What is the story of Medusa?

The best-known story of Medusa comes from the Roman poet Ovid. Medusa was seduced by Neptune (Poseidon) in a temple to Minerva (Athena), and in revenge, Minerva turned Medusa's beautiful head of hair into snakes. As she was both mortal and had the ability to turn men to stone, Perseus was sent to cut off her head. From her neck sprung Pegasus and Chrysaor. In the Greek tales, her head was then placed on Athena's aegis.

Is Medusa evil or good?

There are no stories that tell us of Medusa turning people to stone, nor any tales of her harassing or killing people (unlike other Greek monsters such as Scylla and Charybdis). Although she had the power to kill, she was not inherently evil.

What did Medusa do to get killed?

Medusa was the only mortal of the three Gorgons, with her sisters Stheno and Euryale both being immortal. Her head was Perseus' prize because she was the only one who could die.

Timeline: Medusa

Definition

Medusa is a figure from Greek mythology, the only mortal of the three Gorgons, along with her immortal sisters, Stheno and Euryale. The three Gorgons were born to the sea god of the dangers of the hidden deep, Phorcys, and the goddess of sea monsters and the dangers of the sea, Ceto.

More about: Medusa

Timeline

c. 700 BCE
Greek poet Hesiod writes his Theogony and Works and Days.
c. 650 BCE
Pegasus first appears on Greek pottery decoration.
c. 580 BCE
The west pediment of the temple of Artemis in Corcyra depicts Medusa and Pegasus.
438 BCE
The cult statue of Athena Parthenos is dedicated in the Parthenon of Athens.

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