Medusa is the only one who is mortal and that is why the hero Perseus is sent to slay her. I know you wrote this comment nearly a year ago, but Im actually writing a paper on this (which got me into Hellenism, but thats a whole other thing). Beauty, like monstrosity, enthralls, and female beauty in particular was perceived and, to a certain extent, is still perceived to be both enchanting and dangerous, or even fatal.. The phoenix is an important symbol of life, death, and rebirth and is a popular image to get tattooed because of its incredible meaning. The story has always been heavily discussed by classics scholars because of the very gendered image of Perseus cutting Medusas head off and the castration anxiety that became very popular around any type of chopping in psychoanalysis, especially after Sigmund Freuds Das Medusenhaupt (Medusas Head) was published in 1940 after his death. Medusa was a worshiper of Athena and a guardian of her temple. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. She was one of the three Gorgons, or literally "the terrible ones.". Here we discuss Medusa as a goddess, gorgon, and icon AND we teach you 8 ways to work with her fierce energy. In ancient greek mythology, medusa was a beautiful priestess of Athena. There is an alluring nature to Medusa, as she is both siren and saint she is the complicated woman we all understand and fear. I would be super interested in reading your source materials if youre willing (I think I can get around the paywall by using my universitys library so its worth a shot) or I would also like to read your paper whenever youre dont with it if thats easier! The Hamsa is a talisman from the ancient Middle East. She helps females to attain their primes and become who they choose to be. Use this symbol to keep you safe on your travels as did ancient sailors who would paint it on the sides of their boats. Evil Eye. Ancient Egyptians used the Eye of Horus to provide protection. However, the Greek evil eye talisman is believed to specifically protect against a malevolent glare - the "evil eye" - given to an unsuspecting person. Best Greek Mythology Tattoos And Their Meanings. In other words, symbolic decapitation, is a symptom of the real dangers that women face in a culture that is anxious about the powers of masculinity. Cixous demonstrates these points by claiming Freud himself is reductive and neglects to address the female experience in the Medusa myth, thereby erasing her experience, or, symbolically decapitating her as well. Medusa was r*ped by Poseidon in Athena's temple and Athena was wrong for punishing her. Team Zutara forever. Business, Economics, and Finance. So basically, Im wondering which is the most accurate? Medusa represents feminine power. She was a beautiful goddess and was desired by many. Originally born in Weirton West Virginia she spent most of her life in Pittsburgh PA. . and rebirth and can be inked as a symbol of protection, warding off evil and keeping the wearer safe from harm. Statues of Medusa were used to guard Pagan Greek temples. A writer of all things gender, culture, and travel. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. Therefore, to enhance your intellectual power, try keeping an image of medusa around you. The masculine part is the rigid, convinced, and hard-hearted aspect of us, while the feminine side is the tender, emotional, loving, and caring part of us. Medusa's head as a symbol of horror was classically worn upon her dress by the virgin goddess Athena. Sculptors and painters would use the Medusa head as an apotropaic symbol to ward. Thankfully, we have collectively realized that the person who deserves to have his head cut off is Neptune, and hopefully one day that revenge fiction will be brought to the big screen. The goddess's shield has a gorgon head in the center. The Gorgon, Medusa, was a monster in Greek mythology but everything in Greek mythology always represented something in the real world. The beginning of the cycle represents an opportunity to bring in new life while the later parts represent the end of life. It wasnt the most pleasant of behaviors but history does teach us its lessons and we should learn from them. It was said that she protected those who were at war and during the hunt. When the God of the Sea, Poseidon, was mesmerized by her beauty and forced himself onto her, she was clearly the victim here. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. 1. Pharaohs would often be entombed wearing Wadjet amulets, and it was intended to protect them in the afterlife and ward off evil forces. That's why it's considered protective. The Gorgon was also a representation of protection and had symbols. She was killed by Zeusbefore he fought his father and the Titans for power. She is transformed from a seeing subject to merely seen object, a demeaned and faceless body. Keeping an image of medusa in front of your door wards off evil spirits. According to some myths, this was the real head of Medusa. You will see this in movies like clash of the titans. The ability to be confident and proud of your gender stems from medusa. feelings originating in powerful oral impulses, and, for women, a means for resolving in fantasy the resentment arising from the lack of a penis. Although other greek mythology claimed that she was a priestess and one of the 3 monstrous gorgons, which are known as 3 winged females. While the wild red locks of Edvard Munchs 1902 lithograph The Sin (Woman with Red Hair and Green Eyes), or Dante Gabriel Rossettis Lady Lilith (1867) with the Pre-Raphaelite subject brushing her long hair, are more of a stretch in the narrative, they reinforce the ongoing artistic portrayal of women as dangerous through their looks or power. What does this mean? Whether you see her as a monster or more of that, the fact is that Medusa slithering her way into being more than meets the eye. To become confident in your feminine gender, you should try keeping medusas image with you. Ideally, Medusa's face is so repulsive and terrifying that it will repel evil entities. Seventeen contemporary artists of the African Diaspora explore how movement and migration shape their artistic practices and lives. Crypto Furthermore, she advocates for the respect of the feminine gender. In fact, her name means Queen, and her sisters have similar positive names, whereas Perseus means to destroy and if that doesnt mean something, I dont know what does. Medusa's name derives from an ancient Greek verb that means "to protect and guard," which may be a nod to Athena's attempt to guard and protect Medusa from further abuse at the hands of Poseidon and other men. According to The Met Museum, Medusa is portrayed in most Greek art as an "apotropaic symbol used to protect and ward off the negative," representing a "dangerous threat meant to deter other. What does Medusa Symbolize? Following the moment her head was removed, a Pegasus flew out of her body, representing the birth of beauty. To ensure your safety from spiritual attacks, try to keep a medusa symbol in front of your home. Can you now see the reason for her plight? Even into the 19th century, as the romanticization continued, her eyes did not close. Medusa is so alluring to us, because she is the image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness. She is seductive to us in her contemporary application and dimensionality. Upon witnessing this act the goddess Minerva turned Medusa into the snake hair monster with the cold-stone stare that we all know her as. In 1950 his uncompleted essay, Medusas Head, was posthumously published. Her writhing hair of serpents became wild curls, with maybe a couple of serpents beneath her chin to hint at her more bestial origins. Beyond the stories we have heard about this goddess, there are things to learn from her, which can be applied to our daily living. Its Medusas fault for being so beautiful. Dangerous Beauty boldly mingles objects from across centuries in the compact exhibition. The tattoo design is empowering for women and can also be seductive. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The fair fosters a welcoming environment for all those with an appreciation for art, regardless of background or technical know-how. It might come as a surprise but the name Medusa actually means to protect and this actually reflects in the mythology. Freud considered that as a result, she became the unapproachable woman who repels all sexual desire by carrying (symbolically) the genitals of the mother. . If humans werent so tempting then maybe most of the male gods wouldnt be serial rapists. [emailprotected]. This is exactly why the story of Medusa continues to captivate us because she is a character that demands to be reimagined, she pushes back against the story that places Perseus at its center, who claims him to be blameless and heroic. From a feminist perspective, Medusas story seems a cautionary tale of the symbolic decapitation of women and a loss of ones power. As Elizabeth Johnston claims in her 2016 Atlantic essay, Medusa may be the original Nasty Woman. In 2020, it might be easy to chastise the women in the 90s who called Medusa the most horrific woman, but perhaps we would be better suited to remind ourselves just how recently things have begun to change. She was likened to the modern evil eye and people believed that they needed an image of evil to ward off other evils that could affect them. Her story always starts in these objects when her power is possessed, her head severed and turned into a weapon, whether shes a damsel in distress or a monster. In Ovids story, Medusa is no longer the same monster that had tusks and wings. She is revered for this power and grants wisdom to everyone that asks for it. In the new and annotated edition of Metamorphoses (highly recommend), it becomes clear that in the eyes of the Romans, Minervas wrath against a rape victim is seen as just, same as with Atalantas rape punishment (getting turned into a lion). Her decapitation is in direct result of male anxiety about maintaining power and control. This will also encourage you to always keep to your words. Want more stories like this? Modern feminism often uses Medusa as a symbol of their rage against the stigmatization of female sexuality. They represent female power Medusa tattoos are a great way to express your feminine power and independence. Passionate about spirituality, numerology and spiritual accounts. Romans were part of the Greek world, and yes a Gorgon head was an apotropaic symbol in the broader Greek world too. Indian artist Diptej Vernekar attached puppets of Hindu avatars to exercise equipment that anyone could activate and engage with. It also tells you to be confident in your physical looks. Without the support of the gods, he would have been petrified like every other warrior. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! Chariot pole finial with the head of Medusa (detail) (Roman, Imperial, 1st2nd century CE), bronze, silver, and copper, height: 7 1/4 inches, width: 7 inches; diameter: 4 1/4 inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Rogers Fund, 1918). Lotus Flower (Asia) Red lotus flower. Many people have heard about Medusa and her tragic tale but not much is known about the Gorgon herself. The symbol appeared on ships and pharaohs entombed in the pyramids wore an Eye of Horus amulet around their neck. She is a woman who represents a conflicting view of femininity, one that is seemingly alluring but with a threatening or sinister underside. The femme fatale archetype has found permanence in our storytelling, and confirms to us that: to be both beautiful and fearsome to be a woman who has bodily autonomy and anger is not at all normative and that those women must be cast aside or have power taken from them. The Medusa head became a symbol of protection because it wards off invaders and turns anyone who gets top close into stone. Because of the origin of medusa, she is an emblem of deep spirituality. She went against her vow and married him. Open March 31 through April 2. The Classical period of Greek art from 480 to 323 BCE further associated beauty with danger when Medusa, the sirens, sphinxes, and Scylla all got a little hotter, losing some scales and wings as their bodies were more and more humanized. Hyperallergic is a forum for serious, playful, and radical thinking about art in the world today. Reading Carol Ann Duffy's The World's Wife has got me thinking about historic women, particularly Medusa. Often times, this has allowed us to garner some sort of fable-like lesson from the stories of the Illiad or Metamorphoses. Victim in Stone Benvenuto Cellini , Perseus with the Head of Medusa, 1545-1554, Florence. To the Egyptians, it was a symbol of protection and royal power. Ultimately Freud and Ferencais conclusions are that women have anxieties because they do not have penises. Medusa was one of three daughters born with extraordinary beauty and stunning hair. If she had not sworn an oath of celibacy, She might not suffer the grave consequences that befell her after Poseidon slept with her. All three are originally described as having tusks, wings, and the infamously iconic snake hair. Venus was a Roman goddess who symbolized sex, fertility, love, beauty, desire, and prosperity. Born of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, it is often forgotten that Medusa herself is a goddess of the sea. The first depiction of Medusa can be dated back from a poem by Homer as being part of the three gorgon sisters, Stheno and Euryale. They were described as being winged With snakes for hair and having a hatred of mortal man.. Shoulder Medusa Tattoo Fabio Mauro Symbol Sage points out, "The beheading of Medusa can be seen as symbolic of silencing powerful women who voice their sentiments." Further to this ability to turn people into stone, depictions of Medusa were used as a type of protection against evil. On a 570 BCE terracotta stand, Medusa is comically hideous, and fully bearded, sticking out her tongue between two tusks. While she may be known for her monstrosity, her beauty remains just as dangerous. In order to punish her, Athena curses Medusa by replacing her beautiful hair with a head of venomous snakes and making it so anyone who looks into her eyes will be turned to stone. pic.twitter.com/u61VAuxhJ8. You can either pray to her or keep her image with you. If you also desire wisdom and deep understanding, keep a medusa bracelet with you and mediate on it constantly. Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of Medusas story is that she was pregnant with Poseidons child when she was killed. Medusa can be given to you as a sign and message. Historically, the figure of Medusa has been used to ward off evil. visittuscany.com Medusa is seen as a powerful symbol of female intelligence and wisdom, related to the goddess Metis . In a new study, researchers propose that the mind creates an opinion of an artwork after dissecting it into discrete elements. Medusa was once a powerful feminine symbol, with control over the natural cycle and in harmony with the worlds of earth and sky. Black And Gray Tattoos. In the 1994 book, Female Rage: Unlocking Its Secrets, Claiming Its Power, the authors claimed that when they asked women what female rage looked like to them, it was always Medusawho came to mindIn one interview after another they were told that Medusa is the most horrific woman in the world. None of the women they interview could remember the details of the myth, and perhaps, had they been able to, they would have had a different perspective. She was no longer depicted as a monster like it was written in the stories about her. as an almost comically hideous figure, with a lolling tongue, full beard, and bulging eyes. Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art, in a 2017 essay on Medusa in Ancient Greek Art, which you can also hear on the Mets site, From Ancient Egypt to Teotihuacn, Centuries-Old Palettes Illuminate the Role of the Painter, Tucked Away in LA For Decades, 2,000-Year-Old Roman Mosaic Returns to Italy, Manhattan DA to Seize Looted Hindu Artifact From Met Museum, Roe v. 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