The story of Medusa begins with a question: was she born a monster, or made one? Ancient writers gave two answers. In his work 'Theogony,' the poet Hesiod, writing around 700 BCE, says she was born a terrifying monster, one of three Gorgon sisters. But centuries later, the Roman poet Ovid offered a more tragic tale in his 'Metamorphoses.' In his version, Medusa was a beautiful maiden. After the god Poseidon violated her inside the temple of Athena, the goddess punished the maiden for the desecration of her sanctuary. Athena transformed Medusa’s hair into snakes and cursed her with a gaze that turned men to stone. Her name, from the Greek 'medo,' means 'to guard,' hinting at her complex identity.
Medusa and Perseus
The myth of Medusa features two distinct origins: one where she was born a monster, and another where she was cursed by a goddess.
Chapter 1
The Two Medusas
0:48
People in this story
Part of
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Perseus have to kill Medusa?
Perseus was forced into the quest by King Polydectes of Seriphos. The king wanted to marry Perseus's mother, Danae, and saw Perseus as an obstacle. He challenged Perseus to bring him Medusa's head, believing the hero would die trying.
What were the Gorgons?
The Gorgons were three monstrous sisters in Greek mythology. According to the poet Hesiod, they were born as monsters. Medusa was the only mortal one among them; her sisters Stheno and Euryale were immortal.
What happened to Medusa's head after Perseus was finished with it?
Perseus gifted the head to the goddess Athena. She placed it in the center of her shield, the aegis, where it became a protective symbol known as a 'Gorgoneion', used to ward off evil and enemies.
Learn more
To continue the story, download the Chunks Microlearning app
Or get it straight away:
Download on iOS
Download on Android