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The first depiction of Medusa can be dated back from a poem by Homer as being part of the three gorgon sisters, Stheno and Euryale. Image Courtesy: pixabay.com. The reason for medusas plight was her unfaithfulness to the vow she made. While she may be known for her monstrosity, her beauty remains just as dangerous. The moving image artist will discuss her investigative practice and the implications of digital image proliferation, taking place via livestream and in Philadelphia. Feel free to correct me if Im wrong about anything! She was very lovely once, the hope of many An envious suitor, and of all her beauties Her hair most beautifulat least I heard so From one who claimed he had seen her. I aim to share everything I know about history on this blog, hope you enjoy reading too! I remember finding out one day that the name Medusa means protectress, and it makes me wish that someone had been able to protect her. Become a subscriber and support the site! It is said that medusa protects people from suffering what she suffered at the hands of Athena. For example, a sun and moon tattoo, which you can view as a coming together of opposites and a representation of two opposing forces. Athena is one of Poseidons sworn enemies, and through raping her sister, he is able to take power from her. The masculine part is the rigid, convinced, and hard-hearted aspect of us, while the feminine side is the tender, emotional, loving, and caring part of us. Modern feminism often uses Medusa as a symbol of their rage against the stigmatization of female sexuality. The answer you seek might just be around the corner. The earliest portrayals of Medusa show a grotesque part human, part animal creature with wings and boar-like tusks. Medusa was the only one of the three who could ever be killed. Medusa is a symbol of female power and a popular tattoo design that celebrates the womanhood of women. Today it is sometimes used as a symbol of Hellenic Neopaganism. Like the evil eye, the Medusa is an apotropaic symbol that protects from evil. While not the best source, Wikipedia seems to support your claim - it has images of her head used in gorgoneions. Medusa embodies menstruation's protective powers. Finally, shes a triple goddess. Hence, Medusa's tale has served as a metaphor for power and bravery, particularly for women who have experienced s*xual harassment. The consequence led to a lifetime of living beneath her powers. These later images may have lost the gaping mouth, sharp teeth, and beard, but they preserve the most striking quality of the Gorgon: the piercing and unflinching outward gaze.. In the myths, any mortal who set eyes upon it was immediately turned to stone. It was this sort of power dangerous, beautiful, and connected to women that both ancients and more modern people felt needed curtailing, oftentimes at the end of a sword. The labrys symbolism is found in Minoan, Thracian, Greek, and Byzantine religion, mythology, and art, dating from the Middle Bronze Age onwards. This was to ensure that no man will ever be able to look at her anymore. If you also desire wisdom and deep understanding, keep a medusa bracelet with you and mediate on it constantly. Her existence reflected on the behavior of men during ancient times in Greece and shows how much have we advanced since then. She has the divine ability to keep your mind sane as a female. On a 570 BCE terracotta stand, Medusa is comically hideous, and fully bearded, sticking out her tongue between two tusks. If humans werent so tempting then maybe most of the male gods wouldnt be serial rapists. As this article from the Atlantic puts it: "In Western culture, strong women have historically been imagined as threats requiring male conquest and control. To ensure your safety from spiritual attacks, try to keep a medusa symbol in front of your home. An early 1800s plaster cast from the studio of Antonio Canova showspreparation for the marble statue that now presides over the Mets European Sculpture Court. You should be fine if you worry about attracting her attention. It takes a high level of creativity to achieve this feat. The Medusa tattoo features a snake-haired young woman, representing the might of women. Medusa slept with Poseidon in Athena's temple knowing the consequences, but did it anyways therefore Athena was right about punishing her. Up to that point that was Medusa was known for a monster that had the ability to turn her victims into stone. The man was caught carrying Juanita in a food delivery backpack. The ability to be confident and proud of your gender stems from medusa. The labrys was formerly a symbol of Greek fascism. Zeus represented power, Hades represented fairness in death, but what did a mortal who turned into a monster, like Medusa, represent? This reminded me of how her story, despite it being one where she gets decapitated, has been reclaimed as of late by feminist scholars. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The complexity lies in how to represent her hair by art. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. They were described as being "winged With snakes for hair" and having a . The story of Medusa shifted over time along with her visage. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three monstrous sisters comprised of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Luciano Garbati's sculpture "Medusa With the Head of Perseus" was unveiled Tuesday in Lower Manhattan. Medusa is the only one who is mortal and that is why the hero Perseus is sent to slay her. She was a beautiful goddess and was desired by many. Different versions of a myth can grow in popularity, replacing others, and there ends up being no one singular original story. Answered, One Piece Won a Different Award at the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Than I Expected, and Im Delighted, Randall Parks Upcoming Film is Everything Ive Ever Wanted. In the original tale, Poseidon . Romans were part of the Greek world, and yes a Gorgon head was an apotropaic symbol in the broader Greek world too. She is the symbol of what female power looks like in the face of threatened male authority. The closest alternative to the evil eye bracelet is the medusas bracelet. One day Neptune Found her and raped her, in Minervas temple, And the goddess turned away, and hid her eyes Behind her shield, and, punishing the outrage As it deserved, she changed her hair to serpents, And even now, to frighten evil doers, She carries on her breastplate metal vipers To serve as awful warning of her vengeance.. I write about my spiritual experiences to help all those who go through the same. There are numerous images of Medusa in an almost angel-like state, or even once she had been cursed, images where the snakes in her hair function as more of an accessory rather than something fearsome. Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of Medusas story is that she was pregnant with Poseidons child when she was killed. Modern women and pagans realize just how powerful Medusa's story is and what it means to women, trans women, the downtrodden and oppressed today. Medusa is seen as a powerful symbol of female intelligence and wisdom, related to the goddess Metis . The archive, belonging to lawyer Linda Coffee, contains nearly 150 documents and letters related to the historic case. She turned anyone unlucky enough to stare directly at her face into stone. Instead of being seen as a monster, she is now depicted as a feminine Fatale. As a result, she symbolizes both death and rebirth. Ive seen a lot of variations of her myths that paint her as a vengeful monster, a symbol of feminine rage, or a protective one. As weve mentioned, the myth of Medusa can be interpreted in various ways, but I think perhaps the most fascinating analysis is done through a feminist perspective because it unveils just how swift we are to circumvent female rage. The Greeks loved to romanticize their culture in the form of Greek mythology and every character in it represented something about their culture. In this version of the story, it is said that Medusa was in the temple of Minvera and that one day Neptune, the god of the sea, found her and sexually assaulted her. Dangerous Beauty boldly mingles objects from across centuries in the compact exhibition. Now Medusa is now seen as a feminist icon as her ability to turn men into stone can be seen as a way to empower womxn; as Poet Percy Shelley writes about the snaked hair womxns powers as both being full of grace and terror. She was a monster in her story but her symbols were often used for the good of mankind however ironic it is to hear. Doniger claims that beheading equals the release or termination of sexuality, male or female. Doniger submits that through the sexualization of the female head, (i.e. People with great academic achievements are believed to be possessed with medusa. Shes been found on houses, tombs, walls of cities, and temples (including the famous example, the Temple of Artemis in Corfu, which is what my paper circles around). Medusa represents feminine power. She is the opposite of what Michael Foucault called, docile bodies. A concept in which women are expected to conform and submit to the enforced codes and structures of a patriarchal society. She is also known to ward off evil spirits from peoples environments. A 450440 BCE red figure pelike container is among the earliest depictions of Medusa as an innocent maiden, with Perseus creeping up on the sleeping Gorgon. The name Medusa means 'sovereign female wisdom,' 'guardian / protrectress,' 'the one who knows' or 'the one who rules.' It derives from the same Indo-European root as the Sanskrit Medha and the Greek Metis, meaning 'wisdom' and 'intelligence.' (1) Metis, 'the clever one', is Athena's mother. Therefore, anytime you see this image around (during a confusing situation), it is a sign that you should pay close attention to. She and Mars are Cupid's parents. Best Greek Mythology Tattoos And Their Meanings. She helps females to attain their primes and become who they choose to be. She has the power to make you spiritually active and sensitive again. Her representationthe Medusa Tattoohas long served as a symbol of protection from evil. An. If you have committed to accomplishing a task, stay true to it no matter what. Her expression is one of surprised, but unblinking, sorrow. They represent female power Medusa tattoos are a great way to express your feminine power and independence. To this moment, her beautiful face remains even with the snake on her head. In myth Medusa was the granddaughter of the earth (Gaia) and the ocean (Oceanus), a beautiful mortal Gorgon maiden sworn to celibacy to fulfill her duties as an attendant to Athena. The inclusion of Medusa in the center implies the protection of the goddess Athena, who wore the Gorgon's likeness on her aegis, as said above. Athena brandished Medusa's head on her shield similarly to why Ancient Greek soldiers brandished Phobos's face on their shields: to insight fear. The word means "protect, rule over" with Medusa meaning "guardian" or "protectress." Perseverance Some will get tattoos of Medusa's severed head, or Perseus holding it, as a representation of perseverance. It also speaks of the power to generate new ideas for accomplishing a given task. Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. I know you wrote this comment nearly a year ago, but Im actually writing a paper on this (which got me into Hellenism, but thats a whole other thing). During the late 20th century, feminists began to reassess the myth of Medusa. Her beauty and wisdom were her confidence and she was respected in the greek world of gods. Whether you see her as a monster or more of that, the fact is that Medusa slithering her way into being more than meets the eye. And rightly so. Many in Greek culture also link snakes to a womans menstruation cycle which relates to the cycle of life and death as well. Her symbols were a shield that frequently appeared above her head in ancient hieroglyphics which was why she was killed with a reflective shield in Greek mythology. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgoneion. It is said that everyone has a masculine and feminine self. As Elizabeth Johnston claims in her 2016 Atlantic essay, Medusa may be the original Nasty Woman. In 2020, it might be easy to chastise the women in the 90s who called Medusa the most horrific woman, but perhaps we would be better suited to remind ourselves just how recently things have begun to change. While the wild red locks of Edvard Munchs 1902 lithograph The Sin (Woman with Red Hair and Green Eyes), or Dante Gabriel Rossettis Lady Lilith (1867) with the Pre-Raphaelite subject brushing her long hair, are more of a stretch in the narrative, they reinforce the ongoing artistic portrayal of women as dangerous through their looks or power. Following the moment her head was removed, a Pegasus flew out of her body, representing the birth of beauty. The story of Medusa is such a famous Greek myth told in today's world, both to kids and adults alike. (1) The history behind the association is unclear. . Therefore, to enhance your intellectual power, try keeping an image of medusa around you. "Pegasus, poetry, was born of Medusa when her head was cut off." - Joseph Campbell. In recent years, Medusa has been reformed into a tragic figure who was slut-shamed and victim blamed, simply because punishing a male god (Neptune/Poseidon) would have been considered unthinkable. ), 7 Eye of Horus Spiritual Meanings: The Egyptian Third Eye. Well Medusa's dead, she was the only mortal gorgons. Our image of Medusa is one of pure evil, but in reality, she is raped and impregnated by her rapist. She argues that decapitation is not a symbol of castration anxiety, but rather a result of it. The beginning of the cycle represents an opportunity to bring in new life while the later parts represent the end of life. pic.twitter.com/u61VAuxhJ8. The Gorgon's head (or the head of Medusa) is a symbol of terror, death and divine magical power, in Greek mythology. From a feminist perspective, Medusas story seems a cautionary tale of the symbolic decapitation of women and a loss of ones power. Athena grows jealous, as many men flock to her, only to glance at Medusa instead. Black And Gray Tattoos. Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art continues through January 6, 2019 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, Manhattan). Simi is very passionate about talking about women of color in media, politics, and the arts. Terracotta two-handled funnel vase with Medusa head (Greek, South Italian, Apulian, Canosan, Early Hellenistic, late 4thearly 3rd century BCE), terracotta, height: 30 3/4 inches; diameter: 17 5/16 inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1906). Medusa is the perfect symbol of this". It might come as a surprise but the name Medusa actually means to protect and this actually reflects in the mythology. When it comes to medusa, we have several mixed stories; however, both stories affirm the fact that medusa was very beautiful. The myths and stories about medusa are true. Medusa was trending on Twitter in June because of an incredible statue image of Medusa sitting on her throne in all her glory. The god of the sea and of earthquakes, Poseidon had also some animals sacred to him. Eventually, Medusa attracts the attention of Poseidon, who subsequently rapes her. If she had not sworn an oath of celibacy, She might not suffer the grave consequences that befell her after Poseidon slept with her. In ancient Greece, women were usually accused of provoking men with their image or their personality and are usually blamed when anything happens to them. Google any famous womans name, perhaps Angela Merkel, Nancy Pelosi, or Hillary Clinton along with the word Medusa. For centuries women in power (or fighting for power) have been compared to Medusa, from Marie Antoinette to the suffragettes.Its clear in our society the sexually and intellectually independent woman is a fearsome sight to behold. Born of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, it is often forgotten that Medusa herself is a goddess of the sea. American Traditional Medusa Tattoos This week, a Black Southern quilt collection is donated to a Mississippi museum, the fascinating AI-generated ceramic glazes, a map of Italian Fascist monuments, and can clothing ever truly be recycled? This should be a lesson to learn. There is an alluring nature to Medusa, as she is both siren and saint she is the complicated woman we all understand and fear. In the Artemis temple of Corfu, Medusa is depicted in archaic form as a symbol of fertility with a belt of intertwined snakes on her body. Save. Well, let me tell you a secret. The phoenix is an important symbol of life, death, and rebirth and is a popular image to get tattooed because of its incredible meaning. Medusa's name derives from an ancient Greek verb that means "to protect and guard," which may be a nod to Athena's attempt to guard and protect Medusa from further abuse at the hands of Poseidon and other men. When the God of the Sea, Poseidon, was mesmerized by her beauty and forced himself onto her, she was clearly the victim here. For more often than not, shes depicted just as a severed head a visual that even has its own name,the Gorgoneion sculpted, painted, or carved being held aloft by her slayer Perseus. Medusa remains the. Because Medusa refuses a fate of silence and subjectivity, Perseus is left with no option but to decapitate Medusa for wielding her power. From the blood that . Still no matter her form or decapitation her gaze is never averted, looking directly at the viewer as an assertion of her horrifying power that cannot be completely subverted by beauty. She is also seen as a protective figure, and her head is often used as a symbol of strength and power. My name is Marlin Davis and I am passionate about history of all sorts. As Karoglou points out, the majority of hybrids (half-human, half-animal monsters like sirens or Gorgons) in ancient Greece were female. If you purchase something through our links, The Mary Sue may earn an affiliate commission., Have a tip we should know? What are your opinions on Medusa as a symbol of protection? No doubt to be the most commonly linked symbol of Medusa, the snake is a symbol of the Gorgon that represented many things. Passionate about spirituality, numerology and spiritual accounts. She represented the beauty of the female gender and advocated for it. Team Zutara forever. You will see this in movies like clash of the titans. It should help us to remain true to our words. Unfortunately, the Goddess Athena didnt see it that way and punished her because she couldnt punish the God for his defilement. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. This is a powerful combo to enjoy protection from the evil eye. The story has always been heavily discussed by classics scholars because of the very gendered image of Perseus cutting Medusas head off and the castration anxiety that became very popular around any type of chopping in psychoanalysis, especially after Sigmund Freuds Das Medusenhaupt (Medusas Head) was published in 1940 after his death. This extends to even monsters like Medusa which really showed us how the ancient Greeks viewed the things around them. She was killed by Zeusbefore he fought his father and the Titans for power. After all, we are in a post #MeToo moment, when we can clearly recognize Medusas myth as a rape narrative one in which the victim is blamed and cast out by her community for crimes perpetrated against her. Originally born in Weirton West Virginia she spent most of her life in Pittsburgh PA. Business, Economics, and Finance. Even after the curse was initiated, medusa still carries that energy for wisdom and deep understanding. She went against her vow and married him. Men are trash even in ancient greece, we been knew. If women venture to claim control over their heads, then they become a threat to the phallic, male-dominated structure. It also tells you to be confident in your physical looks. All three are originally described as having tusks, wings, and the infamously iconic snake hair. This message is meant to keep you alert at all times. To prove her loyalty, she swore an oath of celibacy to be committed to the temple of Athena for the rest of her life. Your email address will not be published. Medusas snakes were said to represent the cycle of life, rebirth, and death. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. From Freuds telling, the entire story takes place through the perspective of the man in the story, reducing Medusa to something sub-human. If men have Medusa in their dreams, according to Freud and Ferencai, it is the terrifying mother syndrome with a castration The mythological symbol of the head of the Medusa can be traced back to this devaluation and loathing, that is, the impression made . Additionally, the snakes in her hair can symbolize wisdom, healing, and . One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. Protection symbols are the specific signs that people use to safeguard against evil and negative energies, especially to have a strong spiritual and ritual impression in mind. I bought a Medusa pendant the minute Covid struck my area last March and have been wearing it since. If you ever find yourself in Sicily, you will see the Trinacria being sold in all forms: magnets, key chains, pins, postcards and most stunning of all: ceramic Trinacria plaques that are hand-crafted by local artisans. Cixous emphasizes the importance of the female voice, of womens story, she urges women to urgently learn to speak; because after all a woman without a body, dumb, blind, cant possibly be a good fighter. Herein, we see Medusas head, cut from her body, being held up by Perseus, she is reduced to being the servant of the militant male, his shadow. In what insidious ways are women made to be in a mans shadow? Her gaze became an omen of protection, the snake on her hair became an omen of wisdom, and she is revered all over the world. The labrys also appears in African religious symbolism and mythology (see Shango). I know it has a name but I can't think of it. Medusa is so alluring to us, because she is the image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness. She is seductive to us in her contemporary application and dimensionality. It is also given to help you keep your secrets to yourself, thereby avoiding betrayal. Worth looking into it, if youre curious. It means that medusa can encourage men to embrace their feminine selves. Pharaohs would often be entombed wearing Wadjet amulets, and it was intended to protect them in the afterlife and ward off evil forces. Medusas story showed us the representation of women in ancient Greek society and how people viewed them. The first depiction of Medusa can be dated back from a poem by Homer as being part of the three gorgon sisters, Stheno and Euryale. The phallocentric understanding of Medusa that attempts to claim her as an erotic object denies her of her full power of speech, thought, and importance. Texas Zero Property Tax Bill Has Extreme, Discriminatory Catches, Eurovision 2023 Tickets Announced on Ticketmaster, Celebrating Womens History With Qiu Jin, Chinese Revolutionary, The Penguin Tells a Batverse Scarface Story. She is then cast out and cursed by her own sister. Medusa's visage has since been adopted by many women as a symbol of female rage; one of the first publications to express this idea was a feminist journal called Women: . I almost got a Medusa pendent myself but I just never ended up getting one. She wants you to deliberately watch the things you say. She was cold, calculated, and terrifying. 11 Spiritual Meanings, Medusa Spiritual Meaning: 11 Spiritual Messages, 10) Everything is turning out to your good. Cixous disagrees with this analysis. She was no longer depicted as a monster like it was written in the stories about her. The Hamsa is a talisman from the ancient Middle East. To become confident in your feminine gender, you should try keeping medusas image with you. Early Greek and English authors also said that Athena was the help Perseus had to behead Medusa. The Gorgon as a symbol of protection TW: Mention of r*pe. As she became more and more attractive, Medusa's allure became a symbol of her power in the world, a might that was often distinctly feminine. She has a stern stare that prevents evil people from glancing at you with their jealous stare. Some people tend to connect Medusas story with self-reflection and link Medusa to the darkest parts of ones soul. What medusa suffered is enough to make her insignificant in the world of spirituality. The Gorgon, Medusa, was a monster in Greek mythology but everything in Greek mythology always represented something in the real world. She was also a ward of sorts for the Greeks to protect themselves against the negativity in life. Across the internet, this sculpture has become a symbol of feminine rage for women fighting back against male oppression and, in a way, Medusa is the perfect face for the feminist movement: a woman who had her bodily autonomy taken from her, was cursed, forced to live a life she did not choose, but yet was still immensely powerful. Her snakes have also made her one of the most popular characters from Greek mythology, with her modern depictions being widely used in modern media. Installation view of Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (photo by the author for Hyperallergic), Terracotta pelike (jar) with Perseus beheading the sleeping Medusa, attributed to Polygnotos (Greek, 450440 BCE), terracotta, height: 18 13/16 inches, diameter: 13 1/2 inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1945), Madeleine Glennonin a 2017 essay on Medusa in Ancient Greek Artfor the Met notes thatClassical and Hellenistic images of Medusa are more human, but she retains a sense of the unknown through specific supernatural details such as wings and snakes.