Medusa

Medusa was one of three creatures in Greek mythology known as Gorgons. Gorgons were hideous monsters, and Medusa was no exception. Her hair was made of snakes, and her face was so deadly that any person who looked directly at her would immediately be turned to stone.

In ancient mythology, Medusa is best known for her death. Medusa was not immortal, even though she possessed unusual powers. Anyone who went against Medusa usually died. This would not be the case for the Greek hero Perseus.

Perseus was called upon by his king to bring him the head of Medusa. The king did not like Perseus and felt he was sending the young man off to certain death. However, the goddess Athena approved of Perseus and offered to help him survive the encounter with the Gorgon. Athena gave him three gifts: a sickle, a cap of invisibility, and sandals with wings. He took his own shield with him, which he polished until he could see his reflection. This way he could look at Medusa’s reflection rather than look directly at her and turn to stone.

Using the gifts he was given by Athena and his own shield, Perseus was able to behead Medusa, ending her life. He placed her head in a bag and then used the winged sandals to escape from her two sisters. Perseus was not finished, though. He showed the head of Medusa to the king who had sent him on the death mission and, using the head, turned the evil ruler into stone. To thank Athena for her help, he gave the head to the goddess to use as she saw fit. However, Medusa’s legend does not end with her death. Drops of her blood would later become her two sons, and so the legend of the Gorgon sister continued on in mythology.