The Myth of Medusa & the Greek

Goddess Athena

Interpretation of Medusa, after

being turned.

Following the beliefs of The Ancient

Greeks, years ago, was a ravishing
woman named Medusa. There were two
versions to the story, depending on the
teller who either favoured Athena or
favoured Medusa.
The first version of the story
emphasises how proud Medusa is of her
good looks. She boasted of her golden
locks that were brighter than the Sun,
skin as fresh as snow, lips redder than
the reddest rose, and eyes greener than
the Aegean sea. Whenever she wasnt
busy, she would be admiring herself in
the mirror for hours. One day, she and
her friends went to Parthenon, the
biggest temple in Greece. In the temple
was Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom
and war. She saw many statues of
Greek gods aligned, with Athenas
statue on an altar, as the centrepiece.
She spoke her thoughts aloud, saying
how the statue would be more
enchanting if it were a statue of her and
that she deserved the Parthenon
instead.
However, she did not realise that
priestesses to Athena heard and spread
the news like wildfire until it reached
Athenas ears. Athena was infuriated
and abhorred being compared to others.
Athena confronted her and told her how
ignorant she is to believe beauty is the
only virtue that matters. Athena then
cursed Medusa, turning her into a
terrible monster. Her skin as fair as
snow turned into scales, her golden

locks turned into snakes and made her

grotesque. Medusa looked so deformed
and hideous, anyone who looked
straight into her eyes would turn to
stone. This was very heart-rending for
Medusa as she could not have any
company and was sent to live with the
Gorgon sisters, the blind monsters.
In another version, those who favoured
Medusa believed her to be an obedient
priestess to Athena, and was very kind.
Just as the other version, Medusa was
extremely stunning, capturing the
hearts of many suitors. However, no
one could marry Medusa as she was
supposed
to be a
virgin from
love to be a
priestess to
Athena.

Statue of Poseidon, God of

the sea.

Unfortunately, Poseidon, God of the sea,

refused to respect Medusas vows and
was enraged when Medusa turned him
down in order to retain her purity. He
was not used to being turned down, nor
did anyone dare to. Releasing his anger,
he dishonoured Medusa by forcing
himself onto her, causing Medusa to
lose her purity as priestess.
Athena found out about this adulterated
act, not knowing Medusa fell victim to
Poseidon, she cursed Medusa and
Medusa was turned into a deformed
monster with
scales, snakes
as her hair and
face so ghastly,
it would turn
anyone who
looked at her
into stone.
Medusa was
never seen ever
since.
Statue of Athena, in
Greece.

Statue of Medusa.