The Greek Religious mythology Hellenism

643 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Story of medusa in the words

Throughout the many stories in the Greek religious mythology Hellenism, which meant to teach lessons and explain how the world works, there are a vast number of characters. One that has become quite known today through the media, and even teachings in school, is the gorgon Medusa. The name gorgon is derived from the Greek word gorgos, meaning “fierce”, “terrible” or “dreadful”. A gorgon is traditionally a repulsive creature with an innate hatred towards men and the ability to turn people to stone with a single look into their eyes. Some stories even write that their ability extended to not just humans and other animals, but also plant life in the sea. Greek literature and art often depict the gorgons as having scaly skin, large talons, wings, and the tusks of a boar; even when these additional attributes are not present, Medusa and her sisters possess horrid visages framed by nests of live, venomous snakes. Among the three sisters, Medusa, Stheno and Euryale, only Medusa was mortal, and thus the only one able to die.
The first tales to circulate in ancient Greece about Medusa emphasized the terribleness of the gorgons, making them out to be evil creatures warring with men. Earlier myths tell that Medusa, Stheno and Euryale are the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, both sea deities that presided over and represented the dangers of the sea. The gorgons are a part of the collective group of sea monsters created as a result of the union between Phorcys and Ceto called Phorcydes that wreaked havoc on sailors and fishermen.
Another, more recent version of Medusa’s story sets her as once being a beautiful woman with shining hair and a beauty that many said rivaled Athena’s. She was a priestess/handmaiden in Athena’s temple. Poseidon, god ...

... middle of paper ...

...r virginity to anyone but the man she married, she would be socially “ruined”. Perseus later uses Medusa’s head to take revenge on King Atlass of Mauritania, who had not shown him hospitality in the past, and uses it as a weapon against the rest of his enemies, as her ability to turn life to stone remains even after death.

Works Cited

Atsma, Aaron J. "Perseus." PERSEUS : Hero ; Greek mythology ; pictures. 2000-2011. 26 Feb. 2014 .

Atsma, Aaron J. "Medusa & the Gorgones." MEDUSA & the GORGONS : Serpent-Haired Monsters Greek mythology, w/ pictures, Medousa, Gorgones. 2000-2011. 25 Feb. 2014 .

Kline, Anthony. "Book IV." Ovid: The Metamorphoses. 2000. Anthony Kline. 26 Feb. 2014 . Book IV: Perseus tells the story of Medusa

Show More
Related

  • Medea, by Euripides - Constructing Medea’s Compelling Persona

    1192 Words  | 3 Pages

    The use of offstage action is effective in constructing Medea’s authoritative persona. “Fe-oo! Fee-oo! Weep. Pity me.” These lamentations are passionate and emotional, exactly what many men of Ancient Greek society would expect of a woman. Suspense is built and the audience’s attention captured, focusing it on Medea and the moment of her on-stage arrival. However, when Medea does appear on stage she is calm and composed, dispelling the notion of a “wild woman”. “Ladies, Corinthians, I’m here./ Don’t think ill of me. Call others proud.” The Medea character has the power to command the audience through this presentation of her dual natures; she can be defined within the typical female gender role as emotional and passionate, yet she usurps masculine traits of rationality, resourcefulness and int...

    Read More

  • Perseus Killed Medusa Analysis

    301 Words  | 1 Pages

    Some explanations actually see Perseus and Medusa as being symbolic. Some claim that Perseus symbolized the reason and good in our souls and that Medusa symbolized the bad and evil desires that transform reason and wisdom to stone in people. They say that she was very ungodly. Because of that she served as a warning against people misusing the gifts that God graciously gives us or dishonoring God by our pride. Medusa was very proud of her beauty and especially her hair. As is explained in the myth, her hair got turned into snakes and she would turn anyone to stone

    Read More

  • The Greek Hero's Triumph Over Monsters

    1466 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every Greek myth with a hero in it has a monster or monsters that the hero must face at some point in the myth. “MONSTERS,…, were beings of unnatural proportions or parts, usually regarded with terror, as possessing immense strength and ferocity, which they employed for the injury and annoyance of men. […]”(Bullfinch). The monsters in the Greek myths are antagonists to the heroes and represent evil. An example of a Greek myth monster is, “… The Stymphalian Birds

    Read More

  • Monsters in Greek Mythology

    1641 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the most interesting qualities of Greek mythology is probably the depiction of monsters in the myths. However, these monsters are not all unique. In fact, they all fall into very distinct categories, making them almost the same. Most monsters in Greek mythology look and act in the same ways. Several monsters from these myths look the same in that they have very similar qualities such as being large, snake or human like. However, they are also very alike in that they behave in very similar ways, from guarding something or roaming freely and causing chaos. Generally, the monsters in Greek mythology follow this outline and are depicted in a way to show these qualities.

    Read More

  • Medus The Legend Of Myths And Culture In Greek History

    713 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to GreekMythology.com Medusa was originally a beautiful golden- haired girl who worked in Athena’s temple. Medusa made vows to the Goddess Athena, she would be devoted to Athena and live a life of celibacy but that all changed when the God Poseidon met Medusa, he wooed her and they ended up getting married. Infuriated that Medusa broke her vows she punished her by changing her wavy hair into venomous snakes, her gentle eyes being turned into blood-shot ones that would “excite” fear and disgust to anyone that would stare into them, and her skin which was once pale and fair turned into a greenish tinge. As time went on Medusa would be shunned because of her looks turning people into stone. Another version comes from theoi.com, where

    Read More

  • Archetypes Of Perseus

    813 Words  | 2 Pages

    This is until the brother of Dictys, Polydectes, who is king of the island desires Perseus’ mother as a bride, but does not want the baggage of her son. Therefore, he mentions to Perseus that he wants a Gorgon head more than anything, so when Perseus has nothing to give to the king he declares that he will bring back the head of Medusa. His first stop on his journey is at Delphi where he learns where the Gorgons are located. Then, he meets Athena , who gives him a shield to use as a mirror, so he does not turn to stone by looking directly at the Gorgons. Also, Hermes gives him a magic sword that can cut through anything, including Gorgon scales. He also helps Perseus by telling him how to trick the Gray women into telling him where the Hyperborean nymphs are by stealing their only eye when they are passing it to the the next person. The Hyperborean nymphs are the only creatures that know how to kill a Gorgon, and they help Perseus by giving him winged sandals, the cap of invisibility, and an expandable wallet that can hold anything of any size. Finally, Perseus reaches the Gorgons, and chops off medusa’s head while wearing the cap of invisibility and the winged sandals and looking into the shield as to not be turned to stone. Athena guides his sword and decapitates the sleeping Gorgon. He then puts the head into the wallet and starts his journey

    Read More

  • Greek Mythology In Smite

    1172 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, one of the characters the player can use is Medusa, and although Medusa is not a god, she is one of the most well-known mythological figures in Greek mythology. The lore in Smite addresses her as a “gorgon” and describes her as “hideous and fearful” with her hair made up of snakes, scaly skin and her trademark gaze that can petrify anyone, including Gods, into stone (Wiki Smite). It also mentions that she was once a beautiful, mortal priestess who worked for Athena, but her beauty and fairness had attracted Poseidon and he wanted her for himself and Medusa had returned Poseidon’s feelings. Unfortunately, this is what led to her ultimate fate as it was Medusa and Poseidon’s affair angered Athena, and she punished Medusa by cursing her and transforming her into the hideous gorgon she currently is in the game. When the player uses her, her slithering speed and petrifying gaze are emphasized as her strongest, most useful abilities, and according to the lore, her goal is to become the “fairest monster of them all” and destroy as much beauty as possible (Wiki Smite). In a way, to become the fairest monster of them all, is Medusa’s way of seeking ‘kleos’, because in becoming the fairest, she will gain her ‘kleos’ and a stronger reputation as a powerful

    Read More

  • medea

    455 Words  | 1 Pages

    The tragic play Medea is a struggle between reason and violence. Medea is deliberately portrayed as not a ‘normal woman’, but excessive in her passions. Medea is a torment to herself and to others; that is why Euripides shows her blazing her way through life leaving wreckage behind her. Euripides has presented Medea as a figure previously thought of exclusively as a male- hero. Her balance of character is a combination of the outstanding qualities of Achilles and Odysseus.

    Read More

  • Perseus Quest To Defeat Medusa

    348 Words  | 1 Pages

    The story of Perseus’ quest to defeat Medusa, is one of great peril. Following the birth of King Acrisius’ daughter Danaë, a priestess notified him that he would be killed by Danaë’s son. For fear of this, Acrisius trapped his daughter in a house of bronze to prevent her from having a child. This was ineffective and Danaë gave birth to Zeus’ son Perseus. When Acrisius discovered the child he was furious and locked Perseus and his Mother in a chest. The chest was cast into the sea. The two drifted until they came upon an island where the family lived for years. Polydectes, the king of the island, fell in love with Danaë and devised a plan to kill Perseus. His plan convinced Perseus to slay Medusa, a Gorgon, and give him the head as a wedding

    Read More

  • Perseus And Medusa Analysis

    867 Words  | 2 Pages

    The story of Perseus and Medusa begins when King Acrisius of Argos realizes that his daughter Danae is ripe for marriage. He dislikes this because he despises the idea of having a son-in-law. He decides to send a messenger to consult the oracle at Delphi, and the messenger returned with the prophecy that one day his grandson will kill him. Angry and fearful of this prophecy, he placed Danae in an impenetrable brass tower with a small slit serving as a window. Through this window, Zeus entered the tower as a blade of light and gave Danae a son, Perseus (Evslin and Hoffman 114). In another version, Acrisius locked up Danae in an underground prison made of bronze where Zeus entered as a shower of golden rain (Ancient History Encyclopedia). Still fearing the prophecy, Acrisius sent Danae and Perseus adrift at sea in a chest with the hope that they would meet misfortune. With the protection of the gods, Danae and Perseus drifted on to the shores of the island Seriphos, where a fisherman named Dictys found them and brought them to the King Polydectes. Polydectes immediately fell in love with Danae because of her beauty, and took her and her son under his care. Perseus grew into a strong and bold young man who was able to outdo every other man in their physical capabilities. Polydectes disapproved of this and viewed Perseus as an obstacle in his ultimate plan of marrying Danae against her will. Eager for any opportunity to remove Perseus, Polydectes sent Perseus on the impossible task of beheading the gorgon Medusa. He assumed

    Read More

  • Medusa Research Paper

    288 Words  | 1 Pages

    She is described as a human woman with a horrible face and venomous snakes as hair. Anyone who dared to look directly into her her eyes would turn to stone for the rest of eternity. She lived on an island named Sarpedon. The great Medusa was one of the Gorgon sisters and daughter of Phorkys and Keto, the children of Gaea and Oceanus.

    Read More

  • How Did Medusa Influence The Modern Day World

    1671 Words  | 4 Pages

    Medusa is a being widely known in Greek Mythology. Although she is best known for her monstrous looks, Medusa is also known for her act of destruction and her influence on the modern day world.

    Read More

  • Scylla A Greek Monster

    313 Words  | 1 Pages

    I have been assigned a Greek monster named Scylla which is known as an evil monster because she is evil with sailors that cross where she lives and destroys them and kills at least 6 sailors. She comes out in a Greek story of odysseus and becomes mean because of her jealousness. Because of her jealousness she became evil and ugly and converted her as a sea monster and is now known as a two dog headed creature and a long tail. Her known parents are Phorcys (dad) and Ceto (Mom). They myth is that she used to be a pretty cute young lady which everyone desired to have and couldn’t because she was to pretty for them. But now she lives in the water (sea) and is an evil mean woman that rages and attacks any sailor to cross her. She goes close to

    Read More

  • Greek Mythology Research Paper

    539 Words  | 2 Pages

    Have you ever wondered what Greek mythology is? Greek mythology is made up of creatures that the Greeks believed as gods and goddesses. There are crazy Gods like mormo who bites children that are bad, and mighty warriors. There are so many gods and goddesses with unique characteristics. For my social studies report I chose Mormo because he is one unique goddess. Mormo is a night romer that bites kids when they are bad. The three things he was said to do were, Biting children when they're bad, making allies with other witchcraft people, and is also used in stories nowadays to keep kids for misbehaving.

    Read More

  • Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy

    1096 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...eable quality in a woman is her beauty. In addition, Duffy makes the protagonist annihilate her husband even though in the original myth, Medusa was decapitated, thereby challenging the speculations that a characteristic of women is to be defend less and insubstantial, dating back to ancient times, by showing that women too are vengeful conquerors.

    Read More

More about The Greek Religious mythology Hellenism

Open Document