Medusa: An Approach to Her Figure

When we hear the name of the Gorgon, the most famous among them likely comes to mind: Medusa. However, any idea about this figure stems from the Greek myth of Perseus and Medusa. Therefore, to understand the only mortal among her sisters, it is necessary to introduce her through iconography and mythology to get closer to what truly interests us: her importance in modern times.

The Gorgons were three sisters, daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, marine deities who gave birth to this trio, with only one being mortal: Medusa. According to Hesiod, Poseidon united with her in a meadow, becoming pregnant with two creatures born from the decapitation of Medusa by Perseus: Chrysaor and Pegasus (Hesiod, 1978, p.88). However, it is Ovid who provides us with more information. In his ode on 'Perseus and Medusa,' he describes her as the only one with snakes in her hair, but this is due to her being a beautiful young servant of Athena who was taken in the temple of the goddess (Ovid, 1981, p.89). Following this thread, we must address an issue related to Athena, goddess of wisdom, but also of chastity and virginity... among other virtues. Any sexual act in her temple is considered an offense to the goddess as she embodies the aforementioned quality of virginity. In response to the incident, Athena condemned Medusa by transforming her beauty into its opposite, completely disfiguring her appearance and terrifying anyone who dared to look at her. Pindar, on the contrary, in his Pythian odes mentions the aspect of the Gorgons as women with ugly mouths and snakes in their hair but also states that Medusa was the most beautiful, who, like in Ovid's work, was beheaded by Perseus at the request of Polydectes to interrupt her mother's engagement, helped by Athena and Hermes. However, in his twelfth ode where this is collected, Pindar adds that when the two immortal sisters saw their sister fall defeated and motionless due to an unexpected death, they turned blind (Pindar, 1883, pp. 186-187).

Based on the iconography that has come down to us, it can be said that the Gorgons were evidently monstrous beings with fangs, wings, and the power or ability to blind anyone who dared to look at them. However, with all this, we can fit together the pieces of the myth from which it originates, the already mentioned 'Perseus and Medusa' myth. To begin with, Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, the only mortal among her sisters serving the goddess Athena, daughter of Zeus. While in the temple she was violated by Poseidon, who left her pregnant. Considering this act a sin for the deity of wisdom, she condemned Medusa through her beauty; turning her beautiful hair into snakes. Simultaneously, Perseus, son of Danae and Zeus, to avoid Polydectes' engagement or to take revenge on him had to bring the head of said Gorgon. For this, he received help from Athena and Hermes. Upon killing Medusa, two mythical creatures were born: Pegasus and Chrysaor. Finally, her head would be embedded in Athena's aegis and passed down to great Roman emperors or heroes.

But why is the character relevant today? Medusa functions as an element between life and death, for she has the ability to end others' lives and "give birth" to her children. Additionally, her blood was used by Asclepius, god of medicine and healing, to revive the dead. While she undergoes a significant artistic evolution where she is always shown being severed, appearing irascible, opaque, and even sad, ultimately: as a victim. In modern times, this message that once resonated in a completely different society no longer exists or at least, while there are representations that sexualize her, it is not the most common to find. The feminist theorist Hélène Cixous, whom we rely on, argues that it is men who have created the Gorgon's story through fear of desire for their opposite gender, as the female body is a threat (Christobel, 2018).

For author Isabel Ortega, Medusa suffered three exiles. The first she understands as that of her own body, which unites several monsters and thus appears terrifying. The second addresses the unknown place where she resides, one no being dares to approach. Lastly, her head. Once the mythological character dies, it passes from hand to hand. Therefore, the aforementioned author argues that Medusa with her exile is considered a tragic figure who feels and suffers but whose power has been taken away along with all ties that bound her, for example, to her children: Chrysaor and Pegasus. Medusa's maternity is denied, among other denials such as speech. She communicates through the snakes in her hair (Ortega Rion, 2017).

Therefore, we are faced with a character whose myth portrays her as an antagonist when she is truly the real victim.

Another point is that in her, one has seen a victim of rape or sexual abuse, a judgment where the other party remains completely unpunished. The petrification, her "curse," is the horror of the event itself, the punishment leading to a fatal end. With campaigns like #MeToo, the vision of the Gorgon transforms entirely to give visibility and empowerment to the victim. She is not a defeated Medusa but rather a representation—beyond digital art, even crossing skin with tattoos—whose meaning is pure symbolism of strength, bravery or struggle. Becoming an important character and icon for this sector of the population that unfortunately has been affected by such episodes. Without abandoning the symbol of protection as used by the goddess of wisdom, because she seeks to reclaim what was taken from her: power... And there lies the importance of modern Medusas.

Bibliography

Hesiod (1978). Theogony. Luarna Editions.

Ovid (1981). Metamorphoses. Editorial Bruguera.

Ortega Rion, I. (February 7, 2017). Medusa: the silence of the monster. https://raco.cat/index.php/Aurora/article/view/322569

Pindar (1883). Odes. Editor Luis Navarro.

Hastings, C. (May 6, 2018). Medusa: a rape victim turned monster. Infobae. https://www.infobae.com/america/vice/2018/05/06/medusa-una-victima-de-violacion-convertida-en-monstruo/