Medusa_Watkins

__**Medusa** __

Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale were 3 gorgons born to Ceto and Phorcys. Medusa was the only gorgon born with mortality. A gorgon is known as a terrifying female creature with ugly, scary features. It is said that if you looked at Medusa or her sisters they could turn people to solid stone.
 * Origins:**

Although there are many stories questioning the way Medusa became so ugly the most common was that Athena was jealous of her beauty. Athena felt she was robbed of her beauty and turned Medusa into a hideous beast. Medusa’s golden curly hair was replaced with snakes and serpents. Other greek mythologists say that Athena caught Medusa and Poseidon in her temple and got jealous and turned her into a monster. Another interpretation would be that Medusa was raped by Poseidon in Athena’s temple. Medusa being victim, is still punished by Athena. It was said that Athena's reasoning behind Medusa’s ugliness was that she was trying to get Medusa to look like a dead corpse so no man would ever touch her again.
 * Myths:**

Medusa was then later killed by Perseus with the help of Athena and Hermes. Perseus was sent to kill Medusa by King Polydectes. He used a bronze shield from Athena to block himself from seeing Medusa’s face so he would not turn to stone. He also used winged sandals form Hermes. Perseus beheaded her and gave her head to Athena who looked at it as a trophy. The grave of Medusa is said to have thousands of stone people who accidentally caught sight of her and turned to stone. = media type="youtube" key="klPfY-KsMjI" width="420" height="349" = Hair of snakes, wings of bronze, brazen hands,long tongue, extravagant tusks that stuck out from her huge mouth.
 * Appearance:**

Medusa has showed up in several modern day films such as //Clash of the Titans// (both the old version and the remake). The movie //The Gorgon// is based off of her and her 2 sisters. She has been refrenced in video games as well as songs. Here is a link to a clip from //Clash of the Titans//. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg5TZqJvG6M Many philosophers characterize Medusa as personification of female power, wisdom, creativity and rage. It was also said that Medusa represented the fear of death.
 * Modern Day:**
 * Importance:**

As said by Marjorie Garber and Nancy J. Vickers in their book //Medusa//, "What is most compelling in the long history of the myth and its retellings is Medusa's intrinsic doubleness: at once monster and beauty, disease and cure, poison and remedy. The woman with snaky locks who could turn the unwary into stone has come to stand for all that is obdurate and irresistible."

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