayer of the Gorgon Medusa (pronounced meh-DOO-suh). She was widely worshipped, but in modern times she is associated primarily with Athens, to which she gave her name. London: Reaktion Books, 2013. However, other sources gave Scylla different parents. Lucan: The epic Civil War (60s CE) describes how the venomous vipers of the Sahara were born from Medusas blood (9.624ff). If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content. At the time of her death, no one knew that the creature was with child, one she hoped to raise with Poseidon. Of this, Ovid said, Now his hair and beard were changed into trees, his shoulders and hands into ridges. Artists of the Renaissance, including Titian, were also interested in the story of Perseus and Andromeda, and this subject gained popularity once again in the mid-19th century. Hesiod, Theogony 27475, trans. Gorgons, or Gorgones, were three winged daimones, or phantoms of Hades. Called Medousa (Medusa), Sthenmo and Euryale, only Medusa was mortal. 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. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has a terracotta jar created by Polygnotos that shows Perseus murdering her in her sleep. Thence, by Athenas curse anyone she looked upon turned to stone. [21], Perseus eventually gave Medusas head to Athena, who placed it on her breastplate or shield, called the aegis. Pindar, an early Greek poet who lived in the fifth century BCE, described Medusa as fair-cheeked.[7], In ancient art, Medusa was originally depicted as a hideous monster. 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. In addition to being snake-haired and winged, she was often pictured with fangs and a wide, menacing face. A lot of focus is put on the Renaissance when learning art history. Through Mortal Bloodlines, Perseus was the Great-Grandfather of Helen of Troy. Origin: Greek. WebThe Perseus Digital Library is a partner and supporter of Open Greek and Latin, an international collaboration committed to creating an open educational resource featuring Parthenon An Oracle of Delphi was a high priestess who served at the Temple of Apollo at the ancient site of Delphi. Today, many surviving bronze shields from ancient antiquity are carved with the Gorgons head as a warning for all who face the wielder. Gorgo. In A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. It is from the Perseus Constellation that we also see the Perseid Meteor Shower, which has been documented since 36 AD. He turned the king to stone. Perseus is a godly Greek hero (he was a son of Zeus) whose ancient name just might have modern possibilities along with other so-old-they're-new-again names such as Atticus and Orion. Privacy Policy, Marjorie J. Milne, "Perseus and Medusa on an Attic Vase,", http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DG%3Aentry+group%3D9%3Aentry%3Dgorgo-bio-1. The messenger god stepped in. Perseus took the beautiful woman with him back to Argos. The story behind the Medusa statue that has become the perfect 2. Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto. Medusa appeared in dozens of television shows and movies over the years. Here are just three great ones for you to use. The chief characters in the Perseus legend, Perseus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, and the sea monster (Cetus), all figure in the night sky as constellations. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.
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