Her Medusa has been on an isolated island, with her two sisters and her dog as company, since she was cursed by Athena to have snakes for hair. She has been on this island for 4 years isolated and lonely from others her age. When one day an intriguing boy arrives on the island called Perseus, he might be able to alleviate this desolation which will leas to trust, love and betrayal. In this meticulously researched and engagingly written book, historian and mythologist Dr. Lila Andrews explores Medusa’s various historical interpretations and portrayals. Dr. Andrews also examines the cultural and historical contexts that gave rise to the myth, unveiling the deeper meanings and symbolism behind Medusa’s story. However, Medusa’s severed head does appear in the form of the Gorgoneion, a protective amulet or symbol depicting her face. In Book 5 of the “Iliad,” the Gorgoneion is found on the aegis, a shield or breastplate associated with Zeus and Athena.

These books allow you to engage with a captivating mythological character, gain cultural and literary knowledge, and explore thought-provoking themes that resonate beyond the ancient world. This book is absolutely stunning. A beautiful modern re-telling of a very old tale. It was refreshing to see the point of view of a young Medusa. Not the scary gorgon that she is most commonly known as. But all myths have to start somewhere. As did Medusa's. She was once a young woman, happy to sail along the shores of her land, fishing and enjoying her freedom along with her sisters. Oblivious to whether or not she was beautiful, until she was “accused” of being just that in the small village where she lived. It ailed her to think of people either adoring or being jealous of her for her beauty, as it seemed this was something that belonged to them, rather than to her. All she wanted was to float above the azure seas. Which is where she unfortunately caught the eye of the sea god Poseidon, who would not take no for an answer. this book was literally two characters reading the wikipedia articles of their respective greek myths with the other occasionally going “oh no!” or “i understand” Also, most of the book is told in conversation format. So a lot of the significant events in Medusa’s mythos don’t actually *happen* in this book - Medusa just talks about when they happened. It was an interesting stylistic choice, and perhaps it works for some, but not for me - it made me a little bored, to be honest. (Very literal example of someone TELLING and not SHOWING).Who are you?’ I called down. I spoke in panic, worried that Argentus’ suspicion of this new arrival would drive him to his boat at any moment. And I spoke in hope: it felt of utmost importance that this boy should stay on my island – for a day, a week, a month. Maybe longer.” Hesiod, Theogony 280ff; Ovid, Metamorphoses 4.784ff, 6.119ff; Apollodorus, Library 2.4.2; Hyginus, Fabulae 151. ↩ The novel advocates a woman’s position, a woman wronged, and a journey to discover herself and find acceptance for what she has become. At one level, this can be interpreted as a feminist opportunity to illustrate the power of women and the deceit of men. Still, I instead wanted to see this through the lens of a dazzling tragedy of humanity. After this, Perseus flew away via Hermes’ sandals or Pegasus, setting course for Seriphus. But he had several other exciting events before returning to the island. Although Perseus may be at the center of these stories, it could be argued that it is the transformative powers of Medusa’s severed head that played a pivotal role in the hero’s subsequent adventures. Lucan: The epic Civil War (60s CE) describes how the venomous vipers of the Sahara were born from Medusa’s blood (9.624ff).

At Ancient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there exist countless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts that have yet to be discovered and explained. The third strand of the story is that of Medusa’s killer, the demi-god Perseus. Haynes has fun describing his conception. (Just how, exactly, does a mortal woman like Danaë have sexual congress with a shower of gold?) She writes warmly about Danaë’s saviour, the exiled prince-turned-fisher Dictys – mortals can be generous and forbearing. Perseus, though, is “a vicious little thug”, and, Haynes tells us, “the sooner you grasp that, and stop thinking of him as brave boy hero, the closer you’ll be to understanding.” To understanding the myth, that is, in the feminist-revisionist form in which she is presenting it here. Herodotus, Histories 2.91; Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.52.4; Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.21.6. ↩

The venomous vipers of the Sahara were also sometimes said to have been born from Medusa’s blood. In this myth, the vipers emerged from the droplets of Medusa’s blood as Perseus flew over the Sahara with the Gorgon’s severed head. [19] There are many movies and books about Medusa retellings or Medusa story-based. I am going to talk about 7 books about Medusa. Let’s start! 1. Sweet Venom

Exiled to a far-flung island at the whims of Gods, Medusa has little company except the snakes she has for hair—until a beautiful and charming boy, Perseus arrives on the island and Medusa’s alone no longer. Disrupting her loneliness with the force of a supernova, unleashing desire,love and betrayal.... Medusa, the daughter of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, was the most feared of the Gorgons. It was said that anyone who looked directly at her was immediately turned to stone. Medusa was often depicted as a terrifying winged female with snakes instead of hair. Athena somehow cursed Medusa, changing her head that she was so jealous of into venomous snakes. From that moment forward, anyone who dared to glance at Medusa’s face would be instantly petrified. The head of Medusa helped the hero to accompany several other missions, for instance. Medusa was said to have once been a lover of Poseidon. According to Ovid, this is what first got her into trouble: when Medusa slept with Poseidon in a temple of Athena, Athena turned her hair into snakes as a punishment. From then on, all who looked upon her were turned to stone. [15] In another version of the myth, Medusa became the enemy of Athena because she claimed that she could rival the goddess in beauty. [16] PerseusAs they spend their days talking, they realise the growing intimacy and the sense of companionship. They discuss many things and seem to be open and revealing about themselves. Although both still hide a secret. What is Perseus’s true mission, and why won’t Medusa give her real name. Could this be love, and will it survive if they tell each other their hidden secrets? This unflinchingly honest tale of objectification,toxic masculinity, and the meaning of consent is a breathtaking masterpiece that cannot be missed.

In ancient Greek mythology, Medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters known as the Gorgons. The earliest known record about the story of Medusa and the Gorgons can be found in Hesiod’s Theogony. According to this ancient author, the three sisters, Sthenno, Euryale, and Medusa, were the children of Phorcys and Ceto and lived “beyond famed Oceanus at the world’s edge hard by Night”. Of the three, only Medusa is said to be mortal. But she is also the most famous and the myth of her demise at the hands of Perseus is often recounted. Why Did Medusa Get Cursed? Medusa has been a popular art, literature, and film subject throughout history. Even today, Medusa still is a bit of culture, folktales, and mythology worldwide from being one of the most charismatic creatures. She remains one of the victims and most misunderstood characters in Greek mythology. Not only is the writing so wonderfully feminist, it is also beautiful. Jessie Burton writes Medusa in such a heartbreaking and (finally) humanising way so that I wanted to weep for this young girl of 18 who had only ever been treated horrendously and subject to misogynistic thinking. I loved Medusa more than I have loved any character in a book for a long time, I am still in awe of how Burton brought her to life so well and made my heart break for her. I'm starting to think Perseus may have had Two Wives because of the confusion when Perseus met chained up Women about to be sacrificed to some sea creature due to their mother's offending some goddess. This real story of Medusa book shows the fascinating history and mythology surrounding Medusa. It uncovers the origins of the Medusa myth, shedding light on the real story behind the serpent-haired Gorgon, who could turn anyone who looked at her into stone.I know everyone most likely will probably think of me as crazy. I respect that, nevertheless, I still think that Atlas is the Fallen Angel Satal. The image of Medusa’s head can be seen in numerous Greek and subsequent Roman artifacts such as shields, breastplates, and mosaics. One such example of a protective Medusa head pendant appeared in the form of a late 2nd to 4th century AD Roman artifact recently unearthed in the Cambridgeshire countryside . A 2,000-year-old marble head of Medusa was found not too long ago at a former Roman commercial center in Turkey as well. There are also numerous coins that bear not only the imagery of Perseus holding the head of Medusa, but also the head in its own right. I’d imagine that if I said the name Medusa to you, the picture that would immediately spring to mind would be of a wild eyed harridan, with snakes madly circling her head. The Cold Is in Her Bones is about a girl named Mila. Mila lives in a town where a woman in years past. It’s like a demon woman. She curses the city. The curse causes all the crops and stuff to rot. Every girl in a specific range but not older than 18 is susceptible to being taken by the demon. She persuades them to do things that they usually do. Pausanias, Description of Greece: A second-century CE travelogue; like Strabo’s Geography, an important source for local myths and customs.