What is the Medusa head?
Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful.
What is Medusa a symbol of?
The most common interpretation of Medusa suggests she is an apotropaic symbol used to protect from and ward off the negative, much like the modern evil eye. She represents a dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil.
How many snakes are in Medusa’s head?
According to the mosaic below, eight, not including the two that seem to be curiously tied under her chin. The horrified look on Medusa’s face is from the realization that the snakes are pooping directly into her brain.
What is the story of Medusa?
Legend states that Medusa was once a beautiful, avowed priestess of Athena who was cursed for breaking her vow of celibacy. She turned Medusa into a hideous hag, making her hair into writhing snakes and her skin was turned a greenish hue. Anyone who locked gaze with Medusa was turned into stone.
Is DUSA a Medusa?
Dusa is a shade in the form of a floating, disembodied Gorgon’s head. She works as a maid in the House of Hades, constantly floating around and cleaning.
Is Medusa a god?
Most recognizable for her locks of snakes, Medusa was the daughter of ancient chthonic deities of the sea. She was born far across the ocean from Greece; Later contributing authors to Medusa’s myth placed her homeland as Libya.
What happens if a woman looks at Medusa?
Upon the realization that the myths are nothing more than a facade, women endow themselves with personal power. Cixous explains that if women do this, if they dare to “look at the Medusa straight on,” female explorations will result in the discovery that the Medusa “is not deadly, she’s beautiful and she’s laughing.”
What does Medusa symbolize spiritually?
Medusa’s symbolism is open to interpretation. Some popular theories include Medusa as a symbol of the powerlessness of women, evil, strength and a fighting spirit. She is also seen as a protective symbol due to her ability to destroy those against her.
What is Medusa’s nickname?
Basic Information
| Name | Medusa |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Medousa, Gorgon Medusa, Dussy, Medussssssa |
| Sex | Female |
| Current city | I refuse to release my current location. Some stupid hero might try to behead me (again). |
What bad things did Medusa do?
She was lovely, according to the poem—until she was raped in Athena’s temple by Poseidon. Athena then punished her for this violation, by turning her into the monstrous, stony-glanced creature that we know. Yes: punished for being raped. In classical sources, in fact, she’s not always monstrous.
Why did Athena punish Medusa?
If Athena were to hold Poseidon accountable for his transgressions against her, the goddess’ father, Zeus, would have to punish him. Athena knew that Poseidon lusted after Medusa, this was made evident by his ravishing her. So to get back at him, Athena cursed Medusa so that Poseidon couldn’t seduce him anymore.
How did Medusa become evil?
In a late version of the Medusa myth, by the Roman poet Ovid (Metamorphoses 4.794–803), Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden, but when Poseidon had sex with her in Minerva’s (i.e. Athena’s) temple, Athena punished Medusa by transforming her beautiful hair into horrible snakes.
Who is the author of Medusa’s head?
“Medusa’s Head” (Das Medusenhaupt, 1922), by Sigmund Freud, is a very short, posthumously published essay on the subject of the Medusa Myth.
Why does Medusa have hair on her head?
Analysis. The hair upon Medusa’s head is frequently represented in works of art in the form of snakes. Freud considered that, as penis symbols derived from the pubic hair, they serve to mitigate the horror of the complex, as a form of overcompensation. This sight of Medusa’s head makes the spectator stiff with terror, turns him to stone.
Why was Medusa’s head used as a defensive act?
Freud argued further that, because displaying the genitals (male and female) can be an apotropaic act – one aimed at intimidating and driving off the spectator – so too was the defensive use of Medusa’s head in classical Greece.