I've read a good many mythology books, and searched online..yet...I cannot find the answer...I've been reading myths since I was 8..and well..this has perplexed me for the time being.
2006-06-19 18:41:35 · 4 answers · asked by kitiy_mew_mew 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Serpentine hair sets Medusa apart
Appearance: Usually only her head is shown, a broad round face sometimes showing tusks, with hair made of writhing snakes.
Symbol or Attribute: Her gaze which can turn observers into stone, and the hair-snakes.
Strengths: Can stop anything in its tracks.
Weaknesses: Her severed head will turn anything into stone, including those who see it by accident.
Birthplace: Not known.
Family: One of a trio of Gorgon sisters, Medusa was the only one who was not immortal. The other two sisters were Stheno and Euryale. Gaia is sometimes said to be the mother of Medusa.
Spouse: Generally considered unmarried, though she did lie with Poseidon, and one account of her myth indicates the hero Perseus was her husband as well as her slayer.
Children: Pegasus, the winged horse, was said to have sprung from her severed head, along with Chrsaor, the hero of the golden sword.
Some Major Temple Sites: In modern times, her carved image adorns a rock off the coast of the popular Red Beach outside of Matala, Crete.
Basic Story: The hero Perseus, instructed by Athena, seeks Medusa's head.
Athena tells him to only look at Medusa's reflection in his highly-polished shield. He obeys and succeeds in lopping off her head, which still retained its power to turn people into stone. An image of this head was placed on Athena's own aegis (breastplate) or shown on her shield.
Interesting Fact: While Medusa is usually considered to be ugly, one myth states that it was her great beauty that paralyzed all observers.
2006-06-19 18:51:08 · answer #1 · answered by The Answer Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It happened when she was raped by Perseus in Athena's temple and Athena became angered and turned her into the ugly snake headed Gorgon we know and love. She turned her from an Amazonian Princess into the Goddess of Death (who of course must be mortal).
2006-06-19 19:09:44 · answer #2 · answered by Gillian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once again, it demonstrates how women get the short end of the stick in the workplace.
2006-06-19 18:44:54 · answer #3 · answered by jedimastercurtis 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe it's because she was once a beautiful woman (who was not immortal) and she was cursed with ugliness. That is my guess.
2006-06-19 18:45:37 · answer #4 · answered by dmc81076 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋