Medusa, by Caravaggio (1592:1600)
In Greek mythology, Medusa was an extremely beautiful mortal woman well known for her cascading golden locks. She was even compared to the goddess Athena who was inflamed with jealousy as well as annoyed at this audacity. Medusa had many suitors whom she turned away disappointed. Poseidon, the god of the sea however, took things into his own hands and forced himself on her when she turned up at the temple of Athena to worship. Talk about irony.
Athena who had the fireworks ready was just waiting for a spark to set it off. This incident proved sufficient and she set out taking revenge. First she turned Medusa’s golden curls into serpents, and then her face into that of a hideous gorgon. She did such a good job of it that anyone who looked on that once stunning face would now be turned into pillars of stone by its repulsiveness.
Medusa in stone
Life as she knew it was soon denied her and Medusa retreated into seclusion in the company of two other gorgons Stheno and Euryale. She lived in a cavern littered with stone pillars.
Perseus with the Head of Medusa, by Benvenuto Cellini, installed 1554
Young Perseus was on a mission to save his mother and killing a gorgon was at the top of his to-do list. Now Medusa alone was a mortal among the three gorgons and so she was the automatic choice. The problem uppermost on his mind was not how to kill a gorgon, but how to do it without looking at her. The gods of course, chipped in with gadgets and advice. Athena gifted him a shield so he could see Medusa reflected off it and not have to look at her directly. Hermes gave him his winged footwear for speed, and Hades donated his helmet of invisibility so he could escape unseen. With all these aids at his disposal even Mr. Bean could’ve accomplished the mission, and Perseus with Athena’s guidance did just that.
As her head was chopped off her offspring conceived from Poseidon emerged from her trunk. These were the winged horse, Pegasus, and Chrysaor. Pegasus winged his way to Zeus in Olympus and was employed to carry his lightning bolts. Not much is known about Chrysaor who is supposed to be a giant. Perseus used Medusa’s head as a weapon in battles, for even in death it had the power to turn people into stone. He later presented it to Athena who may have finally been able to lay her insecurities to rest.