It appears on numerous objects of applied art, such as earrings, cameo rings, and medallion necklaces, etc. Her existence reflected on the behavior of men during ancient times in Greece and shows how much have we advanced since then. Athena holds her head and Hades her soul. She swore an oath of commitment but did not stay true to it. That's why it's considered protective. Another reminder that Minerva/Athena is not your feminist queen. On funerary urns or armor, she was a talisman of protection, those eyes symbolically warding off evil. Protection Symbol #9 The Eye of Horus. This helps you to be more tender and caring towards other people. My name is Marlin Davis and I am passionate about history of all sorts. As Elizabeth Johnston says in her 2016 piece The Original Nasty Woman on Medusa: In Western culture, strong women have historically been imagined as threats requiring male conquest and control, and Medusa herself has long been the go-to figure for those seeking to demonize female authority.. Freud considered that as a result, she became the unapproachable woman who repels all sexual desire by carrying (symbolically) the genitals of the mother. The reason for this is that the origin of philosophy and science is traceable to her. She is currently studying CLEG and her pronouns are she/her/hers. At this point, Medusas head became a desired trophy for many warriors who wanted to brave her fierce monster-like powers. It speaks about the ability to handle complex situations, and deal with hard tasks. Ideally, Medusa's face is so repulsive and terrifying that it will repel evil entities. He then employs her head and its stony glare as a weapon, a tool he subsequently gives to the goddess Athena who wore it on her armor. Hellenism (Greek: Ellinisms, Latin: Hellenismus), also less frequently called Olympianism (Greek: Olympianisms, Latin: Olympianismus) or Dodekatheism (Greek: Dodekathesms, Latin: Duodecimdeismus), is the traditional polytheistic and animistic orthopraxic religion, lifestyle, aesthetics, and ethos of the ancient Graeco-Roman world, and is the indigenous religion of the common Greek and Latin cultural sphere. Thank you so much for the response! As a result, women with Medusa Tattoos can show their fierce determination and may also reflect their unpredictable and impulsive nature. Modern feminism often uses Medusa as a symbol of their rage against the stigmatization of female sexuality. Within this context, it seems as if both the male genitalia and female head are their respective centers of power. It takes a high level of creativity to achieve this feat. What does this mean? Many in Greek culture also link snakes to a womans menstruation cycle which relates to the cycle of life and death as well. However, she found a way to remain relevant. Today Medusa, with her snake hair and stare that turns people to stone, endures as an allegorical figure of fatal beauty, or a ready image for superimposing the face of a detested woman in power. Different versions of a myth can grow in popularity, replacing others, and there ends up being no one singular original story. Other sacred animals to Poseidon were the . Athena did not only curse Medusa but also her sisters. I do remember exactly, but as far as I remember, it was explained as she was born mortal, then died, and gave birth through this (the rebirth portion). In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three monstrous sisters comprised of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. If humans werent so tempting then maybe most of the male gods wouldnt be serial rapists. Medusa is a symbol of female power and a popular tattoo design that celebrates the womanhood of women. This extends to even monsters like Medusa which really showed us how the ancient Greeks viewed the things around them. 22. Medusa thread which will be full of debate on this. The archive, belonging to lawyer Linda Coffee, contains nearly 150 documents and letters related to the historic case. Medusa represents feminine power. Meanwhile, a rotation of 1990s Versace fashions presents Medusa as a modern luxury logo. However, it also became a symbol of protection and safety. Medusa is a female character that is present in Greek mythology. Whenever you see a medusa sign, it is believed to have a close alliance with ancient wisdom and philosophy. She was one of the three Gorgons, or literally "the terrible ones.". Lets go ! Many people have heard about Medusa and her tragic tale but not much is known about the Gorgon herself. Keeping an image of medusa in front of your door wards off evil spirits. As such she posed a great threat to the power of the Greek male-dominated sky gods. I bought a Medusa pendant the minute Covid struck my area last March and have been wearing it since. It is also given to help you keep your secrets to yourself, thereby avoiding betrayal. Her luscious hair was her most defining feature and she wasnt shy of flaunting herself to others either. However, Poseidon fell in love with her and slept with her. A 450440 BCE red figure pelike container is among the earliest depictions of Medusa as an innocent maiden, with Perseus creeping up on the sleeping Gorgon. She was very lovely once, the hope of many An envious suitor, and of all her beauties Her hair most beautifulat least I heard so From one who claimed he had seen her. According to Freud, it is for this reason that Perseus must decapitate her. It wasnt the most pleasant of behaviors but history does teach us its lessons and we should learn from them. It means that she is a goddess that inspires people to be creative which brought forth the science of art. Medusa's beautyand, in particular, her femininityremains as dangerous as her original monstrosity. She was regarded as the patron and protector of various cities across Greece, especially Athens, from which she gets her name. After all, we are in a post #MeToo moment, when we can clearly recognize Medusas myth as a rape narrative one in which the victim is blamed and cast out by her community for crimes perpetrated against her. This is a powerful combo to enjoy protection from the evil eye. The labrys also appears in African religious symbolism and mythology (see Shango). In this version of the myth, Medusa is instead a beautiful womxn. Ultimately Freud and Ferencais conclusions are that women have anxieties because they do not have penises. What does the Medusa symbolize? The tragedy of Medusa reflected how ancient Greece viewed women and their attitude towards them. Originally born in Weirton West Virginia she spent most of her life in Pittsburgh PA. The evil eye is similar to the Egyptian wedjat, also known as the udjat eye or the Eye of Horus , which is a symbol of protection and good health. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. [5] Protection [ edit] In order to punish her, Athena curses Medusa by replacing her beautiful hair with a head of venomous snakes and making it so anyone who looks into her eyes will be turned to stone. As an ancient protection symbol, the Medusa in this way also symbolizes aspects of the mother goddess, especially as a child of Gaia, the creator. Oftentimes, this message comes with the message of wisdom and spiritual understanding because they are intertwined. Today it is sometimes used as a symbol of Hellenic Neopaganism. Phoenix Tattoos. I almost got a Medusa pendent myself but I just never ended up getting one. A writer of all things gender, culture, and travel. She calls women to write and express themselves fully. From her severed neck, her child Pegasus is born. The fair fosters a welcoming environment for all those with an appreciation for art, regardless of background or technical know-how. She is revered for this power and grants wisdom to everyone that asks for it. Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of Medusas story is that she was pregnant with Poseidons child when she was killed. Medusa, who was once thought of as a boastful mortal who deserved to be turned into a monster, is now seen in a more sympathetic view by modern standards. It is said that medusa was known for her innate wisdom, and many earlier scientists drew their great intellects and discoveries from her. Venus was born from seafoam. If the sexualization of the female head causes subjectivity of the woman, then I argue that Freuds analysis (i.e. The Gorgon as a symbol of protection TW: Mention of r*pe. Her decapitation is in direct result of male anxiety about maintaining power and control. Because Medusa refuses a fate of silence and subjectivity, Perseus is left with no option but to decapitate Medusa for wielding her power. Indian artist Diptej Vernekar attached puppets of Hindu avatars to exercise equipment that anyone could activate and engage with. Medusa is often seen as a strong and powerful woman, who has the ability to destroy her enemies. I write about my spiritual experiences to help all those who go through the same. She was killed by Zeusbefore he fought his father and the Titans for power. While she may be known for her monstrosity, her beauty remains just as dangerous. However, what people dont know is that medusas bracelet carries the same power. Want more stories like this? If it's something you want, I don't see a problem with it. Originally from Oklahoma, she has been covering visual culture and overlooked history for print The ability to be confident and proud of your gender stems from medusa. The answer you seek might just be around the corner. In ancient history, females pray to her for confidence and strength especially in a world where men treat females as weak and helpless. Hence, Medusa's tale has served as a metaphor for power and bravery, particularly for women who have experienced s*xual harassment. Medusa is an icon of Greek mythology, representing female strength and wisdom. It means that we all can stay relevant even if all odds are against us. Therefore, this secret behind medusa is the reason for many movies that portrayed her as a head full of snakes. In Ovids story, Medusa is no longer the same monster that had tusks and wings. The incomplete essay becomes far more phallocentric as it continues explaining how the sight of female genitalia instills fear of castration, how Medusas snake-like hair is (of course) a phallic symbol, and finally that Medusas ability to cause onlookers to become stiff, is a representation of an erection and therefore a confirmation of their manhood and of still having a penis it is in essence, their final confirmation of manhood. It might come as a surprise but the name Medusa actually means to protect and this actually reflects in the mythology. This is why she has been made into many ceramics, golden, bronze, and silver sculptures unlike other goddesses. 11 Spiritual Meanings, Medusa Spiritual Meaning: 11 Spiritual Messages, 10) Everything is turning out to your good. She and Mars are Cupid's parents. Furthermore, she is a goddess that helps young ladies to overcome a lack of confidence. Medusa Tattoo Designs 1. Medusa is known as the god of philosophy, beauty, and art. Jeenah Moon for The New York Times. On funerary urns or armor, she was a talisman of protection, those eyes symbolically warding off evil. From Freuds telling, the entire story takes place through the perspective of the man in the story, reducing Medusa to something sub-human. She is then cast out and cursed by her own sister. She has been used as an image of great learning and wisdom for years. Statues of Medusa were used to guard Pagan Greek temples. Your email address will not be published. The inclusion of Medusa in the center implies the protection of the goddess Athena, who wore the Gorgon's likeness on her aegis, as said above. Medusa remains the. She is a woman who represents a conflicting view of femininity, one that is seemingly alluring but with a threatening or sinister underside. The femme fatale archetype has found permanence in our storytelling, and confirms to us that: to be both beautiful and fearsome to be a woman who has bodily autonomy and anger is not at all normative and that those women must be cast aside or have power taken from them. The Gorgon, Medusa, was said to have been raped by the God of the Sea, Poseidon, but were there any children that were a product of this animosity? You will see this in movies like clash of the titans. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Some stories say that there was one more unnamed Gorgon who was older than the others. Did the monstrous Gorgon bear any children that 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. This was to ensure that no man will ever be able to look at her anymore. Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. Furthermore, she is a goddess that helps young ladies to overcome a lack of confidence. Horse, dolphin, the Cretan bull. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! Medusa was the only one of the three who could ever be killed. You should be fine if you worry about attracting her attention. The first depiction of Medusa can be dated back from a poem by Homer as being part of the three gorgon sisters, Stheno and Euryale. This is why it is a sign of creativity to dream of yourself drawing medusas head. link to 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. The god of the sea and of earthquakes, Poseidon had also some animals sacred to him. Stepping on a Crack Superstition and Meaning: Its a Bad Omen? Every situation you go through will turn around for your good. Other shades of history claimed that Poseidon raped her because he could not resist her beauty. Medusa is so alluring to us, because she is the image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness. She is seductive to us in her contemporary application and dimensionality. According to The Met Museum, Medusa is portrayed in most Greek art as an "apotropaic symbol used to protect and ward off the negative," representing a "dangerous threat meant to deter other. To understand the impact of medusa, the following spiritual messages are important. Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. The word means "protect, rule over" with Medusa meaning "guardian" or "protectress." Perseverance Some will get tattoos of Medusa's severed head, or Perseus holding it, as a representation of perseverance. This should be a lesson to learn. When she's not reading at one of D.C's many coffeeshops she can also be found taking pictures of the different monuments. Medusa can be given to you as a sign and message.