Who curses Medusa?

Zeus impregnated Medusa in a temple of Athena, a powerful Greek goddess. This unholy act in the temple of a virgin goddess so enraged Athena that she put a curse on Medusa to rid her of her beauty.

Why did Medusa have a curse?

Medusa and Poseidon engaged in a love affair and would have two children together, but not before Athena discovered the illicit affair. When Athena discovered the affair, she was enraged and immediately cursed Medusa by taking away her beauty.

Who turned Medusa's snake?

The snake-haired Medusa does not become widespread until the first century B.C. The Roman author Ovid describes the mortal Medusa as a beautiful maiden seduced by Poseidon in a temple of Athena. Such a sacrilege attracted the goddess' wrath, and she punished Medusa by turning her hair to snakes.

What was the curse given to Medusa?

Athena looked down in anger and cursed Medusa for betraying her. Medusa was sent to a faraway island and was cursed so that no man would want her. She was given cracked skin, madness, and her signature snake hair and stone eyes. Medusa was now a monster woman.

What was Medusa's name before she was cursed?

In Greek mythology, Medusa (/mɪˈdjuːzə, -sə/; Ancient Greek: Μέδουσα "guardian, protectress"), also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair.

The Punishment of Medusa: The Story of The Cursed Priestess - Mythological Comics - Greek Mythology

Why did Athena punish Medusa instead of Poseidon?

Poseidon was a god, and Athena was a goddess. She was not powerful enough to punish Poseidon. He is a elder god, which makes him second only to Zeus.

Did Athena punish or protect Medusa?

Medusa. The Medusa we know was raped by Poseidon in the goddess Athena's temple. Athena then punished her for desecrating her sacred space by cursing Medusa with a head full of snakes and a gaze that turns men to stone. Then, a heroic Perseus severed the serpent-headed Medusa, turning her into a trophy.

Who turned Medusa into a terrible monster?

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. “Beautiful cheeked,” is how the poet Pindar describes her in the 5th century.

What did Athena say to Medusa?

While Medusa was gazing, the figure changed. The figure changed into the goddess Athena. "Vain and foolish girl!" Athena shouted angrily, "You think you're a prettier girl than me. While other people are working, playing or learning you just boast about yourself.

Who is the most badass goddess?

8 Women From Mythology Who Were Badass Even Before The Term Was Coined

1. Kali - the slayer of evils. ...
2. Hel - goddess of the dead. ...
3. Anat - the goddess of sexual love. ...
4. Amaterasu - the source of light. ...
5. Ix - Chel - the moon goddess. ...
6. Louhi - the goddess of death. ...
7. Mami Wata - the river goddess. ...
8. Tiamat - the goddess of the ocean.

What did Poseidon do to Medusa?

When Medusa had an affair with the sea god Poseidon, Athena punished her. 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.

Was Athena jealous of Medusa?

The Goddess of wisdom, Athena, is jealous of Medusa's beauty. Because of this, she summons Perseus, the son of the god Zeus and the mortal Danae, for a mission. The mission seems simple enough: to behead the monster that is Medusa.

Who was Medusa in love with?

One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon.

Was Medusa good or evil?

The name Medusa prompts terrifying images in the minds of many – of an evil monster that can turn one to stone with a single look, with writhing serpents for hair.

Who did Aphrodite curse?

KLEIO (Clio) One of the nine Mousai (Muses), goddesses of music and song, who was cursed by Aphrodite to fall in love with a mortal man, Pieros, as punishment for criticising the goddess' love of Adonis.

Who was the ugliest god?

Hephaestus. Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father. He is the only god to be physically ugly.

Who did Athena fall in love with?

HEPHAESTUS LOVES : ATHENA & GAEA. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3.

Why is Athena a virgin?

Althought Athena is a virgin goddess, she mothered the god Erichthonios by Hephaestus. According to myth, she went to Hephaestus wanting some weapons forged. When Hephaestus tried to rape her, she protected her virginity and he ejaculated on her leg.

Who turned Medusa into stone?

Usually, Perseus is thought of as the one who killed Medusa. However, if we carefully read the myth, we will understand that the true mastermind behind everything was Athena. The goddess turned Medusa into a Gorgon in the first place.

Who beats Medusa?

Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. From the blood that spurted from her neck sprang Chrysaor and Pegasus, her two sons by Poseidon.

What protected Medusa?

People would carve her image over their doors to ward off evil and protect their homes. Medusa's name in ancient Greek means “to guard and protect.” They recently discovered an amulet with the head of Medusa on it carried by a Roman soldier to England.

Who in Greek mythology was raped?

Odysseus; in some versions, raped by Calypso on the island of Ogygia in his seven year stay. Silenus by the cyclops Polyphemus. Chrysippus of Elis; raped by King Laius of Thebes, father of Oedipus by Jocasta, and author of the Laius complex in psychodynamic theory.

Why is Athena scared of Poseidon?

Why would Athena be scared of Poseidon? Because she knew that he was second only to Zeus in power, and the fact that he held a grudge against her didn't help.