Greek mythology perseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorgon medusa and the rescuer of andromeda from a sea monster. In ancient greek mythology, medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters, known as the gorgons. Unfortunately, medusa was very proud of her beauty and thought or spoke of little else. Clash of the titans the most recent hollywood production loosely based on the story of perseus. Medusa was one of three sisters born to phorcys and ceto known as the gorgons. This spring, the movie heroes of true mythic proportions are those.
According to hesiods theogony, the gorgons were the sisters of the graiai and lived in the utmost place towards the night by the hesperides beyond oceanus. Wilk begins by refamiliarizing readers with the story through ancient authors and classical. In both greek and roman mythology, perseus, attempting to rescue his mother danae from the coercive king polydectes, needed to embark on the dangerous venture of retrieving medusa s head. Choose from 121 different sets of medusa mythology exam flashcards on quizlet. Medusa greek mythology up to 20 books are listed, in descending order of popularity at this site. In ovids recounting, medusa was raped by poseidon in athenas temple, and athena, angered by her temples desecration, turned medusa s hair into serpents. Ovids description of medusa in metamorphoses in book 4. He also describes the musical contest between apollo and pan and the parentage of achilles. Read on, if you dare greek myths short for mythology are a series of stories about the gods and magical beings of greece. Books about medusa greek mythology what should i read next register for free to build your own book lists. Long after many other figures from greek myth have been forgotten, she continues to live in popular culture. According to hesiod and aeschylus, she lived and died on an island named sarpedon, somewhere near cisthene.
Medusa is best known as the monstrous creature of greek myth, maligned and hideous, with snakes for hair and the power to turn people to stone with a single look. For medusa was pregnant at the time of her death, her two unborn children, chrysaor and pegasus, sprang from her blood. These sisters comprised a race of monsters known as gorgons and medusa was the only one of them that could be killed, she was said to be able to turn people to stone with a glance. There may be questions on the exam that are not covered in the study guide but do fit within the parameters of the exams theme. In greek mythology, medusa was a monster, a gorgon, generally described as a winged human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair. A visual dictionary with entries and more than 600 fine art images. Books about medusa greek mythology what should i read. Medusa is known as a monster, but what led a beautiful and faithful servant girl to turn into a snake monster. The study guide posted below is intended to help students prepare for the exam.
The pythia smiled knowingly through the swirling vapours that rose from the chasm below. Medusa is a direct contrast to the many beautiful characters adonis, narcissus who appear throughout the tales. She is famed for her snakelike hair and her gaze, which turns those who look at her to stone. The story of perseus and medusa is a classic quest. At the start of book xi, ovid tells the story of the murder of the famed musician orpheus. Medusa is one of the more unusual divine figures of ancient greece mythology one of a trio of gorgon sisters, medusa was the only sister who was not immortal. The hunt for medusas head 2008 to the trojan horse. Pegasus, symbolizes her mothers gentleness and beauty. With the help of athena and hermes magic winged sandals, a cap, a pouch and a mirrorlike shield, he fought her and beheaded her by viewing her image in the. The story of medusa zeus, hera and little io greek. Medusa was asleep and perseus, using the reflection in athenas bronze shield as a guide so as to not look directly at the gorgons and be turned into stone, managed to cut off her head with his sickle. Later authors such as herodotus and pausanias place the gorgons abode in libya. Her story has been told and retold by ancient and modern storytellers, writers, and artists. This is a great source for all things ancient greek.
In the british writer iris murdochs novel a severed head 1961, the heroine is. Medusa has been treated very poorly throughout mythology. He was, alongside cadmus and bellerophon, the greatest greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of heracles. While medusa is known to be one of the most famous monsters in greek mythology, there is relatively little that is recorded of her existence before she was beheaded by perseus. But after a school field trip she becomes a hero by helping save her. The hunt for medusas head a greek myth graphic myths and legends kindle edition by paul d. The hunt for medusas head a greek myth graphic myths and legends only left in stock more on the way. To ask other readers questions about medusa, a love story, please sign up. The hunt for medusas head a greek myth and millions of other books. The goddess became angry, and changed medusa into a monster with snakes for hair.
For more ideas and helpful downloads, read our create a myth or legend sheet. The story of ceyx, a son of the sun god is a love story with an unhappy ending made more tolerable by the metamorphoses of the loving husband and wife into birds. Medusa was a gods and goddessesvictim, just like every nymph and mortal female in the greek mythology. These stories address the roots and themes of medusas story in widely different ways, but each gives the woman of the myth a more. Embossed, metal plaque from 1911 featuring medusa sailko cc bysa 3.
The fall of troy 2007, lerners graphic universe offers a series of graphic novel retellings of wellknown adventures that will captivate comicbook fans gr 69. Most sources describe her as the daughter of phorcys and ceto, though the author hyginus makes her the daughter of gorgon and ceto. Most of what we know of medusa comes from her short time serving in athenas temple and the way in which her head was used after she was beheaded by perseus. Medusa, the gorgon, who turns those who gaze upon her to stone, is one of the most popular and enduring figures of greek mythology. The miniaturist authors second childrens novel, medusa, will be published in october 2020 as a hardback gift edition by bloomsbury childrens books. The myth of perseus and medusa is one of the best thrillerlike tales in greek mythology with a promising plot that gets more complicated as the story progresses, this myth has a typical hollywoodlike scenario with the main character not being born yet at the moment when his destiny was determined. Long after many other figures from greek myth have been forgotten, she continues. Greek legends and myths medusa in greek mythology arguably medusa is the most famous villainess and monster of greek mythology, for medusa was the monster with hair of snakes and a stony gaze encountered by the hero perseus. The latin poet ovid writes in book iv of his metamorphoses that poseidon attacked medusa in the temple of athena. He beheaded the gorgon medusa for polydectes and saved andromeda from the sea monster cetus.
Can you rewrite a famous myth from the viewpoint of the monster. And ended up like a hideous monster that had venomous snakes for hair and could turn any man to stone by just looking into their eyes. Medusa was a monster from greek mythology that was one of the three sisters including euryale and stheno. Ive had quite a few people ask for more myths, so here ya go. Clash of the titans the 1980s take on the myth of perseus.
Jessie burton will retell the medusa myth in an empowering ya title for bloomsbury exploring themes of toxic masculinity and the meaning of consent. Anwen kya hayward attempts the give medusa something better. Once upon a time, a long time ago there lived a beautiful maiden named medusa. In greek mythology, medusa was a monster, a gorgon, generally described as a winged. One of the most popular beings from greek mythology is not even a god or a monster. Medusa, in greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as. Check out these ghastly greek myths from the time of the ancient greeks. Discover the myths about the ancient gods, goddesses, demigods and heroes and the terrifying monsters and creatures they encountered on their perilous journeys and quests. We bet you know lots of quest stories, like the lord of the rings, where frodo leaves the shire on a mission to dump the one ring into mount doom, and then returns home again when hes. Medusa jones by ross collins is a funny book incorporated with some greek mythology. The 2ndcentury bce novelist dionysios skytobrachion puts her some.
How did medusa feel about having snakes on her head and perseus coming to slay her. Strangely enough, medusa s story doesnt end with her death. Unlocking its secrets, claiming its power by mary valentis and anne devane notes that when. Such stories serve as a doorway to enter the world of the ancient greeks and romans. She was eventually taken down by perseus, who uses a mirror as he fights her so he. How did the minotaur feel about being trapped in a maze by king minos. Around 8 ad, ovida roman poet celebrated for his faithful retelling of popular greek mythsproduced his famous metamorphoses, an expansive book of myths which includes the myth of perseus and his slaying of medusa. Medusa jones is a girl in rome very unpopular because of her hair, doesnt fit in and gets picked on everyday at school. The short mythical story of medusa is one of the famous legends that feature in the mythology of ancient civilizations. Perseus was the son of danae, daughter of acrisius the king of argos, and zeus. As i read this book, i looked up a little of the greek mythology surrounding.
In this section of the book, ovid gives a completely different origin story for the terrifying creature. The legend of perseus beheading medusa means, specifically, that the hellenes overran the goddesss chief. She was a very kind and she obeyed her greek gods and goddesses. Recounts the story of the serpenthaired creature whose gaze turned people to. In this story, as in other tales of heroes, the greek myths become adventure tales with unforgettable drama, high stakes, and imaginative characters. The legends of ancient greece, rome and the norse and celtic worlds. In the oldest greek mythological tales, there were three gorgons, of which medusa was but one. In this fascinating study of the legend of medusa, stephen r. As the author of this interesting new book demonstrates, the gorgon was not. The tale of medusa in greek mythology can be called nothing more than a tragedy, in my opinion. Arguably medusa is the most famous villainess and monster of greek mythology, for medusa was the monster with hair of snakes and a stony gaze encountered by the hero perseus. Learn medusa mythology exam with free interactive flashcards.
The legend of medusa and perseus the full myth of perseus and medusa begins years before they battled. Medusa, in greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as gorgons. The legend of medusa as we all probably know medusa started off as a beautiful girl with beautiful golden curly hair. The story of medusa and the greek goddess athena a myth submitted to the site by shainuja many years ago there was a beautiful women called medusa. The legend of medusa and the gorgons the dreamtime legend of the three sisters and petrification in ancient mythology top image. Text only version acrisius eyes widened in horror as the ancient pythia priestess hissed, king of argos, listen well.
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