Perseus, Medusa and Poseidon Myth and Story

Other Articles | February 21, 2011

Medusa, along with her sisters, Euryale and Stheno, were the daughters of the sea Titans Porcys and Ceto. Among the three, Medusa was the most beautiful and youngest (she was also the only mortal one of the three). Three of them were served as priestesses to the goddess of the wisdom, Athena.

One day, Poseidon (Neptune) was felling in love with Medusa. In a moment of raw passion, Poseidon raped her inside the temple of Athena. Perhaps in anger, the three sisters became vindictive and petty toward men.

Appalled either by the sacrilegious sexual act, or by the sisters’ pettiness, Athena transformed Medusa including her sisters (all of whom were now wicked) into hideous monsters with dragon’s wings, scary scaly skin and hair formed of dozens of coiling snakes. Not only that, for those who dare to stare directly at the gorgons’ eyes would be instantly transformed into a stone.

Medusa and her sisters became even more cruel and vicious. They took great pleasure in torturing people until the day when Perseus, the son of Danae cut off her head with his magical sword. Upon her death, the seeds of the union of Medusa and Poseidon germinated into the young beautiful colt named Pegasus and another winged horse named Chrysoar

, who sprang forth when Medusa’s blood made contact with the seafoam.

Medusa was also known as the Serpent Goddess of Wisdom and the Libyan Queen. She was called the Libyan Queen because people believed Gorgons were located in Libya and not the underworld.

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