Medusa (Μέδουσα, “guardian, protectress”) is one of the most recognizable figures in Greek mythology—a Gorgon monster with living venomous snakes for hair and a gaze that turns mortals to stone. Her tragic origin story and dramatic death at the hands of Perseus have made her an enduring symbol in art and literature.

Unlike her immortal sisters Stheno and Euryale, Medusa was mortal—the only one of the three Gorgons who could be killed. This vulnerability would prove her downfall, but her power would live on even after death, her severed head retaining its petrifying gaze.

In the most famous version of her origin, told by the Roman poet Ovid, Medusa was once a beautiful maiden—a priestess in Athena's temple renowned for her lovely hair. Her beauty attracted the attention of Poseidon, god of the sea, who violated her within Athena's sacred temple.

Rather than punish Poseidon, Athena transformed Medusa into a monster as punishment for desecrating her temple. Her beautiful hair became a nest of writhing serpents, and her face became so hideous that any mortal who looked upon it would be turned to stone.

This transformation has been interpreted many ways through the centuries—as a victim's tragedy, as divine protection (making Medusa untouchable), or as a cautionary tale about the jealousy of the gods.

The hero Perseus, son of Zeus and Danaë, was sent on what was meant to be a suicide mission: to bring back the head of Medusa. King Polydectes of Seriphos wanted Perseus dead so he could marry his mother.

But the gods favored Perseus. He received divine gifts to accomplish his quest:

• ⚔️ Harpe – An adamantine sword from Zeus
• 🛡️ Aegis – Athena's mirrored shield
• 👢 Winged Sandals – From Hermes for flight
• 🎒 Kibisis – A magic bag to safely carry the head
• 🧢 Cap of Hades – Granting invisibility

Perseus found the Gorgons sleeping. Using Athena's polished shield as a mirror to avoid her direct gaze, he approached Medusa and struck off her head with a single blow. From her severed neck sprang Pegasus, the winged horse, and Chrysaor, a giant wielding a golden sword—children of Poseidon she had carried since the temple.

Even in death, Medusa's head retained its power. Perseus used it to turn his enemies to stone, including the titan Atlas and King Polydectes. Eventually, he gave the head to Athena, who placed it upon her aegis—the divine shield that would protect her in battle.

The Gorgoneion—an image of Medusa's face—became one of the most powerful protective symbols in ancient Greece. It adorned shields, armor, temples, and doorways as a ward against evil. The symbol was so widespread that it appeared throughout the Mediterranean world.

Drops of blood from Medusa's head created different things depending on which direction they fell: the venomous snakes of Libya from blood that dripped on the desert, and coral from blood that fell into the sea.

Medusa has been reinterpreted countless times throughout history. Modern feminist scholars often view her as a symbol of female rage and the unjust treatment of women by patriarchal systems. Her transformation from victim to monster, and her eventual slaying by a male hero aided by other male gods, speaks to enduring themes of power, beauty, and victimization.

In contemporary culture, Medusa appears in films, video games, fashion (notably Versace's logo), and literature. Her image has evolved from pure monster to complex symbol—sometimes villain, sometimes victim, sometimes protector.