The Gorgon, Medusa, was a monster in Greek mythology but everything in Greek mythology always represented something in the real world. Zeus represented power, Hades represented fairness in death, but what did a mortal who turned into a monster, like Medusa, represent?
Medusa, the most famous of the Gorgon sisters, represented an array of things to the Greeks. She represented the sexuality of men and the ancient Greek’s views towards women. The Gorgon was also a representation of protection and had symbols.
The Greeks loved to romanticize their culture in the form of Greek mythology and every character in it represented something about their culture. This extends to even monsters like Medusa which really showed us how the ancient Greeks viewed the things around them.
What Was The Meaning of Medusa’s Creation?
Medusa’s story showed us the representation of women in ancient Greek society and how people viewed them. She was also a ward of sorts for the Greeks to protect themselves against the negativity in life.
A View of Ancient Sexuality
The tragedy of Medusa reflected how ancient Greece viewed women and their attitude towards them. Men back in the day didn’t have the same level of respect for women as they do today because each gender had a different role in society.
In Medusa’s story, the Gorgon was born a beautiful mortal among her hideous immortal siblings which people saw as a blessing for her. Her luscious hair was her most defining feature and she wasn’t shy of flaunting herself to others either.
When the God of the Sea, Poseidon, was mesmerized by her beauty and forced himself onto her, she was clearly the victim here. Unfortunately, the Goddess Athena didn’t see it that way and punished her because she couldn’t punish the God for his defilement.
In ancient Greece, women were usually accused of provoking men with their image or their personality and are usually blamed when anything happens to them. Snakes were often connected to deception as well which reflected on the trust men put in women back in those days.
It wasn’t the most pleasant of behaviors but history does teach us its lessons and we should learn from them. Fortunately, the times have changed and people have started to realize the flaw in their reasoning.
Medusa, who was once thought of as a boastful mortal who deserved to be turned into a monster, is now seen in a more sympathetic view by modern standards.
Empowering Women
It might come as a surprise but the name “Medusa” actually means “to protect” and this actually reflects in the mythology. Medusa was protective of her chastity and rejected Poseidon’s advances when the God tried to seduce her.
Not only that, but Medusa is often used as a symbol of rage in feminism. This seems odd as she was originally a very beautiful mortal.
Reflecting Oneself
Some people tend to connect Medusa’s story with self-reflection and link Medusa to the darkest parts of one’s soul. Her petrifying gaze turns men into stone but only towards those who look at her hideous appearance.
The myth tells us that the only way to defeat Medusa is by looking at our reflections through a mirror and this tells us that we should reflect upon ourselves to defeat our darkest demons. People often “turn into stone” when faced with their own difficulties and inner demons.
What Are The Symbols of Medusa
Just like any other figure in Greek mythology, Medusa had her own symbols that represented things in the culture of Greece. She was a monster in her story but her symbols were often used for the good of mankind however ironic it is to hear.
The Snake
No doubt to be the most commonly linked symbol of Medusa, the snake is a symbol of the Gorgon that represented many things. Medusa’s snakes were said to represent the cycle of life, rebirth, and death.
Snakes shed their skin regularly, which symbolizes the “death” of their previous self and grow into their new skins during their “rebirth”. The Greeks believed most snakes to be poisonous as well which represents the end of a life cycle.
Many in Greek culture also link snakes to a woman’s menstruation cycle which relates to the cycle of life and death as well. The beginning of the cycle represents an opportunity to bring in new life while the later parts represent the end of life.
In the Artemis temple of Corfu, Medusa is depicted in archaic form as a symbol of fertility with a belt of intertwined snakes on her body. Her snakes have also made her one of the most popular characters from Greek mythology, with her modern depictions being widely used in modern media.
Protection
Many don’t know this because Medusa is a monster but her name actually means “to protect”. Some believed that Medusa was the Libyan Goddess, Neith, who was the Goddess of Hunting and War.
Her symbols were a shield that frequently appeared above her head in ancient hieroglyphics which was why she was killed with a reflective shield in Greek mythology. It was said that she protected those who were at war and during the hunt.
In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. 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.
Seems a little ironic that a monster like Medusa would be used as a way to keep family protected against the evils of the world.
Conclusion
Medusa was a monster in Greek mythology but she represented some real-world problems for the Greeks and the rest of the world. Her existence reflected on the behavior of men during ancient times in Greece and shows how much have we advanced since then.
She was also a powerful representation of facing one’s inner demons and how self-reflection can make you into a better person. Modern feminism often uses Medusa as a symbol of their rage against the stigmatization of female sexuality.
Her snakes are undoubtedly one of the better-known symbols in Greek mythology. The symbol of her snakes is closely related to life itself as well as the cycle of rebirth. In some cases, Medusa was even considered to be a symbol of fertility.
Moreover, the Gorgon was also seen as a symbol of protection to ward off the evils and negativity of life. Ironic how a woman seen as a monster to men is used as a symbol of protection for the same people who wrote about her story.
