![]() Hesiod writes that she had two sisters, also Gorgons, but only she had the power to turn people to stone (on the flip side of this she was also mortal, I guess you can’t have it all). However, considerably older Greek sources tell a very different story of Medusa. Ovid presumably built his retelling, where Medusa was a priestess of Athena, around this visual connection, through serpents. Many ancient Greek depictions of Athena show her with a serpent at her side, along with her owl, as well as the Gorgon’s face on her breastplate. Athena also had a symbolic connection to snakes, her only child Erechtheion was born as a serpent. It was said to have the power to strike fear into anyone who dared face Athena in battle, in a way imbuing Athena with the petrifying powers of Medusa. And now, to terrify her enemies, numbing them with fear, the goddess wears the snakes, that she created, as a breastplate” - Ovid, Metamorphosis, Book 4 lines 850-858īy making Medusa’s monstrosity Athena’s fault Ovid bound the women together, when in the older Greek versions Athena’s real connection to Medusa was her ownership of the Aegis. The Aegis was a breastplate worn by Athena, into which was carved the face of Medusa. So that it might not go unpunished, she changed the Gorgon’s hair to foul snakes. Jupiter’s daughter turned away, and hid her chaste eyes behind her aegis. They say that Neptune, lord of the seas, violated her in the temple of Minerva. Of all her beauties none was more admired than her hair: I came across a man who recalled having seen her. “ She was once most beautiful, and the jealous aspiration of many suitors. Ovid, writing in 8 AD, tells the Medusa story as In actual fact this is a retelling by Roman writer Ovid. ![]() However, this incarnation is not the Medusa of Greek mythology, as is often claimed. The Medusa referenced in this audio clip is the same version being referenced through the tattoos, a Medusa who was a victim of rape by Poseidon, and who was cursed into monstrosity by Athena. However, modern film and media very rarely tell the full story, and if you find yourself considering a Medusa tattoo or already wearing one, I’m sorry and I would encourage you to read on.įirst of all lets try not to look too deeply into their use of the word “tempt” as a cause of rape. If people take more comfort in the Roman interpretation, then of course take as much comfort as life offers. On the contrary, I’d like to explore why this image of Medusa being worn by a woman is actually, more accurate to Greek mythology than you’d think. Now, just to clarify, I am by no means saying that taking comfort in the image of Medusa as a survivor of sexual assault, is historically incorrect. ![]() A solid teardrop on the left side of the face symbolises a murder, a swallow symbolises time spent as a sailor, and within a new tradition, the face of Medusa symbolises surviving sexual assault or abuse. ![]() Since their conception, tattoos have been intended as a symbol on behalf of the wearer, through which life events, experiences, beliefs, and personality can be revealed to the world. TW: This article contains repeated discussions of sexual assault and violence.
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