What did Medusa originally look like?

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. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head.

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What does the original Medusa look like?

During this time, Medusa is depicted as a monster; she has a round face, wide eyes, a beard, and a gaping mouth with an extended tongue and gnashing, sharp teeth (39.11. 9).

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What did Medusa look like before she was turned?

As one of the Gorgon sisters, she was originally a golden-haired, fair maiden, beautiful and kind-natured. Medusa devoted herself to a life of celibacy in the name of her goddess, Athena.

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What did Medusa look like after she was cursed?

When Medusa had an affair with the sea god Poseidon, Athena punished her. She turned Medusa into a hideous hag, making her hair into writhing snakes and her skin was turned a greenish hue. Anyone who locked gaze with Medusa was turned into stone.

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Why did Medusa's appearance change?

Once, she had been a young woman with lovely hair who attracted the attention of Poseidon himself. But when he raped her in Athena's temple, the goddess punished the girl by transforming her enviable locks into hideous snakes. Sympathetic artists took note, and images of Medusa became increasingly human.

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10 Ancient Greek Myths That Turned Out To Be True

28 related questions found

Who was Medusa before she was evil?

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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What color was Medusa's skin?

Her pure white milky skin turned a scary green hue. From then on she roamed, shamed, shunned and loathed by everyone. Thence, by Athena's curse anyone she looked upon turned to stone.

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How did Medusa get pregnant?

Ovid especially praises the glory of her hair, “most wonderful of all her charms.” The great sea god Poseidon seems to have shared this admiration, for once he couldn't resist the temptation and impregnated Medusa in a temple of Athena.

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Who was Medusa in love with?

Medusa and Poseidon engaged in a love affair and would have two children together, but not before Athena discovered the illicit affair. When Athena discovered the affair, she was enraged and immediately cursed Medusa by taking away her beauty.

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What happens if you stare Medusa?

Gazing into Medusa's eyes could turn a person into stone, so she was very dangerous to be around. People wanted her destroyed, and a man named Perseus promised to do just that. But first he had to figure out how to approach Medusa without looking at her for even a moment.

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What ethnicity was Medusa?

Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. 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.

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Who impregnated Medusa?

The Gorgon Medusa

Medusa was a temptress among the gods, and Poseidon had impregnated the mortal while in the temple of Athena.

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Was Medusa male or female?

Anyone who looked them in the face would turn to stone. Of the three, Medusa was the only mortal Gorgon. In Ovid's telling, she was once a beautiful maiden. But after Poseidon, the god of the sea, raped her in the temple of Athena, the goddess sought revenge for what she viewed as an act of defilement.

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Did Medusa actually have snake hair?

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 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 is the sad story of Medusa?

In the original story, the Medusa was a beautiful woman who held a very positive role. Tragedy fell upon her when she was confronted with endless hardships brought upon by male actions. Medusa was a beautiful woman who was raped, killed and beheaded by various gods.

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Why is Medusa the victim?

Medusa. The Medusa we know was raped by Poseidon in the goddess Athena's temple. Athena then punished her for desecrating her sacred space by cursing Medusa with a head full of snakes and a gaze that turns men to stone. Then, a heroic Perseus severed the serpent-headed Medusa, turning her into a trophy.

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Can Medusa turn females to stone?

The Gorgon sisters were Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. Their gaze could turn anyone who looked at them to stone, regardless of gender.

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Is Athena jealous of Medusa?

In fact, Athena was jealous of Medusa's beauty and lustrous hair. Poseidon ravaged her and took what she held dearly, her purity. Athena, outraged by this incident, cursed Medusa and turned her wonderful hair into venomous snakes, her beautiful face turned so ugly that any man who gazed upon would turn to stone.

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Were Hercules and Medusa lovers?

Hercules loves Medusa so much that he gave his last remaining link to his father to Circe for exchange for Circe making Medusa love him. The magic worked but it made Medusa nearly die. Hercules and Medusa Hercules worked hard to save her and eventually did thanks to Jason and Pythagoras.

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Did Medusa have snakes or eyes?

In Greek mythology, Medusa was one of the three Gorgons. Medusa's head had snakes instead of hair and eyes that turned those looking at her into stone.

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How tall is Medusa?

Then brace yourself because you're in for one of the tallest vertical loops in the world – a whopping 128 feet.

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Did Medusa have dreadlocks?

The original, real life Medusa, supposedly had dreads and the origin of dreads through ancient discoveries existed before the fictional Medusa character was recreated.

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Was Medusa a victim or villain?

Throughout history, Medusa got the bad reputation as a scornful, evil woman who turns people into stone with a mere glance. However, much like most women of ancient mythology, she was a victim of patriarchal societal norms.

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What does Medusa tattoo symbolize?

In general, however, Medusa tattoos are a symbol of survival, often from sexual abuse, sexual assault or rape. For some, the significance of Medusa is simply meant to ward off evil and negativity in general.

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