One of the powers of medusa is protection. "Medusa and her story have been reclaimed as a symbol of strength and Beauty, like monstrosity, enthralls, and female beauty in particular was perceived and, to a certain extent, is still perceived to be both enchanting and dangerous, or even fatal.. Meanwhile, a rotation of 1990s Versace fashions presents Medusa as a modern luxury logo. The myth of Medusa lies at the nexus of conversations about symbolism, feminity, rage, and the ways women are symbols of generativity, desire, and power. Open March 31 through April 2. I know for a fact Romans wore this as an apotropaic symbol, to avert evil (sorry not as knowledgable about Greek practices yet) . To prove her loyalty, she swore an oath of celibacy to be committed to the temple of Athena for the rest of her life. Zeus represented power, Hades represented fairness in death, but what did a mortal who turned into a monster, like Medusa, represent? Want more stories like this? Some believed that Medusa was the Libyan Goddess, Neith, who was the Goddess of Hunting and War. Jeenah Moon for The New York Times. Snakes shed their skin regularly, which symbolizes the death of their previous self and grow into their new skins during their rebirth. The answer you seek might just be around the corner. The closest alternative to the evil eye bracelet is the medusas bracelet. Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art continues through January 6, 2019 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, Manhattan). The labrys also appears in African religious symbolism and mythology (see Shango). Medusa - Symbolizing the Power of the Feminine - Home - Symbol Sage That the only reason that Medusa is the way that she is is because of a curse that was placed on her. The inclusion of Medusa in the center implies the protection of the goddess Athena, who wore the Gorgon's likeness on her aegis, as said above. Athena holds her head and Hades her soul. Including floral details in the tattoo gives it a softer, more feminine finish. a protection against . What does the Medusa symbolize? PDF One With Her Sheild - University of Hawaii at Hilo It is also thought that the symbol brings its owner luck, happiness, good . The Timeless Myth of Medusa, a Rape Victim Turned Into a Monster The word means "protect, rule over" with Medusa meaning "guardian" or "protectress." Perseverance Some will get tattoos of Medusa's severed head, or Perseus holding it, as a representation of perseverance. (1) The history behind the association is unclear. Medusa Tattoo Meaning: Symbolism for Sexual Assault Survivors - Parade Among them, the most prominent was the horse, a symbol of valor and beauty since he himself fathered many horses, the best-known being the winged horse Pegasus by the Gorgon Medusa. You will see this in movies like clash of the titans. While there were some hints at Medusa once being a beautiful woman, that narrative didnt really get popular until the Roman poet Ovid wrote Metamorphoses, which contained 15 books and over 250 myths, including his version of the Medusa story. When the artist Luciano Garbati made his sculpture . Medusa Greek Mythology Quotes. Medusa slept with Poseidon in Athena's temple knowing the consequences, but did it anyways therefore Athena was right about punishing her. This is especially true with the character of Medusa, because while the feminist reclaimed version is the one many of us have come to know, it wasnt always the way Medusa was written. "In a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women," she said. Sculptors and painters would use the Medusa head as an apotropaic symbol to ward. Seventeen contemporary artists of the African Diaspora explore how movement and migration shape their artistic practices and lives. Just like movies like clash of the titans, she is a powerful spiritual entity that exists in ancient greek mythology. The ability to understand science and ancient myths is also given by the goddess medusa. I aim to share everything I know about history on this blog, hope you enjoy reading too! Some people tend to connect Medusas story with self-reflection and link Medusa to the darkest parts of ones soul. They represent female power Medusa tattoos are a great way to express your feminine power and independence. It was said that she protected those who were at war and during the hunt. She also aided Perseus in later killing Medusa once and for all. This is exactly why the story of Medusa continues to captivate us because she is a character that demands to be reimagined, she pushes back against the story that places Perseus at its center, who claims him to be blameless and heroic. In her 2017 book Women & Power: A Manifesto, classicist Mary Beard explores how the image of Medusa is used to skewer women in contemporary politics, from Angela Merkel to Hillary Clinton (with Trump as Perseus in a popular manifestation). The tattoo design is empowering for women and can also be seductive. Medusa is known as the god of philosophy, beauty, and art. Originally born in Weirton West Virginia she spent most of her life in Pittsburgh PA. As she became more and more attractive, Medusa's allure became a symbol of her power in the world, a might that was often distinctly feminine. 23 Best Mythological Greek God Tattoos And The Meanings - STYLECRAZE This is why it is a sign of creativity to dream of yourself drawing medusas head. In ancient Egyptian society, the Eye of Horus (Wadjet) was widely used as a symbol of protection, restoration, and royal power. She was also a ward of sorts for the Greeks to protect themselves against the negativity in life. Ancient Egyptians used the Eye of Horus to provide protection. All three are originally described as having tusks, wings, and the infamously iconic snake hair. Which Hand to Wear Evil Eye Bracelet & Ring for Good Luck? Indian artist Diptej Vernekar attached puppets of Hindu avatars to exercise equipment that anyone could activate and engage with. While there have been myths about Medusa in the past, the most famous myth is her being the monster that Persuses had killed. link to 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. Hyperallergic is a forum for serious, playful, and radical thinking about art in the world today. Well, let me tell you a secret. Team Zutara forever. Early Greek and English authors also said that Athena was the help Perseus had to behead Medusa. As Elizabeth Johnston claims in her 2016 Atlantic essay, Medusa may be the original Nasty Woman. In 2020, it might be easy to chastise the women in the 90s who called Medusa the most horrific woman, but perhaps we would be better suited to remind ourselves just how recently things have begun to change. Protection Symbol #9 The Eye of Horus. This is why she has been made into many ceramics, golden, bronze, and silver sculptures unlike other goddesses. While the wild red locks of Edvard Munchs 1902 lithograph The Sin (Woman with Red Hair and Green Eyes), or Dante Gabriel Rossettis Lady Lilith (1867) with the Pre-Raphaelite subject brushing her long hair, are more of a stretch in the narrative, they reinforce the ongoing artistic portrayal of women as dangerous through their looks or power. It appears on numerous objects of applied art, such as earrings, cameo rings, and medallion necklaces, etc. Dangerous Beauty boldly mingles objects from across centuries in the compact exhibition. Up to that point that was Medusa was known for a monster that had the ability to turn her victims into stone. According to Ferenczi,1 the head of the Medusa is a terrible symbol of the female genital region displaced from below upwards. Your email address will not be published. visittuscany.com When Athena discovers that Posidon has raped Medusa, she chooses to blame her rather than him. Medusa: The Definitive Guide to the Greek Myth (2022) - MythologySource She was a monster in her story but her symbols were often used for the good of mankind however ironic it is to hear. The Gorgon as a symbol of protection TW: Mention of r*pe. For more often than not, shes depicted just as a severed head a visual that even has its own name,the Gorgoneion sculpted, painted, or carved being held aloft by her slayer Perseus. In Ovids story, Medusa is no longer the same monster that had tusks and wings. Medusa was r*ped by Poseidon in Athena's temple and Athena was wrong for punishing her. Her face looked like a monster, and venomous snakes made up her hair. These later images may have lost the gaping mouth, sharp teeth, and beard, but they preserve the most striking quality of the Gorgon: the piercing and unflinching outward gaze.. Well Medusa's dead, she was the only mortal gorgons. Business, Economics, and Finance. From Freuds telling, the entire story takes place through the perspective of the man in the story, reducing Medusa to something sub-human. Therefore, seeing her should remind us of the power of faithfulness. Modern feminism often uses Medusa as a symbol of their rage against the stigmatization of female sexuality. In this version of the story, it is said that Medusa was in the temple of Minvera and that one day Neptune, the god of the sea, found her and sexually assaulted her. This seems odd as she was originally a very beautiful mortal. The snake-like strands of hair also represent the cunning ability of snakes, which gives additional wisdom. About US | Privacy Policy | Contact Information | Pinterest | Web Stories. Upon witnessing this act the goddess Minerva turned Medusa into the snake hair monster with the cold-stone stare that we all know her as. Throughout the essay she encourages women to come closer in relation to her sexuality, to her womanly being, giving her access to her native strength. She goes on to say that in doing so she will get back her goods, her pleasure, her organs, her immense bodily territories. Cixous continues on, saying that for too long women's bodies have been occupied and deemed guilty guilty of everything, guilty at every turn: for having desire, for not having any; for being frigid, for being too hot; for not being both at once, perhaps even from being both woman and angry. The Gorgon was also a representation of protection and had symbols. She works with birth, death, and rebirth. This should be a lesson to learn. In addition to this, seeing the image of medusa speaks of the intellectual ability of an artist to draw her perfectly. Allison C. Meier is a former staff writer for Hyperallergic. Her gaze became an omen of protection, the snake on her hair became an omen of wisdom, and she is revered all over the world. You can either pray to her or keep her image with you. This extends to even monsters like Medusa which really showed us how the ancient Greeks viewed the things around them. She is the symbol of what female power looks like in the face of threatened male authority. What are your opinions on Medusa as a symbol of protection? Now, the same generation has turned her into a feminist icon with a story too many can relate to; instead of being a symbol of fear, Medusa has become the symbol of justice for sexual assault victims. Medusa's head as a symbol of horror was classically worn upon her dress by the virgin goddess Athena. Doniger claims that beheading equals the release or termination of sexuality, male or female. Doniger submits that through the sexualization of the female head, (i.e. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Medusa in Jewelry. Some stories say that there was one more unnamed Gorgon who was older than the others. In a later version, as told by the Roman poet Ovid, Medusa is a beautiful human woman, who is turned into a monster by Athena as punishment after she is raped by Poseidon (woe to mortal women in mythology). Medusa was a monster in Greek mythology but she represented some real-world problems for the Greeks and the rest of the world. Since Ancient Greece, the snake-haired Gorgon has been a sexualized symbol of womens rage. 17 Ancient Protection Symbols Against Evil - Insight state Whenever you see yourself drawing medusa in a dream, it means that the universe has blessed you with creativity. She was very lovely once, the hope of many An envious suitor, and of all her beauties Her hair most beautifulat least I heard so From one who claimed he had seen her. Many warriors are sent to kill her, including Perseus. Furthermore, she advocates for the respect of the feminine gender. Medusa has 11 spiritual meanings, which we look at in this article. Different versions of a myth can grow in popularity, replacing others, and there ends up being no one singular original story. In other words, symbolic decapitation, is a symptom of the real dangers that women face in a culture that is anxious about the powers of masculinity. Cixous demonstrates these points by claiming Freud himself is reductive and neglects to address the female experience in the Medusa myth, thereby erasing her experience, or, symbolically decapitating her as well. Gorgon Medusa. Medusa Tattoo Stencil - 23 Tattoo Facts [2023] Even though the curse took away her beauty, she remains an emblem of feminine confidence. One of the most complex drawings is medusa. Her snakes are undoubtedly one of the better-known symbols in Greek mythology. Medusa is the only one who is mortal and that is why the hero Perseus is sent to slay her. Her power is also associated with protection, as she was often depicted as a guardian of the temple. She is both feminine and monstrous. Athena's curse was not a punishment for Medusa, but a punishment for the gods and men who intended to harm her. Use this symbol to keep you safe on your travels as did ancient sailors who would paint it on the sides of their boats. Often times, this has allowed us to garner some sort of fable-like lesson from the stories of the Illiad or Metamorphoses. She was regarded as the patron and protector of various cities across Greece, especially Athens, from which she gets her name. Today Medusa, with her snake hair and stare that turns people to stone, endures as an allegorical figure of fatal beauty, or a ready image for superimposing the face of a detested woman in power. What Depictions of Medusa Say about the Way Society Views Powerful Women The jazz drummers polymathic experimentation also spanned visual art, botany, and even an improvisational martial art he invented called Yara. If you have committed to accomplishing a task, stay true to it no matter what. She has a stern stare that prevents evil people from glancing at you with their jealous stare. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon - a creature with snakes for hair and the ability to turn anyone who looked at her into stone. Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. . The present ptient is a female. It was believed this would protect them on the journey into the next life. Snakes were often connected to deception as well which reflected on the trust men put in women back in those days. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. 20. Her luscious hair was her most defining feature and she wasnt shy of flaunting herself to others either. As an ancient protection symbol, the Medusa in this way also symbolizes aspects of the mother goddess, especially as a child of Gaia, the creator. All of Medusa's siblings were monsters by birth and, even though she was not, she had the misfortune of being turned . For example, a sun and moon tattoo, which you can view as a coming together of opposites and a representation of two opposing forces. Rehabilitating Medusa: Powerful Women, Sexism And Reading Mary Beard's Although other greek mythology claimed that she was a priestess and one of the 3 monstrous gorgons, which are known as 3 winged females. The most common interpretation of Medusa suggests she is an apotropaic symbol used to protect from and ward off the negative, much like the modern evil eye. As a symbol I don't see a problem with it. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. You should be fine if you worry about attracting her attention. Medusa was protective of her chastity and rejected Poseidons advances when the God tried to seduce her. Beyond the stories we have heard about this goddess, there are things to learn from her, which can be applied to our daily living. Medusa as a protection symbol? : r/Hellenism - reddit Medusa - the Goddess of Protection - Shakti Bhava Healing Grace After Perseus removed Medusa's head, some stories claim that he gifted it to Athena. What medusa suffered is enough to make her insignificant in the world of spirituality. The story has always been heavily discussed by classics scholars because of the very gendered image of Perseus cutting Medusas head off and the castration anxiety that became very popular around any type of chopping in psychoanalysis, especially after Sigmund Freuds Das Medusenhaupt (Medusas Head) was published in 1940 after his death. According to ancient history, it is recorded that medusa was one of the prettiest goddesses in the universe. Medusa Teaches Women How to Turn the Patriarchy into Stone She helps females to attain their primes and become who they choose to be. Required fields are marked *. According to various sources, Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal, so she was able to be beheaded by the Greek hero, Perseus. In some cases, Medusa was even considered to be a symbol of fertility. She is an advocate of the exaltation of femininity. While she may be known for her monstrosity, her beauty remains just as dangerous. The story of Medusa is such a famous Greek myth told in today's world, both to kids and adults alike. Simi is very passionate about talking about women of color in media, politics, and the arts. It bears worth mentioning that Im very new to Hellenism, so Im a little confused as to how this all works. The meaning of Medusa is powerful. "Pegasus, poetry, was born of Medusa when her head was cut off." - Joseph Campbell. AirplaneMode - BONES. She represented the beauty of the female gender and advocated for it. 7 Tattoos as Symbols of Protection - Self Tattoo Medusa's Mirror: Healing the Collective Trauma of the Fallen Priestess How Medusa Became a Feminist Icon - Her Campus Medusas snakes were said to represent the cycle of life, rebirth, and death. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. While not the best source, Wikipedia seems to support your claim - it has images of her head used in gorgoneions. It also speaks of the power to generate new ideas for accomplishing a given task. 42. The myth tells us that the only way to defeat Medusa is by looking at our reflections through a mirror and this tells us that we should reflect upon ourselves to defeat our darkest demons. Medusa is also seen as a symbol of freedom and liberation for women, as she was used as a symbol of French liberation during the French Revolution. [5] Protection [ edit] If humans werent so tempting then maybe most of the male gods wouldnt be serial rapists. Shoulder Medusa Tattoo Fabio Mauro Symbol Sage points out, "The beheading of Medusa can be seen as symbolic of silencing powerful women who voice their sentiments." Further to this ability to turn people into stone, depictions of Medusa were used as a type of protection against evil. Because Medusa refuses a fate of silence and subjectivity, Perseus is left with no option but to decapitate Medusa for wielding her power. As this article from the Atlantic puts it: "In Western culture, strong women have historically been imagined as threats requiring male conquest and control. She is an advocate of the exaltation of femininity. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Texas Zero Property Tax Bill Has Extreme, Discriminatory Catches, Eurovision 2023 Tickets Announced on Ticketmaster, Celebrating Womens History With Qiu Jin, Chinese Revolutionary, The Penguin Tells a Batverse Scarface Story. pic.twitter.com/u61VAuxhJ8. Her image was used in Byzantine Greece to protect pregnant women and newborns. This will also encourage you to always keep to your words. They were described as being "winged With snakes for hair" and having a . There are numerous images of Medusa in an almost angel-like state, or even once she had been cursed, images where the snakes in her hair function as more of an accessory rather than something fearsome. In myth Medusa was the granddaughter of the earth (Gaia) and the ocean (Oceanus), a beautiful mortal Gorgon maiden sworn to celibacy to fulfill her duties as an attendant to Athena. Every situation you go through will turn around for your good. Due to the apotropaic (protective) function of her image, the hydra Medusa motif has been widespread since the Hellenistic period. Just like any other figure in Greek mythology, Medusa had her own symbols that represented things in the culture of Greece. Then her severed head, capable of transfixion even in death, is carted away to help him defeat the villain of his story. There is a painful recognition in the fact that Medusas head the center of her knowledge and power is taken from her in order to empower a man and to fight his battles for him. She swore an oath of commitment but did not stay true to it. Protection symbols are the specific signs that people use to safeguard against evil and negative energies, especially to have a strong spiritual and ritual impression in mind. Small Medusa Tattoo . Her symbols were a shield that frequently appeared above her head in ancient hieroglyphics which was why she was killed with a reflective shield in Greek mythology. Medusa | Myth & Story | Britannica This is a powerful combo to enjoy protection from the evil eye. The Hamsa is a talisman from the ancient Middle East. Furthermore, she is a goddess that helps young ladies to overcome a lack of confidence. According to some myths, this was the real head of Medusa. Medusa is the perfect symbol of this". However, it also became a symbol of protection and safety. Even into the 19th century, as the romanticization continued, her eyes did not close.

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