Greek Mythology and Medusa - 2709 Words

Medusa Medusa, the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto is a famous gorgon in Greek Mythology. Medusa, who represented female wisdom, was the eldest of two other Gorgon sisters, Stheino, who represented strength, and the last sister, Euryale as universality. Medusa was the mortal one of the sisters. She was known originally for being a beautiful young maiden, her loveliest feature being her long gorgeous hair. She was a virgin, and she was raped by Poseidon, Lord of the Sea, while she had been worshipping in the temple of the Goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. Athena was enraged about this happening in her temple. She blamed Medusa for this sacrilegious act and punished Medusa by taking her beauty away from her and turning her into a†¦show more content†¦It was she who guided and instructed him throughout his journey and slaying. Since the myth symbolized the usurping of her powerful roots in a culture where she and Medusa were one, it is appropriate that only she would know the secrets to find and defeat the Gorgon, Medusa.† (The Greek Myth, Pg. 141) Medusa means, â€Å"Sovereign female wisdom.† Her ancient, widely recognized symbol of female wisdom was her threatening mask. The face that had unblinking eyes. All seeing eyes that see through every person, penetrating their illusions and looking into the abyss of truth. Her mouth is deathly looking. It is devouring of all the lives of men. Her tongue protrudes like snakes and her face is surrounded by a halo of spiraling, serpentine hair which symbolized the great cycles and her serpent wisdom. Horns coming out of her head that were meant to scare men. Birds appear on her head and shoulder, signifying her generative as well as death wielding powers of her dark, crone aspect. They also represent the heavens of the sky. Snakes coil around her arms, legs or are entwined in her hair and are shown whispering into her ear. The serpent is a totem of the cycles of life, death, and rebirth and the seasons. It is the connection to the fertile earth and to the underworld. It also symbolizes immortality as it was thought to shed its skin indefinitely. The serpent is also an emblem of the ocean as the sea was known asShow MoreRelatedGreek Mythology And The Mythology850 Words   |  4 Pagesdepending on which part of the world an individual is in. The Greeks and Romans are both very polytheistic civilizations. They believe in a multitude of gods and creatures, and they have gods for fertility, elements, war, medicine, and a multitude of others. The mythology of these two cultures is exceedingly similar, although for those looking for a more interesting view on the subject, Greek mythology is far superior to Roman mythology. The time period in which mythological tales were told beganRead MoreDifferences Of Athena And Minerva801 Words   |  4 Pagesboth Greek and Roman civilizations, mythology played an important part in their empire’s success. Both of these civilizations were polytheistic religions. Likewise, they had major and minor gods and goddesses as part of their religion as well. However, since the Roman Empire conquered many cultures including the Greeks, their gods blended with many similarities with the gods that the Ancient Greeks worshipped. One goddess that is very similar in both Greek and Roman mythology is Athena (Greek) andRead MoreThe Mythology Of Greek Mythology978 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many different types of different creatures of Greek Mythology. There are Centaurs, Minotaur, Pegasus, Sirens, Medusa, and many more. These creatures can either be helpful to the Gods and Goddesses or they can work against them. Some of the creatures’ stories even intertwine with the stories of the Gods and Goddesses of Greek mythology. I will concentrate on the following creatures: Centaurs, Pegasus, Sirens, and Medusa. My favorite creatures out of all of these are the Sirens, becauseRead MoreGreek Mytholoical Monsters1029 Words   |  5 Pagesfoe he fights against. In Greek mythology, this process works the same way. The gods and goddesses of Greek mythology had many foes, usually being monsters. The monsters in Greek mythology were known to destroy people, damage different cities, or cause all kinds of havo c. The Gorgons, Lamia, and Hydra, are few of many monsters that were menaces to society. The Gorgons were possibly the most well-known of the Greek monsters. Originally Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, the daughters of ancientRead MoreThe Discovery Of Mars Bars1635 Words   |  7 Pagesconnection between Mars Bars and the god of war, Mars, creates a powerful and intimidating, yet attractive image of the snack. Source #2: PANDORA is a jewelry brand known for their charm bracelets and is an allusion to the first woman of Greek mythology, Pandora. Aphrodite, Apollo, and several other gods/goddesses bestowed gifts on Pandora, which means all-gifted. In their choice of name, PANDORA is saying their items embody various attractive characteristics, such as beauty. Although PandoraRead MoreAncient Greek Myths Of Tantalus, Medusa, Achilles, And Icarus1519 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom Greek mythology, and maybe they even have a favorite. These stories can have any number of different tellings, all with various tones, emotions, and purposes, depending on who wrote them and when they were created. What s most important to me, however, is not their exact replication, but the idea that these stories can be handed down from generation to generation and still hold relevance. I, nonetheless, do have favorites of my own; they are the ancient Greek myths of Tantalus, Medusa, AchillesRead MoreGreek Mythology Essay1491 Words   |  6 PagesGreek Mythology Odysseus, in Greek legend, a Greek hero, ruler of the island of Ithaca and one of the leaders of the Greek army during the Trojan War. Homers Odyssey recounts Odysseuss adventures and ultimate return home ten years after the fall of Troy. Initially, Odysseus was mentioned as the son of Laertes, king of Ithaca, although in later tradition Sisyphus, king of Corinth, was considered his real father, his mother having later married Laertes. At first Odysseus refused to accompany theRead MoreHistory of Perseus899 Words   |  4 Pageslives. These stories would form an important part of the culture’s religion and are referred to today as mythology. One great hero from ancient Greek mythology is Perseus. According to both ancient standards and today’s standards, Perseus would be seen as a great hero. The many actions that Perseus is said to have done in his adventures prove his heroism. Perseus was born to Danae and the Greek god Zeus. Acrisius, the father of Danae, was told by the oracle of Apollo that Danae’s son would killRead MoreAnalysis Of Prometheus, Pandora, And Io1400 Words   |  6 PagesAncient Greek mythology constantly has some type of relationship between the gods and mortals. The mortals might ask for the god’s help or may feel the wrath of a god in any myth. In the stories of Prometheus, Pandora, and Io, along with the story of Medusa, and Cassandra, the mortals end up suffering. In some of the myths, the mortals will do what the gods want, but would be punished. They might even have an affair with a god or goddess but only the mortal will be punished. This hardship and sufferingRead MoreGreek Myths And Its Impact On American Culture1155 Words   |  5 PagesGreek myths are stories that explain the meaning of life and teach moral lessons through the values of heroes, gods and mortals. In Ancient Greece, myths were an important part of the culture, first being told orally and in poems, then seen in architecture and theatre. Homer, the Greek poet, wrote epic poems such as the Iliad and the Odyssey, which are still revered and read extensively today. Greek myths have carried over to contemporary American culture, appearing in movies, children’s toys, clothing