The Story of Medusa: Monster or Victim ??

MEDUSA
(Photo: Google pics)

               Most of us have seen the movie Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, based on the book of the same name written by Rick Riordan. I was a kid when this movie was released, just 13 years old, and it is since then that Greek Mythology started captivating me. Like everyone else, seeing Medusa in the movie really scared me…..but it also led me to try to know her story…..how did she end up being the vicious gorgon that she was?

Medusa was not always considered a hideous monster, in fact, it was quite the opposite!! She possessed great beauty and many men lusted for Medusa. She managed to snatch hearts wherever she went. Yet despite her seductive beauty, she remained chaste and pure out of respect for the great Goddess Athena. And because she admired Athena so much, she decided to become the priestess to her temple. Virginity and chastity were indispensable requirements for this position.

   

Poseidon takes Medusa by force
in the temple of Athena
(Photo: Google pics)

  Thousands visited Athena’s temple, just for a glance at Medusa’s beauty. It was even claimed that her hair rivalled that of Athena. Very soon Athena’s jealousy of Medusa grew into resenting. Although hurt and enraged, Athena did not take any revenge on Medusa. However, one day when Medusa was walking along the shore, she caught the attention of Poseidon, the God of the Sea. Poseidon was immediately infatuated by her beauty, yet Medusa constantly rejected the flirtations of God. Poseidon had a personal feud with the goddess Athena and thus began to think of Medusa as a possession to be acquired. Eventually, Poseidon grew tired of the rejections from Medusa and he decided that he would take her by force.

  Desperate, Medusa ran into the temple of Athena in the hopes of being provided protection from Poseidon. However, that evening her cries for help went in vain and no protection was provided. Poseidon entered the temple, grabbed medusa and raped her in front of the Goddess’s statue. After the violence ended, Athena did appear. Enraged by the events that had just taken place, Athena decided to punish the priestess since she could not punish Poseidon. She considered Poseidon’s action the male entity's nature and accused Medusa of seducing the God and bringing dishonour to the temple and the Goddess. Athena cursed Medusa, turning her beautiful hair, the one she was once so envious of, into snakes and from that day onwards, anyone who would look at her eyes would be instantly petrified into stone.

 

Medusa as a Gorgon
(Photo: Google pics)

Word spread of the monster that Medusa had become, and she became the target of many warriors who wished to cut off her head as a trophy. However, they were all turned into stone. It was the hero Perseus, the son of Zeus, who was finally able to decapitate the monster. What no one knew, however, was that Medusa was carrying Poseidon’s child. From the bloodshed from her severed head was born the winged steed, Pegasus. Perseus would use the head of Medusa for many adventures. It played a crucial role when the Titan Atlas was defeated.

  Medusa is probably one of the most misunderstood characters in Greek Mythology. She is regarded as a cruel monster when she only had the best intentions. She had placed her trust and faith in the Goddess Athena, who ultimately failed her and punished her for actions that were beyond her control. Her story shows us that even the Gods are flawed with the sins that they so pride of being above. How a rape victim can be so punished is beyond my comprehension. Even in death, Medusa can be seen as a symbol of good, as her head is used as a protective amulet to keep evil away.

       I hope this post got you to see Medusa a little differently. I know I now see her in a completely different light. What do you think about her, my dear readers? Share your views about Medusa in the comment section...and for more such interesting articles keep reading our articles in "Creative Bloggers of Ind".


                                                                 ~ Raktima Mitra

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