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Medusa was once a holy priestess for the temple of Athena until she and Posideonhad sex. In order to remain, she had to live a chalice life free from sex. Athena punishes her by turning her hair into snakes. Athena was also jealous of Medusa’s looks and when Posideon formicated with Medusa, Athena punishes Medusa and not Posideon. Medusa is then eventually slain by the hero Perseus. The myth of medusa has many interpretations ranging from historical, psychoanalysis interpretations, feminine, and even science. Medusa is also depicted in many arts.

Classical Myth

In a late version of the Medusa myth, by the Roman poet Ovid (Metamorphoses 4.794–803), Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden, but when Poseidon had sex with her in Minerva's (i.e. Athena's) temple, Athena punished Medusa by transforming her beautiful hair into horrible snakes. Medusa was once a priestist for Athena, and her responsibilities reguired that she didn't give in to sexual activity, her soul had to remain pure. having sex with the god poseidon was the highest sacrilege. [1] There is also mention that Athena was jealous Medusas hair, and when posidion partcipates in the act of fornication with Medusa , Posideion was not punished for sullying her sacred sanctuary instead Athena punished Medusa . [2]

In most versions of the myth, Medusa was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who was sent to fetch her head by King Polydectes of Seriphus because Polydectes intends to marry Perseus's mother. The gods were well aware of this, and Perseus received help. He received a mirrored shield from Athena, sandals with gold wings from Hermes, a sword from Hephaestus and Hades's helm of invisibility. Athena told Perseus to look at the reflection on the shield while heading towards Medusa so he could avoid being turned into stone. [3] There were wariors before Perseus and all failed, without the help of Athena, Perseus would of failed like the many berfore him.

In later traditions of the myth it was the Nymphs that gave Perseus the winged sandals, and a bag to store Medusa severed head. [4].It is athena who instructs the hero perseus to seek the Herispedes for they were intrusted with the important weapons needed for slaying Medusa. Nymphs in the later traditions are three myhstical woman who provide percseus with the powerful weapons for his quest. In the later tradition Hermes gives perseus a sickle to use for cutting off Medusa head and Athena gives Perseus a mirror so he can see Medusa reflection. [4]

Perseus then flew to Seriphos, where his mother was being forced into marriage with the king. Polydectes, who was turned into stone by the head of Medusa. Perseus then gave the Gorgon's head to Athena, who placed it on her shield, the Aegis. There is also one count were Percesius didnt give the head to Medusa but instead burried it in the markeplace of Argos. [5]

There is also mention of Hercules but not in great detail. It is said that Hercules obtained a lock of Medusas hair. He then gave the lock of hair to the daughter of Cepheus to protect the town of Tegea from attacks. [5]


Psychoanalysis:

Ferenczi wrote in his essay "On the Symbolism of the Head of Medusa" (1923) that Medusa head is a terrible symbol of the female genital region ,the many serpants signify the absence of a penis. [6]

In 1940, Sigmund Freud's "Das Medusenhaupt (Medusa's Head)" was published posthumously. Freud's interpretation: "To decapitate = to castrate. The terror of Medusa is thus a terror of castration that is linked to the sight of of something. Numerous analyses have made us familiar with the occasion for this: this occurs when a boy, who has hitherto been unwilling to believe the threat of castration, catches sight of the female genitals, probably those of an adult, surrounded by hair, and those of his mother." In this perspective the "ravishingly beautiful" Medusa (see above) is the mother remembered in innocence; before the mythic truth of castration dawns on the subject. Classic Medusa, in contrast, is an Oedipal/libidinous symptom. Looking at the forbidden mother (in her hair-covered genitals, so to speak) stiffens the subject in illicit desire and freezes him in terror of the Father's retribution.

Feminist:










Refrences

[edit]
  • Carroll, C. (2013). Mythology in art. Arts and Activities, 153(4), 19-21.
  • "Medusa." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 31 Jan. 2020.
  • Nardo, Don. Greek Mythology, Greenhaven Publishing LLC, 2012. [3]
  • Syropoulos, Spyros. A Bestiary of Monsters in Greek Mythology, Archaeopress, 2018. ProQuest Ebook Central
  • Spector, J. J. (1996). Medusa on the barricades. American Imago, 53(1), 25-51
  1. ^ Carroll, C (2013). "Mythology in art". Arts and Activities. 153: 19–21.
  2. ^ Olalquiaga, C (2018). "VITAL GORGON: CELESTE OLALQUIAGA ON MEDUSA". Artforum International. 57.
  3. ^ a b Don., Nardo, (2012). Greek Mythology. Greenhaven Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-4205-0949-6. OCLC 1056902904.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b Spyros, Syropoulos (2018). A Bestiary of Monsters in Greek Mythology. Archaeopress. p. 33. ISBN 9781784919511.
  5. ^ a b "Medusa | Myth & Story". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
  6. ^ Spector, Jack (1996). "Medusa on the barricades". American Imago. 53: 25–51.
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