Greek Vision Original Version
Medusa, Bernini (1630)The original version of Medusa's tale makes no mention as to the apparently absurd treatment she faces. This is due to ancient Greece's views on female-male relations. Medusa's beauty is seen as the cause of the crime perpetuated by Poseidon. Therefore, Athena punishes Medusa by disfiguring this beauty: her beautiful golden hair is transformed into a bundle of horrendous snakes. Simply by gazing at Medusa, a man can be turned into stone.
This undercurrent of misogyny traces its roots to the story of Pandora, another Greek mythological tale. In it, men lived in peace and harmony until the first woman in the world, Pandora, arrived. As we commonly know, Pandora opened the box she was not supposed to and brought out literally every single bad thing into the world. Such was the view of the woman - the destruction of the world. This underlying belief fuels the decisions of the gods, which in reality are tools for whomever may employ them to echo his beliefs in a manner which cannot be contradicted nor contested. Canova, Perseus with head of Medusa (1790) |
Ovid's Metamorphoses indicates that Medusa was born a beautiful woman, and was raped by Poseidon in Athena's temple. Upon learning of this, Athena became enraged, and punished Medusa by transforming her into a hideous creature with snakes for hair. She was made so terrible that anyone who looked at her would immediately be turned into stone.
Several years after being transformed, King Polydectes sent a man named Perseus to murder her. With the help of Athena and other gods, Perseus traveled to her place and ended her via decapitation. He made sure to avoid her petrifying gaze by using a reflective shield. From the blood of her neck sprang Pegasus, a white flying horse, and Chysaor, a giant. Upon the completion of his task, Perseus returned her severed head to Athena, whom placed it on her shield, so that with its help she may petrify her enemies. The shield is called Aegis and has claimed many lives in battle. Excerpt from Metamorphoses“Because, O Stranger, it is your desire |