In Greek mythology, Medusa (Greek: Μέδουσα, Médousa, "guardian, protectress"), was a monstrous chthonic female character, essentially an extension of an apotropaic mask, whose gaze could turn onlookers to stone. She was born of Phorcys and Ceto or in some cases, Typhon and Echidna (Pre-Titan gods) she had two sisters, Stheno and Euryale both of whom were immortal, Medusa was not. They lived on an island at the end of the world.

In other versions she was a human with blonde hair and she had no sisters. She slept with Poseidon in Athena's temple, so Athena punished Medusa by turning her into a monster with hair made of snakes and is sometimes described to be half snake herself!

She was later killed by Perseus who was instructed to do so by Athena. He used Hades's clap of invisibility, winged sandals from Hermes, a sword and a mirrored shield. After killing her from her blood sprouted Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor. Perseus then flew off the island on Pegasus to escape her sisters who had woken up!




Very famous painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)