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talonabraxas · 2 months ago

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Medusa Spitblossoms Medusa: A Mythological Tale of Maiden to Monstrosity

Medusa, a name that evokes both fascination and terror, is one of the most intriguing figures in Greek mythology. This captivating Gorgon, known for her hair of serpents and the ability to turn mortals into stone, has been the subject of countless artistic interpretations, symbolizing power, femininity, and the complex nature of humanity. Although Medusa is not considered a goddess, she is an important and unique character from Greek mythology, specifically one of the Gorgons, three sisters known for their monstrous appearance.

While Medusa is a notable figure in Greek mythology and has been the subject of various artistic interpretations and symbolism, she is not worshipped as a goddess in the traditional sense. Over time, Medusa myth has been used as a symbol to protect and ward off the negative, representing a dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil. In this blog post, we will delve into the myth of Medusa and explore the profound symbolism associated with her enigmatic persona.

The Mythical Origins of Medusa:

Medusa Greek mythology was once a beautiful mortal woman with flowing hair. However, due to a series of unfortunate events, she was cursed by the goddess Athena, transforming her into a monstrous creature. Her once luscious locks were replaced by serpents, and her gaze became the deadly weapon that turned any who looked upon her to stone. This tale of transformation and divine punishment carries deep symbolic meaning, resonating with themes of beauty, envy, and the consequences of hubris.

Medusa Spiritual Meaning:

While Medusa mythology is often depicted as a terrifying monster, she also embodies a potent symbol of feminine power. Her serpentine hair represents primordial wisdom, connected to the chthonic forces of nature and the untamed aspects of femininity. Medusa challenges traditional notions of beauty and subverts the male gaze, offering an alternative archetype of strength and resilience for women throughout history. In modern times, she has become an icon for female empowerment, encouraging women to embrace their unique qualities and reclaim their narrative.

Medusa in Art and Literature:

Throughout the ages, artists and writers have been captivated by Medusa's enigmatic allure, immortalizing her in various forms. From ancient Greek pottery to Renaissance paintings and contemporary sculptures, Medusa's image continues to inspire creative interpretations. Notable works such as Caravaggio's "Medusa" and Bernini's "Medusa Shield" showcase the enduring fascination with this mythological figure. Furthermore, Medusa's presence in literature, from Ovid's "Metamorphoses" to contemporary novels, reflects her enduring relevance as a complex symbol of power, desire, and the human condition.

Medusa as a Metaphor for the Human Psyche:

Medusa symbolism as a figure of feminine power, Medusa also represents the intricate workings of the human psyche. The concept of "petrification" associated with her gaze can be interpreted as the fear of facing our deepest fears and desires, the paralysis that comes with inaction, or the consequences of avoiding self-reflection. Medusa reminds us that embracing and integrating our shadow selves is a crucial step towards personal growth and self-actualization.

Medusa and Poseidon

Medusa greek mythology was described as a beautiful mortal woman before she was cursed. She was said to have flowing golden or auburn hair, which was considered her most striking feature. Her beauty was so captivating that she caught the attention of various suitors and even garnered the interest of the sea god Poseidon.

However, after an encounter with Poseidon in the temple of Athena, Medusa's fate took a tragic turn. According to the myth, Poseidon raped Medusa within the temple of Athena, defiling the sacred space. As a result of this violation, Athena punished Medusa rather than Poseidon. The enraged Athena cursed Medusa, transforming her appearance into a grotesque form to punish her. Her beautiful hair was turned into serpents, her eyes became glowing and petrifying, and her once attractive countenance became monstrous.

It's important to note that descriptions of Medusa's appearance can vary in different interpretations and artistic depictions. Artists and storytellers throughout history have depicted Medusa in various ways, emphasizing different aspects of her monstrous transformation. However, the common thread in the myth is that she was initially a beautiful woman who was tragically transformed into a horrifying creature as a result of a curse bestowed upon her.

Perseus and Medusa

The story of Medusa and Perseus is a well-known tale in Greek mythology. It involves the hero Perseus and his quest to slay the monstrous Gorgon Medusa.

Perseus was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Danaë, a mortal woman. When Perseus was a baby, an oracle prophesied that he would one day kill his grandfather, Acrisius. To prevent this, Acrisius locked Danaë and Perseus in a chest and cast them into the sea. They were eventually rescued by a fisherman and brought to the island of Seriphos, where they lived.

As Perseus grew older, King Polydectes of Seriphos became infatuated with Danaë and desired to marry her. Perseus, reluctant to see his mother wedded to the king, accepted a dangerous task proposed by Polydectes. The king requested the head of Medusa, the only mortal Gorgon, as a gift from Perseus.

The Gorgons, Medusa included, were monstrous creatures with snakes for hair and the power to turn people to stone with their gaze. Medusa, in particular, possessed this petrifying ability. To aid him in his quest, Perseus received various gifts from the gods, including a reflective shield from Athena, winged sandals from Hermes, and a helm of invisibility from Hades.

Using these divine gifts, Perseus embarked on his journey. He managed to find the three Gorgons, including Medusa, in their lair. Avoiding direct eye contact with Medusa, he used his shield as a mirror to observe her without turning to stone. With a swift strike, Perseus beheaded Medusa while she slept. The winged horse Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor, both born from Medusa's blood, emerged from her severed neck.

On his way back, Perseus encountered various adventures, including rescuing Andromeda, a princess, from a sea monster. Eventually, he returned to Seriphos and used Medusa's head as a weapon against his enemies. In one incident, he petrified King Polydectes and his court, avenging his mother's mistreatment.

Perseus later reunited with his grandfather, Acrisius. However, the prophecy came true when Perseus accidentally killed Acrisius during a discus-throwing contest. As a result, Perseus fulfilled the prophecy, but his heroic feats brought him renown and established his place in Greek mythology.

The myth of Medusa and Perseus is often seen as a tale of heroism, triumph over monstrous forces, and the fulfillment of prophecies. It showcases Perseus' courage, resourcefulness, and divine assistance in his quest to slay Medusa and the subsequent events that unfolded as a result.

Medusa's Children

According to Greek mythology, Medusa goddess did have offspring. After Perseus, the hero who beheaded Medusa, two creatures emerged from her severed neck: Pegasus and Chrysaor.

Pegasus was a winged horse known for his incredible speed and association with poetry and inspiration. He became a famous mythological figure in his own right and was tamed by the hero Bellerophon, who rode him on various adventures.

Chrysaor, on the other hand, was a giant or a warrior with a golden sword. His name translates to "Golden Blade." Chrysaor is not as widely known or featured in mythology as Pegasus, but he is often mentioned as the sibling of the winged horse.

It's important to note that Medusa's offspring were not conceived in the traditional sense but were born from her blood or the remnants of her body after her death. They played significant roles in subsequent mythological narratives and were seen as the legacy of Medusa, carrying aspects of her power and essence.

Was Medusa Immortal?

In Greek mythology, Medusa was not immortal. Like many other figures in Greek mythology, she was a mortal who possessed certain abilities and encountered divine beings. Medusa was originally a beautiful mortal woman, but due to a curse placed upon her by the goddess Athena, she was transformed into a monstrous creature with snakes for hair and the ability to turn people to stone with her gaze.

Medusa's immortality, or lack thereof, can be interpreted differently depending on the version of the myth. Some sources suggest that she was mortal and eventually slain by the hero Perseus, who used a mirror-like shield to avoid looking directly at her and beheaded her while she slept. In this interpretation, Medusa's death implies that she was not immortal.

However, other versions of the myth propose that Medusa, along with her sisters, possessed a degree of immortality. They were depicted as beings who could not be killed conventionally due to their monstrous nature. Their immortality was tied to their monstrous form, which persisted despite any injuries inflicted upon them. It was only through a specific act, such as Perseus using his reflective shield to decapitate her, that Medusa could be defeated.

Overall, the concept of Medusa's immortality can vary depending on the interpretation of the myth. In some versions, she was mortal and eventually slain, while in others, she possessed a form of immortality that required a specific method of defeating her.

Is Medusa a Goddess?

Medusa is not a goddess; she's a figure from Greek mythology. She was originally a beautiful woman turned into a Gorgon with snakes for hair. Medusa is often associated with her petrifying gaze.

What Does Medusa Symbolize?

The Medusa meaning is multifaceted and can be interpreted through various lenses, including mythology, psychology, and symbolism. Here are a few key aspects of the meaning associated with Medusa:

What Does Medusa Represent?

Transformation and Metamorphosis: Medusa's story revolves around a significant transformation. She was once a beautiful mortal woman who, due to a curse, became a grotesque figure with snakes for hair and the power to turn people to stone. Her tale represents the concept of metamorphosis, both physically and symbolically. It reflects the potential for profound changes in one's life and the transformative power that lies within.

Complexity and Duality: Medusa embodies the complexity and duality of human nature. On one hand, she is depicted as a monstrous figure capable of petrifying others. On the other hand, she was once a beautiful woman who faced unjust punishment. This duality reflects the intricate nature of humanity, showcasing how individuals can possess both light and dark aspects within themselves.

Reflection and Self-Exploration: Medusa's gaze, which turned people to stone, can be seen as a metaphor for self-reflection and the consequences of avoiding or denying one's own truth. Medusa prompts individuals to confront their inner fears, desires, and shadows. Her story encourages deep introspection, acceptance, and the integration of all aspects of oneself.

Archetypal and Symbolic Representation: Medusa has become an archetypal figure, representing various themes and symbols. These include femininity, power dynamics, wisdom, protection, transformation, and the embodiment of the wild and untamed forces of nature. Her symbolism transcends time and continues to resonate with individuals seeking to understand and express different facets of the human experience.

Medusa in Modern Witchcraft

Medusa's role in witchcraft varies depending on the specific tradition or belief system being explored. It's important to note that Medusa herself is a figure from Greek mythology, while witchcraft encompasses a wide range of practices and beliefs that can be found in different cultures throughout history.

In some modern forms of witchcraft, Medusa energy may be invoked or revered as a symbol of feminine power, transformation, and protection. She is seen as a representation of the wild, untamed aspects of nature and the feminine divine. Some witches may draw inspiration from her story to connect with their own inner strength, resilience, and the ability to face challenges.

In certain magical practices, Medusa's image or symbolism might be incorporated into rituals, spells, or charms for specific purposes. For example, her serpentine hair might be seen as a potent symbol for the awakening of kundalini energy or as a representation of the transformative power of the serpent archetype.

It's essential to recognize that witchcraft is a diverse and multifaceted spiritual path, and individuals or groups within witchcraft traditions may interpret and incorporate Medusa's symbolism differently. Medusa's role in witchcraft is often subjective and open to personal interpretation, reflecting the practitioner's unique beliefs and intentions.

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phoebosacerales · 10 months ago

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Algol and Perseus

The rescuer and the demon

Sebastiano Ricci Antonio Canova

Algol is the beta star of the constellation Perseus, currently sitting at 26° Taurus, known as “the demon star” or "blinking demon", its name comes from the arabic Al Ghul meaning "the demon". To hellenistic astrology it represents Medusa’s head, which Perseus holds on one hand, while on the other he has his sword. An important characteristic of Algol is that its glow has a regular variation, it loses half of its brightness for hours and then it gains back. It was believed by astrologers to be an eclipsing star, which means that another non-visible body would be orbiting it and therefore eclipsing its light from time to time. They were half right, because it was later discovered to be an eclipsing star system, and that Algol was actually 3 stars, just like the Gorgon sisters are three: the imortals Stheno and Euryale, and the mortal Medusa. This is such a hallmark of Algol that it gave its name to its class of eclipsing variable: Algol variable.

Eclipses are associated with death, basically because light in astrology is life-giving, and loss of light is death. But it’s interesting that it's frequently associated with the "demonic", capital punishment and decapitation. Algol is telling a story about the decapitation of a “demon”, just like the lunar nodes (Rahu and Ketu) do in the Jyotish tradition when they cause eclipses. Ptolemy only tells us that the constellation of Perseus is like Jupiter and Saturn. Although Robson agrees with Agrippa about Algol specifically being of the nature of Saturn-Jupiter, and “the most evil star in the heavens”, causing a lot of fear whenever we see it activated in a chart. But I’m not here to scare anybody, don’t worry. It’s difficult, but I’ll try to lighten this up, because the most overlooked fact about Algol is that it also protects and can make revolutions and revolutionary heros.

"Perseus is like Jupiter and Saturn: but the nebula, in the hilt of the sword, is like Mars and Mercury." (Ptolemy - Tetrabiblos) "It causes misfortune, violence, decapitation, hanging, electrocution and mob violence, and gives a dogged and violent nature that causes death to the native or others. It is the most evil star in the heavens" (Vivian E. Robson - The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology)

Illustrations from Al-Sūfī's book of fixed stars

Eletrocution or electrical problems are an issue with eclipses and apparently also eclipsing star-systems like Algol. This is noted by Christopher Warnock about his Algol talismans:

"I have had multiple reports and have myself experienced Algol’s tendency to cause electrical and electronic interference when the talisman is first used. I mysteriously lost my Internet connection for an hour and my electronic thermostat died. One user had his entire block lose power. Less frequently but still regularly clients have reported that while wearing their Algol talisman, “weird” or “freaky” people took one look at them and fled." (Christopher Warnock - Fixed star, Sign and Constellation Magic)

Other one of its proeminent themes is vengeance, or the dichotomy of justice vs vengeance, but the effect of reflecting back evil that's sent towards its direction, or of ending curses describes it better in my opinion. About the images of the fixed Behenian stars, Agrippa says that:

“Under Caput Algol, they made an image whose figure was the head of a man with a long beard, having a bloody neck. This brought the good outcome of petitions, gave the bearer boldness and nobility, preserved members of the body from injury, helped against sorceries, and reflected evil attempts and evil incantations from enemies”. (Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy - Eric Purdue's translation)

Piero di Cosimo

This protection side of the star is illustrated by the story of the champion Perseus not just decapitating the demon but using its head to free Andromeda from her chains and saving her and her city from another monster, and then Athena herself starts using the head of Medusa as a symbol on her shield. As established, this is a star of the nature of Jupiter and Saturn. The nature of Saturn is evidenced even by the names given to the star: demon, cacodaemon, which is also the greek name for the 12th house. Imprisonment, monstruosity and madness are clearly the most important Saturn and 12th house themes. But Algol is a protective star, particularly in astrological magic, although I'll show how this kinda manifests in nativities as well. Algol is mainly of a jupiterian nature, that's why it does liberates. The head is an evil daemon but also a protection amulet. This is interesting regarding the eclipsing factor and the similarity of the significations with the Jyotish Rahu and Ketu. In western astrology the nodes are considered to have effects like Jupiter and Saturn, and the topic of imprisonment-liberation is explored in the dynamic of the two*.

With the new interpretations of the Medusa myth, some astrologers say that Algol can be about "female rage" or "dark feminine", or "feminine jealousy" etc. I think this is one of the stories that people mix the astrological meaning with the morality of the greek myth associated with the star the most. The greek myth is not really the star and the star is not the greek myth. In my opinion, you always must take into consideration that some things can be just the way the greeks or romans viewed a certain theme, and of course they would put a violated woman to represent a monster on a mindless vendetta, and it's not meant to be complimentary. I believe that's already way beyond Algol's effects, it could be just their misogyny projected onto the stars. I can think of examples where I can see that kind of story taking place, but that doesn’t mean that the star is about those things, but just that this is one possibility because we live in patriarchy and things around women's issues can get ugly in an Algol manner. The star can be about capital punishment, monstruosity, madness, captivity, violation, injustice, vengeance, evil daemonic influences etc, but it's not really about cishet women. So, even though I’m also using the greek myth here, I’m not giving the most importance to the detail that it is a story about a woman receiving unfair punishment and that there's a lack of comradery between women, because I'm interested in the star beyond what greeks and romans said, because the stars can’t be represented by just one hegemonic narrative. A lot of other cultures had their different stories about Algol, the Medusa one isn’t special to the point that we could assume every detail about it, even its moral issues (which are also in this case suffering a bit from anachronism), has meaning for the star associated.

Perseus is a spring time constellation very near the bull (taurus), and that may sound too nice for such a scary one. But in babylonian astrology, the stars of Perseus actually formed the constellation of the Old Man, who also held a decapitated head and a rod instead of a sword. Of it, Gavin White has an interesting perspective to share:

“At this time of natural abundance, the earth was thought to ‘open up’ in order to yield her bounty, but to the archaic mind this opening up was accompanied by a host of dangers, chief of which was the potential pollution from the dead who could gain easy access to the upper worlds at this pivotal time. In light of this belief, I would suggest that the Old Man, with his wand and prophylactic head, is banishing the ghosts of the old year and driving them back to the underworld.”

Illutration from Gavin White's Babylonian Star-Lore

There's a lot of examples of charts for literal decapitation or capital punishment, injuries to the head or neck area as obvious manifestations of the star: The most famous is probably the catholic Saint George, who is said to have been executed by decapitation on April 23 back when that was the time of year when the Sun would conjunct Algol, and he later became associated with the constellation. Back then, Algol was at 2° Taurus. Gianni Versace, who had Algol on the descendant, famously made Medusa the logo of his brand and also died with a bullet to the head. Freud had Mercury with Algol, his 8th house ruler, and he died with throat cancer. Nick Yarris, who spent two decades on death row after he was wrongfully convicted of murder, has the Sun with Algol. Patrick Henry had Jupiter, and he was a murderer whose case influenced the abolition of the death penalty in France, which was done by the method of guillotine until its abolition. He was defended by Robert Badinter, who was an activist against the death penalty and could sucessfully propose its abolition in 1981. Badinter has Jupiter with the alpha of Andromeda in the first house. France has a thing with decapitation, some of the charts for its republics have either Algol or Mirfak activated, the alpha star of Perseus.

Algol and Madness

But I want to talk about Algol's special relationship with madness, in the demonized/criminalized sense, because after all, "the demon" is unwanted, it frequently represents the marginalized and their opression. In Brazil's history, especially during the military dictatorship organized and imposed by usamerican capitalist imperialism, asylums imprisoned and tortured mainly black people, women and queer people. Some asylums got so overwhelmed that they became concentration camps, like the famous case of Hospital Colônia in Barbacena, known as the Brazilian Holocaust case, where people died by the thousands from starvation, hypothermia, anemia, STI's, untreated diseases from the lack of hygiene etc. Some important psychiatrists, psychologists, psychoanalysts have Algol activated by some planet. Freud has Mercury, Fritz Perls has Jupiter, David Healy, who literally has a book titled "The Decapitation of Care", has Venus. But what's more interesting to me is the protection element of Algol in some cases and its role in mad liberation movements, after all, Perseus is a liberator. Algol shows up in very important people in the pysch field who question medical power and have antipsych views, and on important events of the psychiatric reform.

Hospital Colônia de Barbacena - MG

Franco Basaglia, the main responsible for the dismantling of psychiatric hospitals and for the psychiatric reform in Italy and for inspiring the one in Brazil, had the Moon with Algol in the 10th house, representing his deeds, while ruling the 12th. In Italy, the Law 180 (Basaglia Law), the Psychiatric Reform law that determined the progressive extinction of asylums throughout the italian territory, was sanctioned with the Sun on Algol. In Brazil, on May 18, 1987, the exact day of the year that the Sun conjuncts Algol, a meeting of mental health workers at a conference was the major milestone for Brazilian health reform and the anti-asylum movement. And since that event, May 18th has become our national anti-asylum movement day, and it becomes more and more culturally relevant as a day to discuss psychiatric reform and the fight to guarantee the rights and autonomy of mental patients.

Marches on May 18th

An important activist, Austregésilo Bueno, born with the Sun with Algol, survivor of compulsory hospitalization in asylums in the 70s, wrote a book "Canto dos Malditos" about his horrible experiences as a psychiatric patient treated with eletroshock therapy (another one of Algol's effects). He had his book adapted to film and his story played by the actor Rodrigo Santoro, who has Algol on the Ascendant. The name of the film is Brainstorm in English, but I find the original "Bicho de Sete Cabeças" much more compelling. It's a truly devastating story, and it's the story of thousands unfortunately.

One thing about Saturn and madness is the recurring idea of wearing masks. Masks and theatre have always been associated with Saturn. Saturnalia was a roman festival where all the roles switched, where kings pretended to be fools and fools pretended to be kings. In modern astrology Saturn ended up associated a lot with a raw and harsh reality, disregarding the most mystical and unreal characteristics of Saturn that have always been present. Although life, reality, identity and reason are always a performance, we're always wearing a mask and performing life. There's a point in the movie "Bicho de Sete Cabeças" when the protagonist is having a difficult time on his first days of being an inmate, he's fighting too much against the forced treatment and expressing too much unsatisfaction with his imprisonment, thus getting even more forcebly medicated and punished by the staff. At this point one of the older inmates shares an important advice with him:

"You have to pretend, who in this world doesn't pretend? You have to say that you're in a good mood, you have to say that you're not hungry, you have to say that you don't have a toothache, you have to say that you're not afraid, otherwise you can't do it, you can't do it. No doctor ever told me that hunger and poverty can lead to mental disorders, but those who don't eat become nervous, those who don't eat and see their family go without eating can go crazy, a discontentment can lead to madness, a death in the family, the abandonment of the great love. We even need to pretend to be insane when we're insane, pretend to be a poet when we're a poet."

It's a powerful speech about the farce of medicine's ownership over the subject of madness, the farce of reason and that it must subjugate or dominate madness. Pretending and acting out the platonic ideal behavior at all situations under all circumstances, as if it's normal, that's the only way anyone is seen as sane.

Bicho de Sete Cabeças (2000)

Another important date in brazillian history is the 13th of May 1888, the day of the passing of the law that abolished slavery, which also had Algol activated by the Sun. This was obviously not the definite end of slavery and not the end of the struggle of black brazilians, just like the Basaglia Law didn't mean mad liberation, but I'm just demonstrating how powerful Algol is to protect from evil and put an end to injustice in an official and legislative manner. Like Saint George defeating the dragon, Perseus defeats a monster that is impossible to defeat, the "impossible victory" and liberation is recurrent in the stories linked to it. Systemic opression and injustices a lot of times seem like impossible problems, it becomes harder and harder to imagine a world where they don't exist, but Algol events revolutionize the impossible.

"The important thing is that we have proven that the impossible becomes possible. Ten, fifteen, twenty years ago it was unthinkable that a mental hospital could be destroyed. Maybe mental hospitals will return to being closed and more closed than before, I don't know, but in any case we have demonstrated that the mad can be cared for in another way, and testimony is fundamental. I don't think that the fact that an action manages to energize itself means that it has been won. The important point is another, it is that now we know what can be done." (Franco Basaglia - Conferenze brasiliane)

An important honorable mention should be made to Carlos Marighella, a guerrilheiro in the resistance of the brazilian military dictatorship who was executed before he could see our democratization. He had Mars with Algol.

"The urban guerrilheiro is an implacable enemy of the government and inflicts systematic harm on authorities and men who dominate and exercise power. The main work of the urban guerrilheiro is to distract, tire and demoralize the military, the military dictatorship and repressive forces, and also attack and destroy the wealth of north americans, foreign managers, and the Brazilian upper class. But the fundamental and decisive characteristic of the urban guerrilheiro is that he is a man who fights with weapons; given this condition, there is little chance that he will be able to pursue his normal profession for a long time or the reference of the class struggle, since it is inevitable and necessarily expected, the armed conflict of urban guerrilla against the essential objectives: A. The physical extermination of the leaders and assistants of the armed forces and the police. B. The expropriation of government resources and those who belong to the big capitalists, landowners, and imperialists, with small expropriations used to maintain the individual urban guerrilheiro and large expropriations for the support of the same revolution. (Carlos Marighella - Manual do Guerrilheiro Urbano)

Algol in Cannes

Lunga in Bacurau (2019), the first queer Perseus I know. The actor Silvero Pereira has Venus on Algol.

I’ve said here before how much I love Bacurau. The movie premiered in Cannes, on May 15, 2019, at 10 pm**. This is a chart full of fixed stars, with the Sun with Algol in the 6th house. You'll find in the film the Algol classic of extreme injustice being overcome. But one curious thing is that the Cannes Film Festival always happens around the same time of year when the Sun is at the last degrees of Taurus and beginning of Gemini, making a lot of the movies premiered at Cannes have Algol activated. And it shows. It’s a great opportunity to watch how varied the Algol themes can be. On that same year of 2019, they had: THE DEAD DON’T DIE by JIM JARMUSCH, a pretty obvious Algol movie about zombies, whom you defeat by cutting off the head, of course; LES MISÉRABLES by LADJ LY, inspired by a real-life event of police violence that inspired the 2005 riots in Paris, it seems to have a very radicalized discourse about raging against violent injustices; ATLANTIQUE (ATLANTICS) by MATI DIOP has dead unpaid workers coming back as spirits possessing their city’s inhabitants to take vengeance on the tycoon who withheld their payment; LITTLE JOE by JESSICA HAUSNER is a film about a lab created flower that alters people's behavior in strange ways, and these last two kinda have the feeling of that "spring danger" Gavin White talks about. DOLOR Y GLORIA (PAIN AND GLORY) by PEDRO ALMODÓVAR has Antonio Banderas as the protagonist who develops dysphagia, caused by a caucified growth in his neck. Etc. And these are all just some of the 2019 films. I haven't watched most of them, but you can always look for the films which had their first screenings around 14-20 of May and they'll be rich in Algol content.

So, I'll leave you with that: a bunch of movie recommendations. Thank you for reading.

*Adam Elenbaas has my favorite content on the subject of the nodes or Rahu-Ketu.

** You can research the screening guide for an edition to find the time.

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cosmichorrorsarestillnicerthanme · 6 months ago

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Round three of death by Snu Snu with boyfriend master wearing I want GF to sit on my face with Penthasalia, Caenis, Medea, Medusa and Atalante( berserker) if you can do her. As a treat you can also sneak Gorgon in if you want

You have chosen death.

She is going to make you see stars.

She may also make you pass out from a lack of oxygen.

Penthesilea can get pretty… excited.

Especially in an environment that has emotions running high.

To put it simply.

You may be walking into that room on your own two legs.

But you either won’t be coming out for a few days, or you will be rushed out and put in a full body cast.

The more likely of the two is the second one.

Again, she tends to get excited…

If it makes you feel better, she’ll be by your bedside the entire time you're recovering.

Caenis is not someone who flusters easily.

However…

Even she has her limits…

One of those is you proudly walking around in that shirt.

How could you be so shameless while wearing it?

She felt like she was going to self combust out of embarrassment!

She had already decided she was going to be teaching you a lesson when she first saw it.

However, her idea on what lesson she was going to teach you…

Well, that got less and less like a punishment as the day went on.

If anything, it got more and more debauched.

Then again, Caenis isn’t known for holding back.

She was going to explode.

How?

How did you wear something so… so… so…

HOW!?

The poor lady was red as a tomato while looking at you.

The entire time, fighting off impure, unmaidenly thoughts about what she and you could get up to.

She was going to give you a piece of her mind by the end of the day.

If she didn’t vaporize first.

If she doesn’t, you will be in for a lecture.

This will be followed by perhaps the longest and most insane night you have ever lived through.

You… may also want to hide the shirt before she burns it.

Medusa will have two very different reactions to the shirt that will depend on the environment she is in.

If she is alone with you, she’ll tease you for a bit before giving you what you want until you tap out, or she does.

If her sisters are around however…

She will be scrambling to shove you into whatever she can to hide you from them.

In small part because of the shirt, yes.

But also, because you were hers and hers alone.

Also, if they saw the shirt you were wearing she would be teased about it until the heat death of the universe.

Though, if she got to keep you, it would be bearable.

However, you would have to be her… chew toy for lack of a better term.

Something tells her you wouldn’t mind that.

And she wouldn’t either.

You are in immense danger and only have two options left for you to take.

The first option is to ditch the shirt and hide until Atalante cools off in… eight centuries.

The second, is to accept your fate, write a last will and testament, settle all earthly affairs, and ready yourself for execution.

If you take the second option, she is going to tear you apart.

Once she is done with you, your soul will have left your body and your body will be in desperate need of either healing, or a funeral service.

Do not wear the shirt around her.

Seriously.

DO!

NOT!

If you do, you are either extremely brave, or extremely stupid.

#penthesilea #medea #caenis #medusa #Atalante berserker #penthesilea x reader #meda x reader #caenis x reader #medusa x reader

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mask131 · 2 months ago

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Some info that might interest you, taken from an article about Medusa by Dimitris Karakostas - from the "Dictionary of Feminine Myths" (or "Female Myths" depending on how you translate) (I wanted to continue my "Myth of" series, but I realize not many people are interested in huge paragraphs so I'll focus on a bullet-list format from now on)

The first time Medusa gets an actual individuality is on Hesiod's Theogony, where she is described as "Medusa with the atrocious fate", one of the three Gorgons. It is the first time we have her proper name, and not just her called as a "Gorgon", and this denotes how unlike her sisters Stheno and Euryale who will forever stay flat and background characters, Medusa will be the only one with a lasting heritage and developed character (while the only mortal of the sisters, it is her who stayed immortal through the art).

In all the other Greek texts, she is usually just a monster or monstrous head whose presence is an ornament or accessory in the tales of other heroes. In The Odyssey (XI), Odysseus and his companions dread the arrival of Gorgo's head, a "dreadful monster" that Persephone sends after them to punish their trespassing - for they are living beings in the realm of the dead. Pindar, in his 12th Pythic, describes the sinister music/melody of the wild Gorgons, and the "chubby-cheeked" or "fair-cheeked" (depending on how you translate) of Medusa, but no mention of Perseus. In Euripides' tragedy Herakles, the Gorgon is described as "daughter of Night, with a hundred noisy vipers", but she is here a metaphorical/comparativ figure tied to a "music of delirium" and the ecstasy caused by a dance. Plato, in his Phaedre tragedy, uses the Gorgons (just like the Pegasuses, in plural) as part of a larger description of all sorts of strange monsters, all "unconceivable": they are beings that mankind's logic or reason cannot reach or even understand.

If we want an actual story for Medusa, not just her appearing as a little detail in stories, our first record is from the first half of the 5th century BCE. Pherecyde of Leros, wrote in the second book of his "Histories", the tale of Perseus defeating Medusa. Pherecyde of Leros was a great scholar of Antiquity who was known to have created an enormous compendium of many of the myths of Greece, a true encyclopedia - unfortunately, most of his work is lost today, we have only fragments preserved. Hopefully, Pherecyde's treatment of the story of Perseus and Medusa was preserved thanks to a scholia of Apollonios of Rhodes. But it should be noted that this story misses two elements that would prevail in later versions: A) there is no tale of a metamorphosis or transformation of Medusa, implying she always was an ugly monster B) There is no record of Perseus delivering or even encountering Andromeda.

These elements come with the second version we have of "Medusa's story": Apollodorus, inspired by Pherecyde's text, wrote his own record of the Medusa story. However the problem here is that we cannot exactly localize in time Apollodorus' story. Study of his writing proved that he was NOT Apollodorus of Athens, but rather a man who lived at a later date, and all we can say is that his "Bibliotheca" was written between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE. In his version of the story, Perseus does encounter Andromeda, and Medusa is said to have been once beautiful but turned into a monster by Athena - however, here it is said she was transformed as her punishment for her vanity, as she got into a fight with the goddess, claiming she was more beautiful than her.

The most "complete" version we have of the Medusa story is also non-Greek: it is the story told in the fourth book of Ovid's Metamorphosis, a Latin text written between years 2 and 8. Fascinatingly, as with earlier texts, Medusa is not a primary character or focus-character in this text: the story written by Ovid is the one of Perseus, of Andromeda and of Atlas. Medusa appears as a head, first as an object belonging to Perseus, both a trophy and adeadly weapon ; then as a mean of deliverance, setting free from their torments both Andromeda and Atlas. It isn't until the very end of the story that Perseus reveals the backstory of Medusa and the reason why she was transformed into the monster she is now: and this tale, which closes the hero's adventures, changes the reason of the metamorphosis, so that now Athena punished the beautiful Medusa for having sex with Poseidon inside the goddess' temple.

While it seems that Medusa was always just a detail or ornament in other people's story, a side-character in the legend of Perseus and Andromeda, there is another version defended by Karakostas, and first brought forward by Jean-Pierre Vernant: the legend of Perseus and Andromeda is actually the mythical "background", the setting invented to explain why the entire power and character of Medusa, a key element of Greek mythology, is focused in a disembodied head.

Karakostas notes that Medusa is actually "stronger" of a character than Perseus due to this fact: Medusa's powers and intensity, her supreme beauty or abominable ugliness, makes her autonomous, identifiable and memorable on her own. In reverse, Perseus' story is entirely defined by his relationshp to Medusa, how he kills her and what uses he has of her head - Medusa both opens and closes Perseus' story (at least by Ovid's account).

Medusa is the Other. She is Other towards men, because she is the dangerous and threatening female. Yet, she is other towards women, because art depicted her hairy or even bearded. She is other towards humanity, because she is an animal being (snake for hair, bird wings, tusks of a boar, sometimes she appeared as half-woman half-mare). She is also other towards living beings, because her gaze kills and she belongs to the underworld.

Dante, in his "Inferno", reused Homer's apparition of Medusa in the Underworld and highlight the meaning of such appearance: Medusa arrives when the one who visits the Underworld, the realm of the dead, starts being paralyed with fear. Dante, just like Ulysses, dreads Medusa when he arrived far enough/deep enough into Hell that he starts fearing he might never return to the "above", to the world of light. In a sense, Medusa embodies there the despair of living beings in front of an all-destroying, supremeky-ruling death.

It was Freud, through his text "Das Medusenhaupt" (The Head of Meduse) who brought the idea of Medusa as the "phallic mother". His psychanalytic reading of the legend led to an entire symbolism of the Gorgon as a sexual and erotic symbol throughout the 20th century, tied to how the women of the century redefined the norms of sensuality and the relationships between the two genders: the Gorgon bcame the castrating mother, or the castrating woman. Though the irony of it is that, in the texts of Antiquity, Medusa is not at all a motherly figure. Yes she does have children, she births Pegasus and Chrysaor, but it is almost by accident and in the most un-motherly way possible.

#medusa #greek mythology #gorgon #the myth of medusa #perseus

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fragmentedink · 5 months ago

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Greek Mythological Creatures:

Siren:

a dangerous creature that lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and singing voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island

Griffin:

a legendary creature from Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Persian, Minoan, Greek, and Roman mythology that has the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Since the lion was considered the "King of the Beasts" and the eagle the "King of the Air," the griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature with both royal and divine associations

Centaur:

race of creatures that are part human and part horse

Satyr:

a troop of male companions of Pan and Dionysus that roamed the woods and mountains. The word Satire, meaning human follies or mistakes, comes from the word Satyr. Satyrs are described as roguish but faint-hearted folk — subversive and dangerous, yet shy and cowardly. They are also often depicted as fumbling, joking, and careless creatures

Harpies:

a half-human and half-bird personification of storm winds. The harpies were called "the hounds of mighty Zeus" thus "ministers of the Thunderer (Zeus)". Later writers listed the harpies among the guardians of the underworld

Pegasus:

a mythical, winged, divine stallion

Chimera:

a mixed beast from Greek lore whose body typically consists of various bits of a lion, a goat, and a serpent. It is known to breathe fire while the snake portion is venomous

Nymph:

a member of a large class of female lesser nature spirits, typically associated with a particular location or landform. Nymphs reside on mountains, in groves, by springs and rivers, in valleys, and in cool grottoes

Echidna:

described by Hesiod as a female monster spawned in a cave, who mothered with her mate Typhoeus (or Typhon) every major monster in the Greek myths, the goddess fierce Echidna who is half a nymph with glancing eyes and fair cheeks, and half again a huge snake, great and awful, with speckled skin, eating raw flesh beneath the secret parts of the holy earth

Laelaps:

a mythological dog in Greek mythology who never failed to catch his prey. It was a gift from Artemis to Procris, who gave it to her husband Cephalus. He decided to use the hound to hunt the Teumessian fox, a fox that was destined never to be caught.

Gorgon:

There are three sisters: Euryale ("far-roaming"), Stheno ("forceful"), and Medusa ("ruler"). Gorgons were a popular image in Greek mythology, appearing in the earliest of written records of Ancient Greek religious beliefs such as those of Homer, which may date to as early as 1194–1184 BC. Because of their legendary and powerful gaze that could turn one to stone, images of the Gorgons were put upon objects and buildings for protection.

#writeblr #writers on tumblr #greek mythology

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atrumvox · 5 months ago

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youtube

The Fascination and Terror of Medusa: A Journey into Greek Mythology (Roman version)

Introduction to the Legend of Medusa

Medusa is one of the most fascinating and terrifying figures in Greek mythology. Known as one of the three Gorgons, Medusa is the only mortal among her sisters, Stheno and Euryale. Her most notable representation is that of a woman with snakes in place of hair, capable of turning anyone who meets her gaze to stone. The legend of Medusa has spanned centuries, influencing art, literature, and popular culture.

According to mythology, Medusa was not always a monstrous creature. Originally, she was a beautiful young woman, a priestess in the temple of Athena. However, her beauty attracted the attention of Poseidon, the god of the sea, who seduced her in the sacred temple. This sacrilegious act aroused Athena's wrath, who, to punish Medusa, transformed her into a monster. Her snake hair and petrifying power are the result of this transformation, which forever altered her fate.

Medusa is a complex figure rich in symbolism. On one hand, she represents beauty and innocence corrupted by violence; on the other, she embodies female power and vengeance. Her image has inspired numerous works of art, from ancient Greek amphorae to Renaissance paintings, and modern cinematic interpretations. Medusa continues to evoke interest and fear, remaining one of the most enigmatic and powerful figures in Greek mythology. Her legend is a powerful tale of transformation, punishment, and ultimately, resilience.

The Origins of Medusa

The origins of Medusa are deeply rooted in Greek mythology, where beauty and tragedy intertwine in a captivating and complex story. Initially, Medusa was not the monstrous creature everyone knows but a beautiful young woman known for her extraordinary beauty. She was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of the sea deities Phorcys and Ceto. Unlike her sisters Stheno and Euryale, who were immortal, Medusa was mortal.

Medusa became a priestess in the temple of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, requiring a vow of chastity and devotion. However, her life took a dramatic turn when Poseidon, irresistibly attracted by her beauty, seduced her in Athena's temple, an act of great sacrilege. Athena, furious at the desecration of her sanctuary, transformed Medusa into a monster. Her beautiful hair was turned into venomous snakes, and anyone who met her gaze would be immediately turned to stone. This radical transformation not only punished Medusa but isolated her from the world, making her a figure of terror.

Medusa's punishment can be interpreted in various ways. Some see Athena as a goddess who protected her temple and punished the violation of its sanctity. Others view the punishment as a symbol of divine anger and vengeance against corrupted innocence. Medusa's story reflects the complexities of relationships between mortals and gods, and the cruel irony of her fate continues to provoke discussions among scholars and mythology enthusiasts.

Despite her transformation into a monster, Medusa remains a tragic and captivating figure. Her story highlights universal themes of beauty, power, punishment, and redemption, making her one of the most intriguing figures in Greek mythology. Over the centuries, Medusa has become a powerful symbol, whose legend continues to inspire and frighten, representing an important chapter in the rich tapestry of Greek mythology.

The Transformation of Medusa: From Beautiful Priestess to Monster

The transformation of Medusa from a beautiful priestess to a petrifying monster is one of the most famous metamorphoses in Greek mythology, laden with symbolic and moral meanings. Originally, Medusa was a beautiful young woman known for her extraordinary beauty. As a priestess of Athena, she was bound by a vow of chastity, devoutly serving the goddess of wisdom and war in her temple. Her life took a dramatic turn when she caught the attention of Poseidon, the god of the sea.

Poseidon, captivated by Medusa's beauty, seduced her in Athena's temple, a sacrilegious act that violated the sanctity of the place. Athena, enraged by the desecration of her temple, transformed Medusa into a monster, drastically altering her physical appearance and marking her future existence.

Medusa's metamorphosis was complete: her beautiful hair was turned into venomous snakes, and her gaze became so powerful that it could turn anyone to stone. This new aspect made Medusa a feared and isolated figure, relegated to the fringes of the known world. Her transformation is rich in symbolism: snakes, often associated with wisdom and rebirth, here become emblems of terror and death, while her petrifying gaze represents the paralyzing effect of fear.

This punishment can also be seen as a critique of female beauty and its perception in society. Medusa, once admired for her beauty, became a monster because of the very quality that made her special. The myth can be interpreted as a reflection on the fragility of beauty and its potential to provoke envy and destruction.

Despite her terrible transformation, Medusa remains a tragic figure, symbolizing corruptible beauty and the power of divine vengeance. Her story continues to be told and reinterpreted, an eternal reminder of the power of the Greek gods and the consequences of transgressions in their capricious and merciless world.

Medusa and Perseus: The Hero and the Monster

Medusa's story is inextricably linked with that of Perseus, one of the most famous heroes in Greek mythology. Their legend, rich in adventures and twists, tells of courage, cunning, and divine interventions, culminating in one of the most iconic battles between a hero and a monster.

Perseus was the son of Danae and Zeus, conceived under extraordinary circumstances. Danae had been imprisoned in a bronze tower by her father, Acrisius, king of Argos, due to a prophecy that foretold he would be killed by his grandson. However, Zeus, transforming into a shower of gold, reached Danae and made her the mother of Perseus. When Acrisius discovered his grandson's birth, he locked Danae and Perseus in a chest and cast them into the sea. The two survived and were taken in on the island of Seriphos.

Here, Perseus grew up to be a brave young man. His adventure began when the king of Seriphos, Polydectes, who was in love with Danae, sought to get rid of Perseus by sending him on an apparently impossible mission: to bring back the head of Medusa, the most fearsome of the Gorgons. Perseus accepted the challenge and received divine assistance for the task.

Athena and Hermes, the gods who protected heroes, provided Perseus with essential tools: a reflective shield, an adamantine sickle, winged sandals, a kibisis (a magical bag), and Hades' helm, which rendered him invisible. With these gifts, Perseus traveled to the land of the Gorgons.

Medusa lived with her sisters in a remote and inaccessible place. Perseus, using the reflective shield to avoid her petrifying gaze, approached Medusa while she slept and, with a precise stroke of the sickle, decapitated her. From Medusa's mortal wound sprang two extraordinary creatures: the winged horse Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor, symbols of beauty and power emerging from chaos and destruction.

Perseus not only succeeded in his mission but also used Medusa's head as a weapon, exploiting its petrifying power on numerous occasions. Eventually, he gave the head to Athena, who placed it on her shield, the aegis, as a symbol of protection and terror.

The story of Perseus and Medusa is rich in symbolic meanings. Perseus represents the archetypal hero, capable of overcoming impossible challenges through courage, cunning, and divine help. Medusa, on the other hand, embodies terror and corrupted beauty, a creature who, despite being a victim, becomes an instrument of destruction.

This legend continues to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration in culture, art, and literature, reminding us of the complex dynamics between heroes, monsters, and gods in the fascinating world of Greek mythology.

Symbolic Interpretations of Medusa

Medusa is a character steeped in symbolism, with interpretations varying over time and cultures. In Greek mythology, she represents divine punishment and the transformation from beauty to monstrosity, a reflection on the fragility of beauty and the destructive power of divinity. Her ability to petrify with her gaze can be seen as a metaphor for the paralyzing power of fear and terror. In psychological terms, Medusa can be interpreted as a symbol of repressed female power and vengeance. Carl Jung, the Swiss psychologist, saw Medusa as an archetype of the "terrifying mother" and female destructive power. In contemporary culture, Medusa is often revisited as an emblem of resilience and female strength, an icon of empowerment challenging traditional gender roles.

Medusa's Influence in Popular Culture

Medusa's influence in popular culture is vast and enduring, spanning literature, art, cinema, and fashion. In literature, she has appeared in works by authors such as Ovid and Dante, continuing to inspire contemporary writers. In art, her image has been immortalized by artists like Caravaggio and Rubens. Cinema and television have repeatedly revisited the myth of Medusa, with interpretations ranging from epic films like "Clash of the Titans" to TV series and video games. Fashion has adopted Medusa's iconography, with the brand Versace using her head as its logo, symbolizing beauty, power, and mystery. Medusa continues to be a powerful cultural symbol, capable of evoking strong emotions and stimulating deep reflections on human nature and society.

#athena #cultural influence #Gorgons #Greek Mythology #medusa #Perseus #Poseidon #symbolism #mythology #youtube #digital art #fantasy #videos #folklore #mythical creatures #Youtube

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inspofromancientworld · 26 days ago

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Legendary Creatures: Gorgons

By Gorgon Painter - Siren-Com Own work, 16 November 2009, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8473789

In ancient Greek mythology, the Gorgons (Γοργώνες) are three sisters who are said to be the daughters of Phorcys (Φόρκυς the god of the ocean prior to the Titans) and Ceto (Κητώ a primordial sea goddess before the Titans) and are the sisters of the Graeae (Γραῖαι three sisters with grey hair from birth and share a single eye and tooth amongst them). Anyone who looked at them was turned to stone. Athena wore a Gorgon head on her aegis, which might be an animal skin or shield, giving her protection from any weapon and cause terror among her enemies. The sisters were named (from oldest to youngest) Euryale (Εὐρυάλη meaning 'far roaming'), Stheno (Σθενώ meaning 'forceful'), and Medusa (Μέδουσα meaning 'guardian' or 'protectress'). Of the three, only Medusa was mortal.

By Jastrow (2006). Image renamed from Image:Gorgons lekythos CdM.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2184458

Stheno and Euryale were only mentioned in one myth, where they chase Perseus down after the death of Medusa and the symbology of this story was then depicted on Heracles' shield. Euryale is said to have a 'lamenting cry' that Athena then turned into the 'shrill cry' of 'many-voiced songs of flutes' that were slightly out of tune to mimic the 'fast moving jaws of Euryale'. Perseus managed to keep ahead of them because he was wearing Hades' cap. They were depicted running on pottery, with their heads atop their bodies, apparently without a neck, facing the viewer. They had wings on their backs and curly toed boots on their feet and quite wild looking. Later, they gained necks and became less wild looking.

By Unknown author - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112303464

Medusa is the most well known of the three sisters now because Perseus decapitated her by using his shield to view her in reflection. Her head was then put on Athena's aegis. Her visage was then considered to ward off evil. She is the only one directly said to have snakes as hair, which was then expanded out to all three sisters. Initially, she was depicted as monstrous. Around about the fifth century BCE, she became a beautiful and terrifying. By the time the Romans were telling the story, Medusa was a beautiful woman to begin with until Neptune (Poseidon in Greek) attacked her in Minerva's (Athena in Greek) temple, which led to Minerva cursing her hair in to snakes. Perseus took her head for King Polydectes of Seriphus because the king wanted to marry Perseus' mother and wanted to be rid of Perseus. Athena, Hermes, Hephaestus, and Hades all help Perseus to defeat Medusa. When Medusa dies, Pegasus, the winged horse, and Chrysaor, a giant with a golden sword, spring from her body.

By Morio - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27748539

After her death, Perseus is said to have flown past Atlas and turned him to stone, then turned Medusa's spilled blood into coral, then used it to rescue the woman who became his wife, the most beautiful woman, Andromeda. He then rescued his mother from a forced marriage before turning the head over to Athena.

By ArchaiOptix - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87474267

The tripling of Medusa into thee sisters could probably be the result of a greater trend to make goddesses into a trio of sisters. As noted by Jane Ellen Harrison in her Prolegomena: To the Study of Greek Religion, 'The triple form is not primitive, it is merely an instance of a general tendency… which makes of each woman goddess a trinity, which has given us the Horae [goddesses of seasons], the Charites [goddesses of charm, human creativity, and beauty], the Semnai [the goddesses of vengeance], and a host of other triple groups. It is immediately obvious that the Gorgons are not really three but one + two. The two unslain sisters are mere appendages due to custom; the real Gorgon is Medusa.'

#gorgons #medusa #stheno #euryale #greek mythology #legendary creature

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totally-not-fandom · 10 months ago

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AHHHHH Thank you :)

Okay so they are actually called Gorgons but Medusa is the most well known so I understand the confusion. And, honestly, I just chose gorgon because I think they are really cool! A little while ago, when I was deep in my Gorgon!Nikolai brain rot, I had a looong conversation with my sister about gorgons and how they would work in real life. Like, we talked about if the snakes would have individual genders or if they would be the gender of the host, how the snakes would get nutrients, if the number of snakes you have would depend on how big they are (Like if someone had Burmese Pythons they would probably only have two or three while someone with Kenyan Sand Boas could have up to forty something), etc etc. I could go on and on about them!

I feel like that answer is kinda lacking so here are some fun facts about Gorgon!Doug:

He has 19 snakes in total

They are Eastern Copperheads

All the snakes have names! Some notable ones include: Dimitri, Ludwig (Pronounced like Ludvig), Merry, Pippin, and Mercy

He has fangs he can administer venom through

He has a forked tongue that helps him sense heat, making it just a smidge easier to locate enemies

If he tries really, really hard, he can see through the eyes of his snakes

Thanks for asking @kosimon :)))

#call of duty #cod #call of duty modern warfare #cod mw2 #call of duty modern warfare 3 #call of duty modern warfare 2 #cod oc #call of duty oc #call of duty original character #cod modern warfare #modern warfare oc #shadow company #shadow company oc #cod monster au #call of duty monster au

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tylermileslockett · 1 year ago

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Monsters of Greek mythology

The Furies, or Erinyes, were relentless avengers of wrongdoing in Greek mythology.

Typhon, the deadliest monster in Greek mythology, challenged the gods of Olympus with his serpent-headed fury and storm-creating powers.

Hekate, the enigmatic goddess of magic and crossroads, held sway over the night and the spirit world.

Echidna, the mother of monsters, was a creature that gave birth to numerous legendary beasts.

Cerberus, the three-headed dog, guarded the gates of the Underworld, preventing both entry and escape.

The Greae, three ancient sisters who shared one eye and one tooth, were known for their wisdom and appeared in the myth of Perseus.

Cetus, a sea monster sent to ravage Ethiopia, was defeated by the hero Perseus.

The Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull creature, dwelled in the labyrinth on Crete and was vanquished by Theseus.

The Hydra, a multi-headed serpent-like monster, grew more heads when one was severed and was slain by Hercules.

Medusa, a Gorgon with snakes for hair, could turn onlookers to stone and met her demise at the hands of Perseus, who used her head as a weapon.

Support my book kickstarter "Lockett Illustrated: Greek Gods and Heroes" coming in early 2024. https://tr.ee/DcjSQDSEv3

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greatest-greek-games · 2 years ago

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Medusa: The best-known Gorgon of her three sisters, some myths hold that Medusa was once a human. Most notably, Ovid claimed that she was raped by Poseidon in Athena's temple and Athena turned her into a monster in revenge, but he's Roman so he doesn't count -- most Greek sources don't paint her as having been raped, but she's still sometimes pretty for some reason. Her blood is strong enough to turn seaweed to coral, her disembodied head still filled with enough terrifying power to turn mortals to stone. Her sisters support her, but couldn't make it to the actual bracket.

Perseus: One of the big boy heroes. Son of Danaë and Zeus, Perseus was sent to slay the Gorgon Medusa as a gift for Polydectes of Seriphos because he didn't have any horses, and also because Polydectes wanted to bone his mom. With help from the Hesperides and several gods (who had fewer heroes to bother at the time, apparently) he managed it, and on the way home saved Andromeda from a sea monster, because he's nice like that. Anyway eventually he killed his grandfather, that was the prophecy about him that got his mom kicked out of the kingdom. No escaping the will of the gods, especially in the pre-Heracles era where there's nothing good on television the surface of the world.

#pan-hellenic warzone #bracket polls #medusa #perseus #wanted to use a single image for this one but most of them are of perseus killing medusa #and i feel like that's not really #in the spirit of things

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fair-night-starry-tears · 2 years ago

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He came. He breathe. I bring in idol boy/related to Precipice Moirai/Twist Fate sisters (i create a idol boy with issues, AND IMMA DROP LORE TOO)

Name: Fayte Lyfie/Fae Ithe (stage/idol name)

Age: 18

Age he drop his career: 15 (ps, he actually ran away)

Likes: fruit snacks and sparkling water

Dislikes: waterballoon fights

Extra: his third design is his return outfit after slowly going into a rock theme instead of his usual cute and innocent like charm to more of a dark and edgy rock charm.

Sexuality: bi

Friends: Ignihyde boys (shroud bros, twist Cerberus, and. Yes. I pulled this one. twist Medusa Gorgon/Alastor Mesudon)

Lore: Fayte is the youngest brother to his three older sisters, whom is very popular and well known, he always admired his sisters and set out to be himself as an idol boy. He did many appearance chances to not be related to the girls, using color contacts to change his identity. As it’s very common that very bright somber red identify you into the Lyfie family. A family of seers that live for centuries by their descendants of childrens to bring prophecy to others. Even if it’s damning or not, this magic is a trait that continues to the children’s. Even if Fayte magic was different, he remains with the same magic as his older sisters. As Fayte continues as Fae Ithe. He was seen as himself, a person he believes he is, the idol boy is cute and charms with pure honesty. But sadly, it came to an end when his signature magic came. And taken control of him. As most seers. They control their oracle. But for Fayte. He couldn’t. His oracle became a persona, and making Fayte black out on practices and even on stage until he disappeared. Labeling as a “run away Idol”. He haven’t performed since and then on. He went back to himself. Fae Ithe was the name he was used to. And he was right back to being the idol sister brother. No one outside the family knows it. But only the staff knows it. Fayte disguised his face and ‘beauty’ away with heavy deathly pale makeup and dull wig and contacts to be seen normal. So no one can recognize him as the lost idol. But eventually, when he does control his magic. He will return on stage. His sisters do love him for trying to control bis magic and being himself, they do send him letters to encourage to try harder. At least his sisters are caring.

HOLY SHIT I WASNT EXTRA LONG MY BAD

Tagging: @adrianasunderworld @mangacupcake @writing-heiress

#twisted wonderland #marron draws #twisted wonderland oc #Fayte Lyfie #Twst oc #Idia Shroud #Ortho Shroud #Alastor Mesudon

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grumpy-potat · 1 year ago

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Galatea the Nereid (Sea Nymph) and her Love Triangle

Western Art has a love affair with ancient Greece and Rome. Many different myths and historical (*cough*semi-historical*cough*) events.

In ancient Greek Mythology, there were two women named Galatea. One was a woman who was carved out of marble and brought to life, and the other was one of the fifty Nereides. Both women were to be the subjects of paintings, sculptures, and operas of different artistic periods because both women are at the center of love stories. Although their love stories differ, love stories are an enduring tale and are something that fascinate people throughout the ages.

This little blog post will focus on Galatea the Nereid.

Daughter of Nereus, the 'Old Man of the Sea,' and the Oceanid Doris. She is one of 50 sisters who lived with their father in his grotto in the Aegean Sea. Thetis, mother of Achilles, and Amphitrite who was Poseidon's queen and mother of Triton, were two of her more famous sisters. Galatea means Milk-White and she was a goddess of calm seas. Like her sisters, she was a protector of sailors and the sea's bounty, and like her sisters she was beautiful. She frequented the shores of Sicily and caught the eye of Polyphemus. Polyphemus has a legacy of his own right. A cyclops, a man-eater, and was blinded by Odysseus after trapping him in his home. This son of Poseidon and a nymph who was the child of Phorcys named Thoosa. Her name is only given to us by the poet Homer, but that would make her a sibling to Echidna, the Hesperian Dragon, the Gorgons, and the Graeae. Which gives us a better understanding of Polyphemus' portrayal in the early myths.

Polyphemus loved her, and gave her cheeses, milk, and played the pipes for her. But she spurned his love because she had fallen in love with another. Acis was a handsome Sicilian youth whose father was Pan and whose mother was a river nymph. He would mock Polyphemus's love and one day while Galatea and Acis lay in a grassy field beneath Mount Etna he took a bolder from the mountain and crushed the youth's head. From the blood that poured out the grieving nymph turned him into the River Acis, and him into the god of the river with horns and a blue face.

This version of the tale was recounted by Ovid in book three of Metamorphoses. But even later, we get tales of Polyphemus and Galatea's love. Where he is able to woo her with music and lure her to Sicily to be with him. This is thought to try to explain why there was a shrine to her on the shores. So the story of a Cyclops tied to the land and a sea nymph who couldn't leave the water's love was the explanation that Philoxenus of Cythera came up with as an explanation.

They also have a child together named Galatos who was to become the ancestor of the Gauls.

In art, around the Baroque period, the love triangle between Galatea, Polyphemus, and Acis picked up popularity in operas and artistic representations and the popularity would continue through the Romantic and Academic periods along with other Greek Myths. In statues a way to tell the nymph from her counterpart is she is often depicted with sea pearls in her hair, a garland of shells and pearls adorning her, billowing scarves, tridents, or dolphins.

One of my favorites is from Gustave Moreau, Where he doesn't look deeply into the love triangle, but instead focuses more on the beauty and the beast aspect of Ovid's tale and we get some beautiful pieces. The movement Moreau was part of is known as Symbolism, and I personally find the colors, the composition, and the details to be very compelling and expressive of the stories they are trying to tell in their art.

Anyway. I hope you like the story of Galatea, and looking at some of the art. I hope to do the story about the other Galatea, aka the statue that came to life soon.

#art history #greek mythology #galatea the nymph #greek myth art #greek myth #western art history #This is a special interest if I get things wrong please correct it #I like to learn

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