The Story of Medusa :: essays research papers

There are many variations of the story of Medusa. Yet, I limit this one moredetailed and precise. Medusa is apart of the chain of Greek Mythology, these stories, orlegends are not real and usually said to becharm a point across, or entertainment. Medusa likewiseshows the relationship the companionship had with women at that time. Medusa was a Gorgon, The Gorgons where three sisters, daughters of Phorcysand Ceto. Their names where Stethno, Euryale, and Medusa. Stethno and Euryale whereimmortal, further Medusa was a mortal. The three sisters where known to be so surly, ifanyone looked at them they would be killed instantly. Medusa was a Queen who reigned in the land some tritons in Libya. She used tobe a beautiful Maiden and Triton fell in love with her. Medusa, after her encounter withTriton, genus Athene, turned into an wretched woman with snakes as hair, and anyone that lookedupon her would turn into stone. Medusa had this spell cast upon her by Athena because,Medusa and Poseidon where caught sleeping together in one of Athenas temples. Athenathen became very angry and in her rage, turned Medusa into an ugly woman. Thus, as the story goes Perseus (the son of Andromeda and Zeus), is assigned toassassinate Medusa. He kills her by coming to her in her sleep, then using a mirror looksto see her face, careful not to look at her, he cuts her compass point off. The blood that splurgedfrom her neck made the country of Libya infested, because her blood turned into snakes. Itis also said that Heracles is said to have obtained a lock of Medusas hair, which possessedthe uniform power as her head, from Athena. He gave it to Sterope, the daughter ofCepheus, as protection for the townspeople of Tegea against attack. When exposed to view, thelock was supposed to bring on a storm, which fructify the enemy to flight.In my mind Medusa has many different typic qualities.