What did Medusa look like before she was turned?

Legend states that Medusa was once a beautiful, avowed priestess of Athena who was cursed for breaking her vow of celibacy. She turned Medusa into a hideous hag, making her hair into writhing snakes and her skin was turned a greenish hue.

What did Medusa look like as a human?

During this time, Medusa is depicted as a monster; she has a round face, wide eyes, a beard, and a gaping mouth with an extended tongue and gnashing, sharp teeth (39.11. 9). Medusa remains a popular image on later architectural components, but her form is more specifically human and female.

Who did Medusa worship?

One day, as Medusa was worshipping in a shrine of Athena, Poseidon surprised and ravaged her – an outrage against the sacred location.

What is Medusa’s real name?

In Greek mythology, Medusa (/mɪˈdjuːzə, -sə/; Ancient Greek: Μέδουσα “guardian, protectress”) also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair.

Is Medusa a victim or villain?

Medusa was raped by Poseidon, but instead of being defended by her patron goddess, Athena, she was punished for being raped. This makes Medusa a victim.

What was Medusa’s real name?

What happens if a woman looks at Medusa?

Upon the realization that the myths are nothing more than a facade, women endow themselves with personal power. Cixous explains that if women do this, if they dare to “look at the Medusa straight on,” female explorations will result in the discovery that the Medusa “is not deadly, she’s beautiful and she’s laughing.”

Why was Athena angry with Medusa?

Athena looked down in anger and cursed Medusa for betraying her. She was scared of her powers and angry at the gods for cursing her. She took her revenge on the men that were sent to kill her. Anybody who took one step on her island were marked now for death at the hands of the Gorgon Medusa.

Why did Athena punish Medusa?

Medusa. The Medusa we know was raped by Poseidon in the goddess Athena’s temple. Athena then punished her for desecrating her sacred space by cursing Medusa with a head full of snakes and a gaze that turns men to stone. Then, a heroic Perseus severed the serpent-headed Medusa, turning her into a trophy.

Why Athena cursed Medusa?

Ovid is credited with creating the Medusa cursed by Athena version of the myth, in response to a sexual encounter between Medusa and Poseidon in her temple, a punishment he states is “just and will deserved.” This of course dates from the Roman period.

Why was Medusa turned into a monster?

Medusa was a priestess in Athena \\’s temple. Poseidon raped Medusa iin the temple because Athena had been chosen to be the patron of Athens. He did this as an act of revenge to try and desecrate the temple. That is why Athena turned Medusa into a monster, so that a man could never hurt Medusa again.

Is Medusa good or bad?

While Medusa is usually considered to be ugly, one myth states that it was her great beauty, not her ugliness, that paralyzed all observers. Her “monstrous” form is believed by some scholars to represent a partially-decomposed human skull with teeth beginning to show through the decaying lips. The image of Medusa was thought to be protective.

How is Medusa in Greek mythology turned into a monster?

Chief of the Gorgons, Medusa was the serpent-headed monster of Greek mythology whose hideous appearance turned men into stone. Originally a fair maiden, she was violated by Poseidon in a temple of the goddess Athena, and Athena then punished her by transforming her into an ugly monster with snakes for hair.