Is Medusa's hair a snake?

Medusa is best known for having hair made of snakes and for her ability to turn anyone she looked at to stone, literally to petrify.

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Was Medusa's hair actually snakes?

Medusa was a character from ancient Greek mythology known for her terrifying ability to turn people to stone. She was one of the Gorgons: three sisters with human bodies, large wings, and hair made of living snakes.

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What type of snake is Medusa's hair?

Vipers. Vipers were considered to be the most venomous and feared snakes of the ancient Greece. Almost every feared and hideous monsters the Greek mythology had, were viper containing monsters, like kampe and many others.

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How many snakes are in Medusa's hair?

In this popular version the Medusa is a monster with hair of a thousand snakes. She is under a curse which causes everything she looks at to turn to stone.

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Is Medusa's hair venomous?

The Gorgon Medusa of Greek mythology was a beast of horrifying powers. She had venomous snakes for hair and eyes with petrifying powers. The Gorgon Medusa is arguably Greek Mythology's most famous being. Everyone has seen her face at least once.

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This Is Why Medusa Has Snakes On Her Hair

18 related questions found

How did Medusa's hair turn to snakes?

The snake-haired Medusa does not become widespread until the first century B.C. The Roman author Ovid describes the mortal Medusa as a beautiful maiden seduced by Poseidon in a temple of Athena. Such a sacrilege attracted the goddess' wrath, and she punished Medusa by turning her hair to snakes.

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How did Medusa's sisters get snakes for hair?

In a late version of the Medusa myth, by the Roman poet Ovid (Metamorphoses 4.794–803), Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden, but when Neptune/Poseidon had sex with her in Minerva/Athena's temple, Minerva punished Medusa by transforming her beautiful hair into horrible snakes.

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Was Medusa pregnant when she died?

Medusa's Children · The Lament of the Gorgons

For Medusa was pregnant at the time of her death, and when Perseus severed her head, her two unborn children, Chrysaor and Pegasus, suddenly sprang from her neck.

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How long is Medusa's hair?

Medusa possesses prehensile hair, and she can not only control the growth and movement of it, but can maneuver each strand individually. Uncontrolled, her tougher-than-steel hair is naturally more than six feet long. She maintains this control even when the hair has been cut from her head.

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Who killed Medusa and why?

Discover. Meet Perseus, a demigod of Greek mythology who was famous for killing Medusa by cutting off her head, which he displays in one hand. Medusa had live, hissing snakes for hair, and anyone who looked at her face instantly turned to stone.

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What color were Medusa's eyes?

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful woman named Medusa. She had ravishing locks and exquisite blue eyes, looks that didn't go unnoticed by many a male suitor. She was pursued by Poseidon for whom she had mutual affection.

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What color are Medusa's snakes?

Some Greek artists depicted Medusa as having a beautiful human face with green snakes for hair, while others represent Medusa as a hideous monster with a reptilian body. In many interpretations of Medusa, she has a link with the colour green. Many paintings of Medusa show her snakes as being bright green.

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Who was Medusa in love with?

Poseidon was enamored by Medusa's beauty, and Medusa returned the same feelings. Medusa and Poseidon engaged in a love affair and would have two children together, but not before Athena discovered the illicit affair.

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Where is Medusa head now?

The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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Is there any evidence of Medusa?

The short answer is no, medusa was not real. For someone who has been depicted as a monster with poisonous snakes for hair, having the ability to turn men into stone, it may seem evident that Medusa was not a real historical figure.

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What was Medusa before she was cursed?

Legend states that Medusa was once a beautiful, avowed priestess of Athena who was cursed for breaking her vow of celibacy. She is not considered a goddess or Olympian, but some variations on her legend say she consorted with one. When Medusa had an affair with the sea god Poseidon, Athena punished her.

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Why is Medusa blind?

Medusa is a snake-haired monster whose eyes can turn people into solid stone. Due to this, she keeps her eyelids closed to prevent her curse from affecting those around her, rendering her blind.

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Why can't Medusa look at herself?

So the answer can depend on which version exactly you follow. But commonly, she was thought to have been cursed by Athena to have her hideous visage, snake-like hair and petrifying gaze. This occurred due to the outrage Athena felt when she learned that Poseidon had raped Medusa in one of her temples.

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What was Medusa's height?

Medusa has recently wed Black Bolt, thus becoming the queen of the Inhumans, after the customary several year royal engagement period was over. She and Black Bolt are expecting a child. Height: 5 ft. 11 in.

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Did Medusa get pregnant by Poseidon?

So, when Poseidon raped Medusa she became pregnant. When her head was chopped off by Perseus, her children came to be. Pegasus and Chrysaor sprung from the severed neck of Medusa. Pegasus is also one of the most famous characters in Greek mythology, the winged white horse.

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How did Poseidon impregnate Medusa?

Fact #1: Poseidon had Children with Medusa

Medusa was once a beautiful woman. Medusa was a maiden who served Athena in her temple. As Medusa was in Athena's temple, Poseidon raped her and impregnated her with two children.

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Did Medusa seduce Poseidon?

According to the Roman poet Ovid's version of the myth, Medusa, as a mortal had taken an oath of chastity, however Poseidon, lusting after her, forced himself upon her and raped her inside the temple of Athena.

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Why did Athena punish Medusa?

She was lovely, according to the poem—until she was raped in Athena's temple by Poseidon. Athena then punished her for this violation, by turning her into the monstrous, stony-glanced creature that we know.

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What does Medusa tattoo symbolize?

Medusa is portrayed in most tattoo art as a “symbol used to protect and defend against dangerous elements” and “to ward off evil with one evil image after another. But for others, her reptilian skin and hair may also symbolize the cycle of life.

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What is the most famous story about Medusa?

The best-known story of Medusa comes from the Roman poet Ovid. Medusa was seduced by Neptune (Poseidon) in a temple to Minerva (Athena), and in revenge, Minerva turned Medusa's beautiful head of hair into snakes. As she was both mortal and had the ability to turn men to stone, Perseus was sent to cut off her head.

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