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They drink liquor that flows from the udders of a goat, and their sport is to fight one . 16. Midgard, the realm of mankind; it was made from Ymir's brow. Medusa is the most famous Gorgon in Greek mythology, but did you know she was not alone? Many later versions of the myth claimed that she was once a beautiful maiden loved by . In ancient Slavic paganism a deity by the name of Veles presided over the underworld. Gorgon - Wikipedia After cutting off Medusas fearsome head (from which her two children with Poseidon, Chrysaor and Pegasus, emerged) Perseus mounted it on his shield, and used it to paralyze his enemies in battle. Even in its more beautiful form, the gorgoneion was used as a symbol to ward off greater evils. The Graeae represented sea foam, while the other children of Phorcys and Keto were monsters of the ocean. The Gorgons are mentioned in some of the earliest works of Greek literature. So Minerva advised Perseus to only look at Medusa's reflection. As Perseus fled the cave, however, he and the Gorgons were no longer alone. Day in and day out Nw amused herself making mud figures and watching them come to life.[15]. American Gods (American Gods, #1) by. Medusa and the Gorgons are used as characters in stories with direct links to Greek mythology, but also in general fantasy and horror settings. According to Hesiod, the Gorgon sisters made their home on the farthest side of the western sea. It was created by Gaia and killed by Zeus. Snakes have been associated with Hecate, the Greek goddess of magic and the lower world.[20]. From a monster to a passive victim, Medusa evolved into an example of the femme fatale archetype. Medusa - Greek Mythology -Medusa was one of 3 Gorgon sisters, a chthonic monster, and a daughter of . Its hard for a modern reader to accept this version of events. Valhalla is depicted as a splendid palace, roofed with shields, where the warriors feast on the flesh of a boar slaughtered daily and made whole again each evening. The earliest versions of the Gorgons connected them to sharp reefs and the storms that could drive ships onto them. In ancient Greek mythology, Medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters known as the Gorgons. The Aztec god of wind and rain, as well as learning, agriculture and science, Quetzalcoatl was said to have played a key role in the worlds creation. If you're a viking lover or you have studied Norse. Horses and the Heavens - Archaeology Magazine In some myths, the Gorgons were the daughters of the primordial sea deities Phorkys and Keto, who were imagined as . He turned his mothers duplicitous suitor, Polydictes, to stone. The Biblical story of the fall of man tells of how Adam and Eve were deceived into disobeying God by a snake (identified as Satan by both Paul and John in II Corinthians and Revelation, respectively). Norse mythology is the body of mythology of the North Germanic people stemming from Norse paganism and . In the underworld, too, she appeared. Major Gods and Goddesses in Norse Mythology - ThoughtCo Healing and snakes were associated in ancient Greek myth with Asclepius, whose snake-familiars would crawl across the bodies of sick people asleep at night in his shrines and lick them back to health. The circle was particularly important to Dahomeyan myth where the snake-god Danh circled the world like a belt, corseting it and preventing it from flying apart in splinters. Worshippers bathe in and jump from the ledges into the pools as a way to honor them and ensure that they provide things like fertility of the land and its people, and protection from the poisons (wrath) of its bite. The affairs and children of Zeus. "Here there is an evil dragon named Nidhogg that gnaws constantly at the root, striving to destroy Yggdrasil" [19] To conserve her energy, she dipped a rope in clay and flicked it so blobs of clay landed everywhere; each blob of clay became an individual human. A snake. Aegis - New World Encyclopedia Even this was not the end of the story for Medusas head, however. In Norse mythology, few stories are as dramatic as that of Jormungand, the powerful sea serpent. In turning men to stone, however, Medusas anger reflected the rage women felt about these experiences. In Nordic myth, evil was symbolized by the serpent (actually a dragon) Nidhogg (the 'Dread Biter') who coiled around one of the three roots of Yggdrasil the Tree of Life, and tried to choke or gnaw the life from it. Concept art: Medusa, Assassin's Creed. Little is known of Chrysaor, as he did not play a major role in later myths, except that he was later the father of a giant with three heads. Horned Serpents were major components of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex of North American prehistory. The Gorgons were the three sisters named Stheno (meaning Strength), Medusa (meaning Queen) and Euryale (meaning Wide-leaping), and were the children of Phorcys, son of Gaia. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Later writers would identify this as Libya, and in the Roman era Virgil said that it was at the gates of the Underworld. Since only one of the Gorgons plays a particularly important role in the story, it seems likely that the legend of the three sisters was an addition to the myth rather than the original version of the story. In Indian myth, Shiva had a cobra coiled on his head and another at rest on his shoulder, ready to strike his enemies. Creatures in Norse Mythology - Life in Norway Snakes were often also associated with immortality because they were observed biting their tails to form a circle and when they coiled they formed spirals. The first humans of hers became high-class, but second ones became low-class. However, in her case, the snakes leaned into her ears and whispered the secrets of the universe (i.e. Some say he honored the agreement and left the watchful Graeae in peace. The Hopi people told of a young man who ventured into the underworld and married a snake-princess. Athena used it to terrify her enemies and even a crude representation of it could strike fear into evil spirits and malicious beings. In Korean mythology, the goddess Eobshin was the snake goddess of wealth, as snakes ate rats and mice that gnawed on the crops. The name Medusa summons forth images of a terrible and cruel monster, but she was not always this way. In another myth, the protector Vishnu slept on the coils of the world-serpent Shesha (or "Ananta the endless";). Artists of the Renaissance made the slaying of Medusa one of their favorite subjects in sculpture and painting. Among the most prominent deities in Mesoamerican cultures, Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was a mix of bird and rattlesnake (coatl is the Nahuatl word for serpent). Rape was often a feature of Greek mythology, as much as the stories hide it in terms of seduction and marriage. Radicals saw the Gorgon herself as a type of revolutionary, taking power from the monstrousness that made her vulnerable. 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 first was a strong bag in which to hold his trophy, the head of the Gorgon. In Egypt the snake has healing abilities. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. The Chimera's image remained consistent throughout the Greco-Roman era. The cunning snake convinced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge, telling her that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. When God learned of Adam and Eves transgression, he banished both of them from Eden and cursed the snake for its role, saying You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. Debate has long raged over whether the serpent in Genesis was a literal reptile, an allegory for sexual desire or temptation or even Satan himself. Even with the monster dead, Medusas true power lived on in her remains. While her sisters killed men with their fangs and claws, Medusas power was passive. The most common type of flute in ancient Greece had two bodies, a reflection of the two surviving Gorgons. Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. Her powers are expanded in modern media. She has been a frequent contributor to History.com since 2005, and is the author of Breaking History: Vanished! In Greek mythology, the Gorgons were snake-women whose gazes would turn people to stone; they had serpents for hair, long claws, sharp teeth and scales covering their bodies. Norse mythology holds there to be nine realms. They were associated with rocks, which when hidden below the surface of the water spelled disaster for ships passing by. But the Medusa is a unique symbol - something strong. The Hindhu god Brahma was said to have banished the naga to their underground kingdom when they became too populous on Earth. Medusa | Myth & Story | Britannica She is killed by the hero Perseus, who cuts off her head.To the Greeks, Medusa is the leader of an ancient, older matriarchal religion that had to be obliterated; in modern culture, she represents vital sensuality and a power that is threatening to males. Medusa, the daughter of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, was the most feared of the Gorgons. Their other siblings included the monsters Echidna, Scylla, and Ladon. The Aztec underworld, Mictlan was protected by python-trees, a gigantic alligator and a snake, all of which spirits had to evade by physical ducking and weaving or cunning, before they could start the journey towards immortality. TOP 25 MEDUSA QUOTES | A-Z Quotes Greek myth held that people could acquire second hearing and second sight if their ears or eyes were licked by a snake. In Buddhism, naga were often depicted as protectors of Siddhrtha Gautama, the Buddha, and the dharma (Buddhist teachings), but they were also seen as powerful, and potentially dangerous when angered. In the Iliad, Homer says that the head of the Gorgon is prominently displayed on Athenas aegis. The gis (Greek ), already attested in the Iliad, is the shield or buckler of Zeus, which according to Homer was fashioned for him by Hephaestus, furnished with golden tassels and bearing the Gorgoneion (the Gorgon Medusa's head) in the central boss. While Medusa was the only one whose gaze petrified men, her sisters killed and mutilated many. 100 Greek Mythology Baby Names (Gods & Goddesses) - MomJunction More than ever before, the popular view of Medusa is a complex one. Blood of Zeus follows the coming of age of a man named Heron who, like most fabled Greek myth heroes, is an illegitimate love child of a . Also, in Norse mythology, the snake biting its tail (Ouroboros) symbolized the sea as the eternal ring which enclosed the world. It's Norse mythology time! In other cultures[which?] While Poseidon walked free, Medusa was villainized for the crime of attracting his attention. In art, Medusa and her sisters had every terrifying feature the Greeks could imagine. Only they knew the location of the Hesperides and their garden. The Real Story of Medusa: Protective Powers from a Snake-Haired Gorgon Exceptions to this were the Fijian creator-god Ndengei, the dozen creator-gods of the Solomon Islands (each with different responsibilities), the Aztec Mother Goddess Coatlicue, and the Voodoo snake-spirits Damballa, Simbi and Petro. WATCH: Full episodes of 'Swamp People: Serpent Invasion' online. Though outsiders (notably Theodore Roosevelt) have been able to witness some aspects of the Snake Dance, much of the lengthy ceremony takes place in underground chambers called kivas, allowing its most sacred aspects to remain mysterious. Watch. However, Zeus turned into a gold shower and got Danae pregnant. While Poseidon walked free, Medusa was villainized for the crime of attracting his attention. "In mythology, the Medusa can petrify people with a look, which is a good thing, I think. They noted that in the myths there was never an instance of Medusa turning a woman to stone. She turned the young woman into a terrible monster. In A Tale of Two Cities , for example, Charles Dickens compares the exploitative French aristocracy to "the Gorgon" even devoting an entire chapter to . The idea of snake-people living below the Earth was prominent in American myth. For instance, after slaying Medusa, he severs her head and carries it with him, using its gaze to petrify enemies. The underworld was part of a mythical world tree. It is used, for example, in the scientific names of many animals to reference some particularly unsightly species and, of course, some snakes. Medusa - whose name probably comes from the Ancient Greek word for "guardian" - was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, and sisters of the Graeae, Echidna, and Ladon. She loved carnage and chilling with her brother, God of War, Ares. Classic Mythology IV trading card set scheduled to release in early Summer 2023. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Shesha in turn was supported on Kurma and when Kurma moved, Shesha stirred and yawned and the gaping of its jaws caused earthquakes.[14]. Some versions of the character emphasize her feminine features, while she is given more attributes of a snake at times when shes shown as particularly monstrous. He locked up Danae in a bronze chamber. Gorgon Medusa. In games and books, however, she actively attacks her enemies or lures them in with her sexuality. In popular culture, Medusa has retained the duality between a sympathetic female figure and a dangerous monster. The gods often carried their lovers away or used deceit to get their way. The nymphs gladly lent Perseus the treasures Athena had sent him for. The snakes are painstakingly gathered and washed before the ceremony, which also involves members of the Antelope Clan. In an unusual and macabre turn of events, Medusas death was only the beginning of her adventures. The later Gorgon sisters were not the same monster, but a later generation of the same type. The blood and gore that dripped from her neck were portrayed in graphic detail. Norse gods and their similar greek counter part by Jessica Helmers - Prezi In sculpture, mosaics, and painting, the Gorgon began to lose her more beastly attributes. When he arrived at the sisters lair, the Gorgon was sleeping. Jormungand, one of three children of the shape-shifting god Loki and the giantess Angrboda, was thrown into the sea by Odin, father of the powerful thunder god Thor. Frigg is similar to Hera as the patron of marriage and motherhood. The story of Perseuss defeat of the Gorgon is one of the most legendary in Greek mythology. This symbol has many interpretations, one of which is the snake representing cyclical nature of life and death, life feeding on itself in the act of creation. In the state of Kerala, India, snake shrines occupy most households. Mythology medusa forearm piece Insta: @leigh . [2], The West African kingdom of Dahomey regarded snakes as immortal because they appeared to be reincarnated from themselves when they sloughed their skins. The creatures would remain common in North Africa forever after. Ancient Greek Myth in Assassin's Creed Odyssey: Medusa, The Minotaur Humanities | Special Issue : Greek Mythology & Modern Culture Medusa did nothing wrong. In ancient Aztec mythology, Quetzalcoatl was the son of the fertility earth goddess, Cihuacoatl, and cloud serpent and hunting god, Maxicoat. Bellerophon knew that the task would be much easier if he could attack the Chimera from the air and the hero . The power of Medusas head was so potent that it could petrify even the largest and strongest of the Titans. Gaia, Rhea, and Demeter, for example, are often seen as three closely-bound earth goddesses. This myth, a later addition to the story of Atlas, explained the creation of the Atlas Mountain range in North Africa. The three gray-skinned sisters of the Gorgons were born with only one eye which they shared between them. Norse mythology. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Did Archaeologists Find the Minotaurs Labyrinth? "He stared at Medusa and Medusa stared at him, and in this moment that made his dreams come true." - S.J. Feminists reinterpreted Medusa as a woman who used her anger to avenge herself on the male gaze. Hesiod would write the story that would become well-known. With their mortal sister gone, the other two Gorgons faded out of legend. Hesiod claimed that the head mentioned in Homers works was that of only one Gorgon, Medusa. According to some myths, Medusa, the most famous of the Gorgons, was originally a beautiful woman. Three-part deities are a common theme in ancient mythology, particularly in Indo-European tradition. Why is Medusa Important? - Myth Nerd To them, the initial punishment and the subsequent death were both justified. Snakes were regularly regarded as guardians of the Underworld or messengers between the Upper and Lower worlds, because they lived in cracks and holes in the ground. Attic tradition, however, said that the Gorgons were created specifically to be enemies of the gods. They were created by Gaia to help the giants in their war against Zeus and the Olympians. His first mission was to find and defeat the Graeae. Hesiod said they flicked their tongues, much like snakes. Athena also told him where to find further assistance. Gods of Chaos: 7 Different Chaos Gods from Around the World The most famous story of Medusa is that of her death at the hands of the great hero Perseus. "Norse mythology hints at Odinic cults, with Odin being worshipped through a combination of ecstatic and seemingly shamanistic rituals. Many Greek goddesses are not explicitly named as a single being in three parts, but are often interpreted within this archetype. . The vision of Medusa as a victim of tyranny continues today. I guess this makes Pegasus, Chrysaor and Amphisbaena triplets, haha!
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