#SHE CURSED MEDUSA FOR BEING VIOLATED!!! SHE SAW IT AS MEDUSA'S FAULT!!!!

[apollos-boyfriend]

ohhhhhh i am going to snap someone in my women in art course is doing their research paper on medusa (we have already done preliminary research at this point) and when our professor asked them medusa's origin they recited ovid's version i can't fucking do this

[thrassa]

TW: MENTIONS OF SA (from mere mentions to semi-explicit descriptions).

Please note that I do not mean this as an attack towards your person or anything of the sort, I'm simply tired of seeing the same things circulate over and over again. If my tone comes off as iffy, know that it truly was not my intention. Not towards you, at least.

Anyway, having spent a few years studying the sources that mention Medusa, when I saw your tags, I admit I was left sighing over and over again.

And it's not your fault, not wholly, given how easily misinformation can be spread around but alas.

Back to the topic at hand, though.

It is with great regret that I must inform you that we possess no versions in which Medusa is a "protector of women" - unless, of course, you can provide any. Can you?

Or any versions in which "Athena knew that the Gods would punish her (Medusa) for her beauty and Poseidon's actions". - why would she be punished for her beauty if she did not commit hubris? And why would any third - party deity punish Medusa for being assaulted? Why would they get involved? What would they gain?

Or any versions in which Athena turns Medusa into a Gorgon as a "gift of protection" - who offers protection only to assist in one's murder, later on, after all? In what world would that make even a little bit of sense?

All the "facts" (💀) you've mentioned (though quite more elaborate than their original version as they have first passed through the tumblr shitpost machine) stem from one "source" and one "source" alone - and that's Ovid.

As stated:

Ovid, Metamorphoses 4. 770 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :

"[Medousa (Medusa)] was violated in Minerva's [Athena's] shrine by the Lord of the Sea (Rector Pelagi) [Poseidon]. Jove's [Zeus'] daughter turned away and covered with her shield her virgin's eyes. And then for fitting punishment transformed the Gorgo's lovely hair to loathsome snakes."

The above happens to be the only account of assault and transformation that we possess when it comes to Medusa and suprisingly enough, none of the things you mentioned can be found in the text.

(Side note: It is Neptune, not Poseidon who commits the act and Minerva, not Athena that places the curse).

Now, let's note some minor but important factors:

1) No Hellenic source from the 8th century BC to the 2nd century AD make any mention of any sort of assault, either physical or sexual in nature.

2) The text above is a poem by Ovid - a Roman - created not for purposes of worship (it was not theological in nature) or for purposes of simply writing down oral tradition (he was not a mythographer) but was created as a means of entertainment and propaganda against the Roman Ruling Class (how did Ovid achieve such a thing, you may ask? By using the Gods as abusers in all senses of the word as they represented the aristorcrasy).

3) If you read the Ovidian works, from his Metamorphoses to Heroides to Ars Amatoria and beyond, you will notice an incredible amount of sexual violence (mainly directed towards women). That was intentional. Ovid sought to showcase sexual assault because he believed it to be arousing and something women desired, despite their claims otherwise. As shown below:

Ovid's Ars Amatoria (as translated in the work of Margaret Caroll):

"Though she give them not, yet take the kisses she does not give. Perhaps she will struggle at first and cry ,"You villain!" Yet she will wish to be beaten in the struggle. . . He who has taken kisses, if he has not taken the rest beside, will deserve to lose even what was granted. . . You may use force; women like you to use it. . . She whom a sudden assault has taken by storm is pleased.. .. But she who, when she might have been compelled, departs untouched. . . Will yet be sad. Phoebe suffered violence, violence was used against her sister; each ravished found favour with the one he ravished."

(Side note: The Ars Amatoria is a long account of Ovid's personal hatred towards women and his desire to constantly belittle and violate them masked as a "guide of love").

4) I also feel the need to mention the obvious, Ovid is a Roman poet whose work has no bearing on Greek Mythology so it is hightime people stopped thinking the two are interchangeable. Also, I feel it is a great disservice to see Ovid's works as part of the Roman Mythos, given that people did not believe in his accounts.

5) The name "Medousa" does, in fact, mean "Protector" but that merely comes from the fact that her face was used as an amulet against evil - just like the evil eye. It was not used for women's protection, it was used for the protection of all.

6) There is one Greek source, and one Greek source only that mentions a connection between Athena and Medusa before Athena's assistance of Perseus in his quest to save his mother and that comes from Pseudo-Apollodorus.

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 46 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :

"[Perseus gave] the Gorgo's head to Athene . . . Athene placed the Gorgo's head in the center of her shield. It is affirmed by some that Medousa (Medusa) was beheaded because of Athene, for they say the Gorgo had been willing to be compared with Athene in beauty."

As you can see, even in that case Athena assisted Perseus due to Medusa's hubris against her in beauty - nothing to do with an assault or a gift or anything of the sort.

In short, I'm sorry to say but tumblr lied to you.

Ps. Please read the ancient sources and educate yourself on the topic, and do not take things you see online as facts simply because 'usermenelaossucks4539583' claims them as such.

Believe me, it will be worth it.

some (not necessarily connected but similar) thoughts that have been plaguing me for several days:

It's very easy to retell the Perseus and the Gorgons myth by casting Perseus as a dumb thug who couldn't have completed the quest without as much divine aid as he received. I've read a few retellings that take this angle, and while it can be comedic, it isn't my favourite flavour of Perseus. It often verges into classism when adaptations focus on Perseus' "lowly" upbringing as a fisherman, and conflate this with his supposed idiocy. I think he's an impetuous teenager who isn't very bright – or perhaps it's fairer to say he's ignorant, being sheltered in his little corner of the world by his mother and guardian – but nonetheless starts with good intentions.

It isn't necessary to make Perseus a villain (or a dumb thug, as in previous Thought) in order to present a more sympathetic angle on Medusa. Perseus is tricked into volunteering for what is essentially a suicide mission in order to save his mother. The act of killing Medusa while she sleeps is a horrifically violent one – but so is King Polydectes' threat of forced marriage to Danae, which Perseus is trying to prevent. If Medusa and Perseus could have sat down and had a chat, it would be a very different myth, which is what makes it so tragic imo. (Although I'm definitely not saying Perseus was a Good Guy who did nothing wrong. Heroism ≠ goodness, which is something it's easy to forget when looking back at Greek myth through a modern lens).

I'm very fond of the mytheme/folklore archetype of a hero getting magical or divine aid to complete their quest. I actually think there's something in there about accessibility and ableism, and how most ordinary people who are thrust into a magical quest narrative would need some aid because the world of gods and monsters is a long way from the world of, say, a little-educated island fisherman. I don't think this aid detracts from their heroism.

[p-taryn-dactyl]

Song of Medusa pt1

Hi Guys! This story was originally posted on my old account (which I deleted in a fit of anxiety lol) and was really fun to write so I wanted to share it again. 

Prompt: What if Medusa had someone she loved when Perseus killed her? Medusa x fem!OC

Word Count: 1.9k

Warning(s): slight mention of sexual assault; rewrite of Greek Mythology - as much as I love mythology I am far from being an expert; mentions of suicidal thoughts (i think? i’m putting this to be sure); let me know if there’s more

The island was quiet. An eerie silence had taken over after the banishment of the once priestess of Athena. Medusa. I’m sure you’ve heard the story. But I’m not so sure you’ve heard the true tale. The rumor has it that she had an affair with the sea god Poseidon, in Athena’s sacred temple. As punishment, the Goddess of Wisdom placed a curse upon the beautiful maiden. No man shall ever look upon her face again without turning into an incurable stone. That’s the tale of men. Twisted over the years to turn Medusa into a monster, killing anyone who dared cross onto her island. The true story is one of tragedy and pain. Medusa had not broken her vow of celibacy willingly, as the sea god had forced himself upon the priestess. Poseidon had taken a part of Medusa that she had so strongly tried to protect. Athena saw it all. Now, as I previously mentioned, some have told this story as Athena feeling as if her temple had been tainted and punished the girl for letting it happen. While she did feel as if her holy sanctuary was now dirty, she did not blame her devoted follower. It was Poseidon's fault. Her “punishment” for Medusa was more of a protection. For any man who tried to harm her again would be frozen in time. Her beauty wasn’t completely stripped away, as the myth has been told before, but merely changed in a way that no man and his precious masculinity would ever find attractive. Her long dark locks were changed into a nest of hissing, venomous vipers. Her sun kissed skin was changed into the green-blue of a watersnake hiding in the banks of a river. Her legs were molded together into a serpent like state. She was now a Gorgon. 

And her story didn’t just end there. After her rape and her change into what history would call a beast, she was banished to the island of Sarpedon. This is where she was hunted, her head now a sought out weapon. Her sisters did nothing to help, quickly abandoning her like the world did. Her parents simply watched from the sea as their daughter was tortured. Of course, I’m sure you know how they say the story ended. The great hero Perseus cut her head off with weapons gifted to him by Medusa’s own goddess, who seemingly had turned her back. Since she was pregnant from her rape, from her blood was born two children. The immortal Pegasus, a winged horse that would go on to become a pinnacle part of Greek Mythology. Then came Chrysaor, the forgotten son of the Gorgon and sea god. 

Did you know that when she was violated she was only fourteen? Did you know she was sleeping when he ended her life? Did you know she was having a nightmare of the monster she had become? No, I bet you didn’t. I can also bet you didn’t know who found her body, who collapsed at the sight of her dead lover, who cried for what seemed centuries - both begging  and cursing the gods to bring her back. This might not be what you expected to read today, might not be what you expected from the myth of Medusa but this is her true tale. Gone are the stories of the monster who lived only to kill men and the woman who betrayed Athena. Now you will know her true story. Her true love. 

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The beginning of this tale starts in the middle of the sea. A raft made from tied tree branches and sewn blankets floating on the waves carries a young maiden of seventeen, lying eagle spread. She had escaped a war too little to make an impact on history but large enough to wipe her home from every map. Her home. Eiríni. A small, peaceful island who was ruled by a wise and kind King. Her uncle. Who was dead. Everyone was dead. For she had watched it happen as she was dragged away by her serving maids, desperate to get their princess, and friend, to safety. I saw her as she floated on the ocean, her body slowly becoming dehydrated and malnourished. Her name is Elpida. Daughter of a forgotten and slain king and queen, sent to live with her uncle who welcomed her with open arms and an open heart. He became her father figure. He was dead. I watched as her thoughts went from disbelieving to anguish. I watched as some of her nights were peaceful as others she thrashed and tried to drown herself. I wouldn’t allow that. Elpida was starting to drift from this life and to the next. Gently, I pushed her raft in the direction of the closest land. Sarpedon. The Silent Island, home of the stone-eyed Gorgon. Of course Elpida didn’t know this for she was barely conscious. 

Her raft hit the sandy beach, the soft jolt awakening the young princess. Wearily, she looked at her surroundings. Her exhausted body dragged itself onto the land, inching her way a few feet on the beach's shore. There she finally collapsed, her body recognizing she was safe. The sea was no longer her only companion. Though across the island, Elpida’s arrival invoked a cocktail of fear and acceptance. 

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The nightmares had plagued her for what seemed centuries. The faces of men, young and old, twisted in horror as their limbs became rock. She knew they were trying to kill her. She wished one would accomplish their task. Medusa had aged since her banishment, her fourteen years slipping into centuries of age. She had come up with this conclusion with the changing of armor her attempted assassins wore. Hundreds of years, just gone. Like a blink of an eye. Time must work differently on Sarpedon. She just wanted her banishment to end, whatever that entailed. Her nightmare ended and the wind spoke to her. 

Someone new had arrived. Fear rose up in Medusa, another face to join her terrors. She curled herself behind the wall of her cave, the place all soldiers and heroes found their early deaths. Half an hour passed. Then two whole hours. Medusa’s fear slowly crept into confusion. Was this soldier uneducated in the way of the island? Normally a sword would already be pointed at her, becoming eternally part of its owner. Picking up a rock sharp enough to be a small dagger, Medusa made her way towards the beach, where all the ships docked. Now they had all sunk to the bottom of the ocean, as if weighted by the defeat of their owners. I watched as she cautiously looked over her shoulder, listening to the whispers of her reptile hair. My whispers carefully guided her to where Elpida lay. The Gorgon’s eyes widened in shock. This wasn’t one come to kill her, the poor human seemed to be the one close to death. Her long dark hair was splayed around her, tangling with the sand. Her skin looks like it used to be dark but was now burned by Helios’s unforgiving rays. Slowly, Medusa kneeled down next to the girl, her snakes inspecting this new discovery. Rolling the girl onto her back, Medusa found herself staring at the beautifully sculpted facial features. Her chest was rising and falling but not at a rate that meant good things for Elpidas future. 

       Rescue her. My voice was clear in Medusa’s mind. Her brow scrunched together in confusion and worry, the woman picked up the maiden in her arms as if carrying a bride. She verbally gasped at the weight of the young girl. Too light. Returning back to her cave, Medusa cared for this new visitor, a fact that shocked her. 

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Elpida dreamed of an angel. One with pale green skin and hair that moved like snakes. Her sleep was deep and she only had glimpses of her dream left in her memory. The feeling of a soft blanket warming her skin, being fed food and water in between lapses of sleep, a soft lullaby filling the air. But she never saw the angel's face. How she wished to see her savior. Even if she was a figment of her imagination. One night, Elpida was awakening from the slumber that had kept her down for weeks. I smiled at her confusion. Her young face slowly realized her dreams had been true. How I wanted to reveal myself and explain everything to this girl but that is not how this story is to go. Slight hissing filled the air. Medusa had returned. Elpida sat up from her makeshift bed, sheepskin covered in the hide of a bull. Comfortable. The green angel entered the room, her back towards Elpida. She hadn’t noticed her guest was awake. 

“What is your name?” Elpida spoke, her voice raspy from use. The angel tensed, both surprised she understood the words being spoken to her and frightened for the young girl. Medusa seemed to listen to the wind, responding to my whispers. Relax. She continued her work of making breakfast for her and her guest. 

“The name I was given is Medusa,” she waited for a sign that the girl recognized the name, but none came, she decided to continue, “What about you?” There was a shuffling noise, then the sound of wobbling feet crossing the floor. Panic etched its way onto Medusa’s features. Elpida stopped when she was beside Medusa, her brows drawing together in confusion as the other woman looked away, her snake-hair doing the same. 

“I am Elpida.”

“No other name to hold claim to a bloodline?” Elpida looked to the ground. 

“No bloodline to hold claim to anymore, besides you didn’t give one.” Medusa almost smiled. If this girl- Elpida, even knew where she was from. With her back towards Elpida, she slid a bowl of a porridge like substance. Elpida huffed in annoyance. 

“Why won’t you look at me? Is my presence truly that disturbing? I mean I was lost at sea and I’ve been asleep for…” She wandered off, realizing she didn’t know how long she was out. 

“Weeks.” Medusa helped. Elpida nodded, waving her hand in the air in thanks. 

“I’ve been asleep for weeks! Of course I am not socially presentable!” Medusa laughed slightly and Elpida seemed to notice the way her voice overlapped, like many were speaking at once. 

“It is not your appearance that frightens me, it is what will happen to you if you look at my face.” I felt pity rise inside me. I had watched as these weeks passed, Medusa had started to care for the girl who talked in her sleep and hummed the lullaby Medusa so often sang to her. Elpida just looked confused. 

“Oh come on, you can’t possibly look worse than I do!” I saw Elpida lift her chin in a determined way and almost knew what she was about to do. Foolish, silly, stubborn girl. Her eyes looked at the porridge bowl. Quickly, she tossed it on the ground, not before eating it’s contents. She was starving after all. The clatter of the bowl made Medusa spin towards the sound. Elpida took her chance. She flung herself in the view of Medusa. I saw the eye contact happen. Watched as fear and loss filled Medusa’s eyes, as awe and wonder filled Elpida’s eyes at the monstrous beauty of the woman in front of her. I myself watched in relief as Elpida was still herself. Medusa raised an eyebrow, confusion and disbelief taking over the fear. Elpida was the first to talk.

“You’re beautif-”

“Why aren’t you stone?” I laughed at the dumbstruck look on Elpida’s face, confused by this question. 

Let the story begin.