The labrys symbolism is found in Minoan, Thracian, Greek, and Byzantine religion, mythology, and art, dating from the Middle Bronze Age onwards. a protection against . Anyone that believes in her will enjoy this protection continually. Hyperallergic is a forum for serious, playful, and radical thinking about art in the world today. Gorgon Medusa. The reason for this is that the origin of philosophy and science is traceable to her. In fact, the name Medusa is derived from the Greek verb that means "to guard" or "to protect." And at the end of the story, Athena takes Medusa's severed head and uses it as her own protection in future battle (a symbol for these dual aspects of a woman becoming integrated.) Romans were part of the Greek world, and yes a Gorgon head was an apotropaic symbol in the broader Greek world too. The story has always been heavily discussed by classics scholars because of the very gendered image of Perseus cutting Medusas head off and the castration anxiety that became very popular around any type of chopping in psychoanalysis, especially after Sigmund Freuds Das Medusenhaupt (Medusas Head) was published in 1940 after his death. I would be super interested in reading your source materials if youre willing (I think I can get around the paywall by using my universitys library so its worth a shot) or I would also like to read your paper whenever youre dont with it if thats easier! What are your opinions on Medusa as a symbol of protection? Even though the curse took away her beauty, she remains an emblem of feminine confidence. Other shades of history claimed that Poseidon raped her because he could not resist her beauty. Just like movies like clash of the titans, she is a powerful spiritual entity that exists in ancient greek mythology. This is why she has been made into many ceramics, golden, bronze, and silver sculptures unlike other goddesses. Answered, One Piece Won a Different Award at the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Than I Expected, and Im Delighted, Randall Parks Upcoming Film is Everything Ive Ever Wanted. the "old women," Pemphredoo, Enyo, and Deino or Perso, who share one tooth and one eye which they pass between them; the Graiai play a role in Medusa's myth. these associations, Medusa is a purely sexual symbol that pertains to the sexual anxieties of women. Jeenah Moon for The New York Times. 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. The complexity lies in how to represent her hair by art. 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. In ancient Greece, women were usually accused of provoking men with their image or their personality and are usually blamed when anything happens to them. I almost got a Medusa pendent myself but I just never ended up getting one. Without the support of the gods, he would have been petrified like every other warrior. In the original tale, Poseidon . is derived from a conviction that women lack a penis. Feel free to correct me if Im wrong about anything! Her snakes have also made her one of the most popular characters from Greek mythology, with her modern depictions being widely used in modern media. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. That's why it's considered protective. She calls women to write and express themselves fully. Returning to those startling early images of Medusa, with her bared teeth and frightful snake hair, theres a narrative here on how transforming her into something benignly ornamental was another level of control. If you purchase something through our links, The Mary Sue may earn an affiliate commission., Have a tip we should know? Before she was cursed for sleeping the Poseidon, medusa was a beautiful goddess and queen. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. She is the goddess of philosophy and blesses people with this wisdom. Athena is one of Poseidons sworn enemies, and through raping her sister, he is able to take power from her. It bears worth mentioning that Im very new to Hellenism, so Im a little confused as to how this all works. In the myths, any mortal who set eyes upon it was immediately turned to stone. Ancient Greek artists originally portrayed Medusa as an almost comically hideous figure, with a lolling tongue, full beard, and bulging eyes. This image of Medusa began to shift when mustache stubble was replaced by smooth cheeks, and fangs concealed by shapely lips, as Classical artists began to feminize her once again. The fair fosters a welcoming environment for all those with an appreciation for art, regardless of background or technical know-how. 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? My name is Marlin Davis and I am passionate about history of all sorts. Even after the curse was initiated, medusa still carries that energy for wisdom and deep understanding. Venus was a Roman goddess who symbolized sex, fertility, love, beauty, desire, and prosperity. I remember finding out one day that the name Medusa means protectress, and it makes me wish that someone had been able to protect her. Its Medusas fault for being so beautiful. American Traditional Medusa Tattoos Dark tones enhance her hideous features and present the visage of Medusa as a frightening monster. "I believe the Medusa tattoo is the perfect visual depiction of a survivor's journey from pain to resilience, strength, empowerment and self-preservationa protective symbol, as she has the. In this version of the story, it is said that Medusa was in the temple of Minvera and that one day Neptune, the god of the sea, found her and sexually assaulted her. Hence, Medusa's tale has served as a metaphor for power and bravery, particularly for women who have experienced s*xual harassment. Medusa is also seen as a symbol of freedom and liberation for women, as she was used as a symbol of French liberation during the French Revolution. The curse was meant to punish medusa, but it eventually became leverage for other spiritual things. Whether you see her as a monster or more of that, the fact is that Medusa slithering her way into being more than meets the eye. It means that medusa can encourage men to embrace their feminine selves. feelings originating in powerful oral impulses, and, for women, a means for resolving in fantasy the resentment arising from the lack of a penis. This prompted the curse she sustains till this moment. What does this mean? In ancient greek mythology, medusa was a beautiful priestess of Athena. As this article from the Atlantic puts it: "In Western culture, strong women have historically been imagined as threats requiring male conquest and control. The Medusa symbol might have a vary The 11 spiritual messages of the medusa goddess can help you understand more about your life and the virtues you carry. There is an alluring nature to Medusa, as she is both siren and saint she is the complicated woman we all understand and fear. Luciano Garbati's sculpture "Medusa With the Head of Perseus" was unveiled Tuesday in Lower Manhattan. The Hamsa is a talisman from the ancient Middle East. 1. Medusa is known as the god of philosophy, beauty, and art. She has a stern stare that prevents evil people from glancing at you with their jealous stare. Many warriors are sent to kill her, including Perseus. "In a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women," she said. Medusa in Jewelry. An. Finally, shes a triple goddess. Ultimately Freud and Ferencais conclusions are that women have anxieties because they do not have penises. The Gorgon, Medusa, was a monster in Greek mythology but everything in Greek mythology always represented something in the real world. Some people tend to connect Medusas story with self-reflection and link Medusa to the darkest parts of ones soul. And rightly so. Athena's curse was not a punishment for Medusa, but a punishment for the gods and men who intended to harm her. She was also a powerful representation of facing ones inner demons and how self-reflection can make you into a better person. An early 1800s plaster cast from the studio of Antonio Canova showspreparation for the marble statue that now presides over the Mets European Sculpture Court. The man was caught carrying Juanita in a food delivery backpack. It also tells you to be confident in your physical looks. 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. She was killed by Zeusbefore he fought his father and the Titans for power. You might have asked questions about the reason behind medusas plight. Medusa was a monster in Greek mythology but she represented some real-world problems for the Greeks and the rest of the world. By the fifth century BCE, that figure from Greek myth began to morph into an alluring seductress, shaped by the idealization of the body in Greek art. However even in the face of tragedy and disgrace, the Medusa was portrayed as meaningful. Simi is very passionate about talking about women of color in media, politics, and the arts. Medusa represents feminine power. . It speaks about the ability to handle complex situations, and deal with hard tasks. On view in NYC. Pharaohs would often be entombed wearing Wadjet amulets, and it was intended to protect them in the afterlife and ward off evil forces. Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. The Gorgon was also a representation of protection and had symbols. 22. The image of her severed head remains a powerful protective amulet. She is astute in the ways of protection and lends her guardianship to those who need her most. For women in ancient times, this motif had a specific function and was of great importance. In Greek mythology, she is one of the Gorgon sisters (derived from the Greek gorgs for dreadful), and Perseus uses a reflective bronze shield to defeat her. Her snakes are undoubtedly one of the better-known symbols in Greek mythology. Unfortunately, the Goddess Athena didnt see it that way and punished her because she couldnt punish the God for his defilement. Can you now see the reason for her plight? It is said that medusa protects people from suffering what she suffered at the hands of Athena. She helps females to attain their primes and become who they choose to be. Medusa's name derives from an ancient Greek verb that means "to protect and guard," which may be a nod to Athena's attempt to guard and protect Medusa from further abuse at the hands of Poseidon and other men. Therefore, this secret behind medusa is the reason for many movies that portrayed her as a head full of snakes. Different versions of a myth can grow in popularity, replacing others, and there ends up being no one singular original story. The myth of Medusa lies at the nexus of conversations about symbolism, feminity, rage, and the ways women are symbols of generativity, desire, and power. What medusa suffered is enough to make her insignificant in the world of spirituality. Her gaze became an omen of protection, the snake on her hair became an omen of wisdom, and she is revered all over the world. She and Mars are Cupid's parents. Team Zutara forever. Simi is a sophomore at American University and the events director for HerCampusAu. Furthermore, she advocates for the respect of the feminine gender. mustache stubble was replaced by smooth cheeks, and fangs concealed by shapely lips, a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women, represents a conflicting view of femininity, one that is seemingly alluring but with a threatening or sinister underside. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgoneion. There have been all kinds of well-known feminist attempts over the last fifty years or more to reclaim Medusa for female power (Laugh with Medusa, as the title of one recent collection of essays almost put it) not to mention the use of her as the Versace logo but its made not a blind bit of difference to the way she has been used in attacks on female politicians, writes Beard. It wasnt the most pleasant of behaviors but history does teach us its lessons and we should learn from them. Thank you so much for the response! In ancient Greek society, which was a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women. Medusa is, in other words, the ultimate femme fatale. In the 1994 book, Female Rage: Unlocking Its Secrets, Claiming Its Power, the authors claimed that when they asked women what female rage looked like to them, it was always Medusawho came to mindIn one interview after another they were told that Medusa is the most horrific woman in the world. None of the women they interview could remember the details of the myth, and perhaps, had they been able to, they would have had a different perspective. However, she found a way to remain relevant. Here we discuss Medusa as a goddess, gorgon, and icon AND we teach you 8 ways to work with her fierce energy. Medusa's visage has since been adopted by many women as a symbol of female rage; one of the first publications to express this idea was a feminist journal called Women: . I know it has a name but I can't think of it. She is revered for this power and grants wisdom to everyone that asks for it. Medusa remains of temporal importance because she is the symbol of what female power looks like in the face of threatened male authority. On a 570 BCE terracotta stand, Medusa is comically hideous, and fully bearded, sticking out her tongue between two tusks. Her luscious hair was her most defining feature and she wasnt shy of flaunting herself to others either. It was believed this would protect them on the journey into the next life. She was also a ward of sorts for the Greeks to protect themselves against the negativity in life. The tattoo design is empowering for women and can also be seductive. However, Poseidon fell in love with her and slept with her. 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 symbol of her snakes is closely related to life itself as well as the cycle of rebirth. 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. The rebooted TV series Charmed just did an episode touching on this, and it was really powerful because of all the work done to reclaim the character by pop culture. In the new and annotated edition of Metamorphoses (highly recommend), it becomes clear that in the eyes of the Romans, Minervas wrath against a rape victim is seen as just, same as with Atalantas rape punishment (getting turned into a lion). The jazz drummers polymathic experimentation also spanned visual art, botany, and even an improvisational martial art he invented called Yara. I bought a Medusa pendant the minute Covid struck my area last March and have been wearing it since. Shoulder Medusa Tattoo Fabio Mauro Symbol Sage points out, "The beheading of Medusa can be seen as symbolic of silencing powerful women who voice their sentiments." Further to this ability to turn people into stone, depictions of Medusa were used as a type of protection against evil. It should help us to remain true to our words. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. This is exactly why the story of Medusa continues to captivate us because she is a character that demands to be reimagined, she pushes back against the story that places Perseus at its center, who claims him to be blameless and heroic. She was also originally a goddess, and I can try to send you all my research on that if you want (though some may be hidden by a paywall, Im not sure). Zeus represented power, Hades represented fairness in death, but what did a mortal who turned into a monster, like Medusa, represent? The Gorgon as a symbol of protection TW: Mention of r*pe. While not the best source, Wikipedia seems to support your claim - it has images of her head used in gorgoneions. In fact, her name means Queen, and her sisters have similar positive names, whereas Perseus means to destroy and if that doesnt mean something, I dont know what does. 7 Spiritual Meanings of Slugs in the House: Is it Good Luck? As a symbol I don't see a problem with it. The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling. About US | Privacy Policy | Contact Information | Pinterest | Web Stories. Even into the 19th century, as the romanticization continued, her eyes did not close. If men have Medusa in their dreams, according to Freud and Ferencai, it is the terrifying mother syndrome with a castration In a more modern sense, her image can be used as a warning to keep others at a distance. If the sexualization of the female head causes subjectivity of the woman, then I argue that Freuds analysis (i.e. The symbol offers protection from harm caused by the evil eye. She represents a dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil. It was said that she protected those who were at war and during the hunt. The snake-like strands of hair also represent the cunning ability of snakes, which gives additional wisdom. Worth looking into it, if youre curious. During the late 20th century, feminists began to reassess the myth of Medusa. 1. Medusa was r*ped by Poseidon in Athena's temple and Athena was wrong for punishing her. 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.
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