The Story Of Medusa

Once upon a time, a long time ago there lived a beautiful girl named Medusa. Medusa lived in Athens, Greece. Although there were many pretty girls in the city, Medusa was labeled the most lovely.
Unfortunately, Medusa was very proud of her beauty. She thought or spoke of nothing else. She was as selfish and bratty as she was beautiful. She was quite beautiful. Each day she boasted of how pretty she was and each day her comments became more outrageous. **
On Sunday, Medusa bragged to the miller that her skin was more beautiful than fresh fallen snow. On Monday, she told the cobbler that her hair glowed brighter than the sun. On Tuesday, she commented to the blacksmith’s son that her eyes were greener than the Aegean Sea. On Wednesday,

That you are.”
When she wasn’t busy sharing her thoughts about her beauty with everyone, Medusa would gaze lovingly at her reflection in the mirror. She admired herself in her hand mirror for hours every morning as she brushed her hair. She admired herself in her tinted window for hours each evening as she got ready for bed. She even stopped to admire herself in the well each afternoon as she drew water for her father's horses -- usually forgetting to grab the water in her distraction.
On and on Medusa talked about her beauty to anyone and everyone who stopped long enough to hear her -- until one day when she made her first visit to the Parthenon with her friends. The Parthenon was the largest temple to goddess Athena in all the land. It was decorated with amazing sculptures and paintings. Anyone who entered was awed by the beauty and intricacy of the place. They couldn’t help but think of how grateful they were to Athena, goddess of wisdom, for inspiring them and for watching over their city... Athens. Everyone, that is, except Medusa.

“Afternoon…” the second hissed. The third just sat there and laughed at her. “You really are hideous aren’t you?” The third teased. Medusa hissed and punched one of her snakes square in the face. “I’ll get you Athena...just you wait!” she screamed. She broke the beautiful gold rimmed mirror in her pocket and all the mirrors in the sister’s house. She practiced combat and she learned to transform into a human. She turned many enemies to stone. **
One day, she was about to steal from the god zeus when appeared Athena. “You have killed way too many. You must pay!” Athena scolded. “Hmm….no thanks, it is your turn to learn a lesson...Goddess.”
Medusa forgot she could only see Athena through a reflection so when she gave her “eye contact” Athena had moved to a different reflector.
Medusa slowed and her feet, her legs, her arms, everything began to become stone. “No!” she screamed as she froze up.
Athena grew a smile and as soon as a person walked in, Medusa was gone. **
Medusa was put in the temple to represent Athena’s revenge and for saving the city again. Athens was safe. Nobody ever saw Athena or Medusa ever