Required fields are marked *. The Gorgon, Medusa, was a monster in Greek mythology but everything in Greek mythology always represented something in the real world. From Freuds telling, the entire story takes place through the perspective of the man in the story, reducing Medusa to something sub-human. If you also desire wisdom and deep understanding, keep a medusa bracelet with you and mediate on it constantly. She keeps evil far away from her. Reading Carol Ann Duffy's The World's Wife has got me thinking about historic women, particularly Medusa. Her symbols were a shield that frequently appeared above her head in ancient hieroglyphics which was why she was killed with a reflective shield in Greek mythology. It is said that everyone has a masculine and feminine self. It bears worth mentioning that Im very new to Hellenism, so Im a little confused as to how this all works. Through the snake-like strands of medusas hair, the universe is warning you against the deception of your friends. Seventeen contemporary artists of the African Diaspora explore how movement and migration shape their artistic practices and lives. image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness. I write about my spiritual experiences to help all those who go through the same. the hair as a phallic symbol) is also a sexualization of the female head. This extends to even monsters like Medusa which really showed us how the ancient Greeks viewed the things around them. In the Artemis temple of Corfu, Medusa is depicted in archaic form as a symbol of fertility with a belt of intertwined snakes on her body. As a result, she symbolizes both death and rebirth. Medusa, the most famous of the Gorgon sisters, represented an array of things to the Greeks. What does the Palm Tree Symbolize? The Gorgon's head (or the head of Medusa) is a symbol of terror, death and divine magical power, in Greek mythology. All three are originally described as having tusks, wings, and the infamously iconic snake hair. Throughout all of her work, Cixous decries phallocentric storytelling and histories in which men and the psychoanalytic lens of phallic imagery are centered in womens stories. Shes been found on houses, tombs, walls of cities, and temples (including the famous example, the Temple of Artemis in Corfu, which is what my paper circles around). Installation view of Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (photo by the author for Hyperallergic), Terracotta pelike (jar) with Perseus beheading the sleeping Medusa, attributed to Polygnotos (Greek, 450440 BCE), terracotta, height: 18 13/16 inches, diameter: 13 1/2 inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1945), Madeleine Glennonin a 2017 essay on Medusa in Ancient Greek Artfor the Met notes thatClassical and Hellenistic images of Medusa are more human, but she retains a sense of the unknown through specific supernatural details such as wings and snakes. Furthermore, she is a goddess that helps young ladies to overcome a lack of confidence. If she had not sworn an oath of celibacy, She might not suffer the grave consequences that befell her after Poseidon slept with her. It takes a high level of creativity to achieve this feat. Several stories fly around concerning medusa, but we will attempt to extract messages from those stories. 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. One of the powers of medusa is protection. Press J to jump to the feed. It is said that medusa was known for her innate wisdom, and many earlier scientists drew their great intellects and discoveries from her. This week, a Black Southern quilt collection is donated to a Mississippi museum, the fascinating AI-generated ceramic glazes, a map of Italian Fascist monuments, and can clothing ever truly be recycled? Even after the curse was initiated, medusa still carries that energy for wisdom and deep understanding. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Statues of Medusa were used to guard Pagan Greek temples. Early Greek and English authors also said that Athena was the help Perseus had to behead Medusa. It speaks about the ability to handle complex situations, and deal with hard tasks. Ive seen a lot of variations of her myths that paint her as a vengeful monster, a symbol of feminine rage, or a protective one. This is a powerful combo to enjoy protection from the evil eye. This is why she has been made into many ceramics, golden, bronze, and silver sculptures unlike other goddesses. 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. and rebirth and can be inked as a symbol of protection, warding off evil and keeping the wearer safe from harm. Medusa represents feminine power. 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. Due to the apotropaic (protective) function of her image, the hydra Medusa motif has been widespread since the Hellenistic period. 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. Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art, in a 2017 essay on Medusa in Ancient Greek Art, which you can also hear on the Mets site, From Ancient Egypt to Teotihuacn, Centuries-Old Palettes Illuminate the Role of the Painter, Tucked Away in LA For Decades, 2,000-Year-Old Roman Mosaic Returns to Italy, Manhattan DA to Seize Looted Hindu Artifact From Met Museum, Roe v. Wade Case Documents Fetch Over $600K at Auction, At the Outsider Art Fair, Passion Trumps Prestige, The Photography Show Presented by AIPAD Arrives in New York. She was also a powerful representation of facing ones inner demons and how self-reflection can make you into a better person. I remember finding out one day that the name Medusa means protectress, and it makes me wish that someone had been able to protect her. Additionally, the snakes in her hair can symbolize wisdom, healing, and . In order to unpack the feminist implication of the mythology, lets begin with the narrative of her story. The consequence led to a lifetime of living beneath her powers. 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. Which Hand to Wear Evil Eye Bracelet & Ring for Good Luck? During my free time, I love reading and researching history. The Medusa head became a symbol of protection because it wards off invaders and turns anyone who gets top close into stone. Horus was the son of the goddess Isis. To understand the impact of medusa, the following spiritual messages are important. I almost got a Medusa pendent myself but I just never ended up getting one. Returning to those startling early images of Medusa, with her bared teeth and frightful snake hair, theres a narrative here on how transforming her into something benignly ornamental was another level of control. Fortunately, the times have changed and people have started to realize the flaw in their reasoning. This began with the greeks and later flowed down to every other culture. mustache stubble was replaced by smooth cheeks, and fangs concealed by shapely lips, a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women, represents a conflicting view of femininity, one that is seemingly alluring but with a threatening or sinister underside. Cixous emphasizes the importance of the female voice, of womens story, she urges women to urgently learn to speak; because after all a woman without a body, dumb, blind, cant possibly be a good fighter. Herein, we see Medusas head, cut from her body, being held up by Perseus, she is reduced to being the servant of the militant male, his shadow. In what insidious ways are women made to be in a mans shadow? This should be a lesson to learn. The Greeks believed most snakes to be poisonous as well which represents the end of a life cycle. Born of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, it is often forgotten that Medusa herself is a goddess of the sea. 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. She is both feminine and monstrous. Well, let me tell you a secret. January 28, 2022; asus rog zephyrus s gx531 ram upgrade; was medusa a symbol of protection for women Including floral details in the tattoo gives it a softer, more feminine finish. Black And Gray Tattoos. To the Egyptians, it was a symbol of protection and royal power. To make this obvious, add a medusa pendant to your necklace. She may also be accessed as a living goddess by those seeking menstrual, serpentine mysteries. 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. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three monstrous sisters comprised of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. Terracotta two-handled funnel vase with Medusa head (Greek, South Italian, Apulian, Canosan, Early Hellenistic, late 4thearly 3rd century BCE), terracotta, height: 30 3/4 inches; diameter: 17 5/16 inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1906). The story of Medusa shifted over time along with her visage. 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The evil eye is similar to the Egyptian wedjat, also known as the udjat eye or the Eye of Horus , which is a symbol of protection and good health. The Classical period of Greek art from 480 to 323 BCE further associated beauty with danger when Medusa, the sirens, sphinxes, and Scylla all got a little hotter, losing some scales and wings as their bodies were more and more humanized. She is astute in the ways of protection and lends her guardianship to those who need her most. The tattoo design is empowering for women and can also be seductive. The jazz drummers polymathic experimentation also spanned visual art, botany, and even an improvisational martial art he invented called Yara. From the blood that . Whether you see her as a monster or more of that, the fact is that Medusa slithering her way into being more than meets the eye. Pharaohs would often be entombed wearing Wadjet amulets, and it was intended to protect them in the afterlife and ward off evil forces. (1) The history behind the association is unclear. [5] Protection [ edit] It also tells you to be confident in your physical looks. In recent years, Medusa has been reformed into a tragic figure who was slut-shamed and victim blamed, simply because punishing a male god (Neptune/Poseidon) would have been considered unthinkable. Venus was a Roman goddess who symbolized sex, fertility, love, beauty, desire, and prosperity. Many dont know this because Medusa is a monster but her name actually means to protect. The snake-like strands of hair also represent the cunning ability of snakes, which gives additional wisdom. This gorgeous black and gray tattoo is of Athena, the Greek Goddess. It was said that she protected those who were at war and during the hunt. In order to punish her, Athena curses Medusa by replacing her beautiful hair with a head of venomous snakes and making it so anyone who looks into her eyes will be turned to stone. Before she was cursed for sleeping the Poseidon, medusa was a beautiful goddess and queen. "I believe the Medusa tattoo is the perfect visual depiction of a survivor's journey from pain to resilience, strength, empowerment and self-preservationa protective symbol, as she has the. This was what attracted Poseidon to her. Men are trash even in ancient greece, we been knew. Many warriors are sent to kill her, including Perseus. Medusa is so alluring to us, because she is the image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness. She is seductive to us in her contemporary application and dimensionality. One of the versions of Medusa has 3 different interpretations. Bronze greave (shin guard) for the left leg with Medusa head (Greek, 4th century BCE), bronze, width: 4 7/8 inches; length: 15 3/4inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan P. Rosen, 1991). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgoneion. While not the best source, Wikipedia seems to support your claim - it has images of her head used in gorgoneions. In Medusas story, the Gorgon was born a beautiful mortal among her hideous immortal siblings which people saw as a blessing for her. However, what people dont know is that medusas bracelet carries the same power. It was believed this would protect them on the journey into the next life. The incomplete essay becomes far more phallocentric as it continues explaining how the sight of female genitalia instills fear of castration, how Medusas snake-like hair is (of course) a phallic symbol, and finally that Medusas ability to cause onlookers to become stiff, is a representation of an erection and therefore a confirmation of their manhood and of still having a penis it is in essence, their final confirmation of manhood. 22. Men back in the day didnt have the same level of respect for women as they do today because each gender had a different role in society. [emailprotected]. 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. When it comes to relationships, medusa is a lesson to learn. Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. Thereby, to castrate a man is to severe his most vital organ; and to decapitate a woman is to take her most vital source of power. Our image of Medusa is one of pure evil, but in reality, she is raped and impregnated by her rapist. You will see this in movies like clash of the titans. It wasnt until the Roman poet Ovid made her a more complex character than her original myth wrote her out to be. A soundscape in the exhibition composed by Austin Fisher (which you can also hear on the Mets site) is alternately serene and cacophonous, reflecting how Medusa is pulled back and forth between these seemingly opposed forms. Answered, One Piece Won a Different Award at the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Than I Expected, and Im Delighted, Randall Parks Upcoming Film is Everything Ive Ever Wanted. She and Mars are Cupid's parents. In this version of the myth, Medusa is instead a beautiful womxn. She swore an oath of commitment but did not stay true to it. Pastimes include playing with words, using my passport, and eating croissants. Different versions of a myth can grow in popularity, replacing others, and there ends up being no one singular original story. Hence, Medusa's tale has served as a metaphor for power and bravery, particularly for women who have experienced s*xual harassment. Therefore, this secret behind medusa is the reason for many movies that portrayed her as a head full of snakes. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Athena grows jealous, as many men flock to her, only to glance at Medusa instead. 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. Nowadays Medusas can be seen as a symbol of revenge against the male gaze. She was regarded as the patron and protector of various cities across Greece, especially Athens, from which she gets her name. Angered by this, Athena placed a curse on her by turning her hair into snakes and making her gaze dangerous. She is a woman who represents a conflicting view of femininity, one that is seemingly alluring but with a threatening or sinister underside. The femme fatale archetype has found permanence in our storytelling, and confirms to us that: to be both beautiful and fearsome to be a woman who has bodily autonomy and anger is not at all normative and that those women must be cast aside or have power taken from them. We dont have proof of this, but it was said that medusa was one of the 5 goddesses that advocated for feminine equality. On view in NYC. Because Medusa refuses a fate of silence and subjectivity, Perseus is left with no option but to decapitate Medusa for wielding her power. Therefore, if you notice a dwindle in your spiritual consciousness, seek help from medusa. She has been used as an image of great learning and wisdom for years. Medusa can be given to you as a sign and message. Have a tip or story idea? Without the support of the gods, he would have been petrified like every other warrior. The original Hamsa amulet was shaped like a hand with 3 fingers in the middle and the thumb and small finger in a curved shape on either side of the hand. In Greek mythology, she is one of the Gorgon sisters (derived from the Greek gorgs for dreadful), and Perseus uses a reflective bronze shield to defeat her. It is also thought that the symbol brings its owner luck, happiness, good . She went against her vow and married him. Google any famous womans name, perhaps Angela Merkel, Nancy Pelosi, or Hillary Clinton along with the word Medusa. For centuries women in power (or fighting for power) have been compared to Medusa, from Marie Antoinette to the suffragettes.Its clear in our society the sexually and intellectually independent woman is a fearsome sight to behold. Protection Symbol #9 The Eye of Horus. Freuds analysis of the Medusa myth is that she was decapitated because she represents castration anxiety through phallic symbolism. Her beauty and wisdom were her confidence and she was respected in the greek world of gods. is derived from a conviction that women lack a penis. However, the spiritual world can communicate different messages to you. Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The curse was meant to punish medusa, but it eventually became leverage for other spiritual things. It keeps your spiritual atmosphere thick enough to repel every negative force. She is also known to ward off evil spirits from peoples environments. Medusa embodies menstruation's protective powers. Can you now see the reason for her plight? Crypto The Hamsa is a talisman from the ancient Middle East. She works with birth, death, and rebirth. While there have been myths about Medusa in the past, the most famous myth is her being the monster that Persuses had killed. On a 570 BCE terracotta stand, Medusa is comically hideous, and fully bearded, sticking out her tongue between two tusks. What does Medusa Symbolize? On funerary urns or armor, she was a talisman of protection, those eyes symbolically warding off evil. Therefore, seeing medusa might be telling you to embrace your inner beauty. Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. You might have asked questions about the reason behind medusas plight. How Long Will Joe Goldbergs Rampage Be Left Unchecked? This was to ensure that no man will ever be able to look at her anymore. I Need To Know What 'Very Bland' Opinion Got J.K. Rowling Kicked Out of a Harry Potter Forum, Disney Found a Way To Make Us Care About Peter Pan Again, 'The Mandalorian' Makes It Pretty Clear Where Gina Carano's Cara Dune Went, 'Quantumania' Writer Shares Painful Thoughts on All the Negative Reviews, 14 Dead By Daylight Characters We Want to See in the Dead by Daylight Movie, The Mary Sue Book Club, March 2023: Powerful Magic, Sensational Secrets, & Public Policy, Was Ellie Gay in The Last of Us Game? Chariot pole finial with the head of Medusa (detail) (Roman, Imperial, 1st2nd century CE), bronze, silver, and copper, height: 7 1/4 inches, width: 7 inches; diameter: 4 1/4 inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Rogers Fund, 1918). Your email address will not be published. On a chariot-pole finial from 1st-2nd century Rome, Medusa is almost angelic with her flowing hair (and a pair of snakes peeking through her tresses), yet her penetrating eyes of inlaid silver recall her petrifying gaze. Studio of Antonio Canova, Head of Medusa (Rome, 1806-07), plaster cast with modern metal rod (courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fletcher Fund, 1967). Because of the origin of medusa, she is an emblem of deep spirituality. In the myths, any mortal who set eyes upon it was immediately turned to stone. Medusa, who was once thought of as a boastful mortal who deserved to be turned into a monster, is now seen in a more sympathetic view by modern standards. When it comes to medusa, we have several mixed stories; however, both stories affirm the fact that medusa was very beautiful. Emailus. Two solo photography exhibitions at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, expose the obscured, silenced, and unacknowledged histories of the slave trade. Did the monstrous Gorgon bear any children that 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. She helps females to attain their primes and become who they choose to be. He poses the idea that to decapitate = to castrate. Through this framework, Freud posits that the female head is akin to her genitalia keeping in mind that Medusa did in fact give birth to her child from her severed neck. As weve mentioned, the myth of Medusa can be interpreted in various ways, but I think perhaps the most fascinating analysis is done through a feminist perspective because it unveils just how swift we are to circumvent female rage. Here we discuss Medusa as a goddess, gorgon, and icon AND we teach you 8 ways to work with her fierce energy. The eye of Horus is an ancient symbol embued with magickal power and meaning. This reminded me of how her story, despite it being one where she gets decapitated, has been reclaimed as of late by feminist scholars. Overall, yes it is okay, and I think I wish to work with her, too. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. According to The Met Museum, Medusa is portrayed in most Greek art as an "apotropaic symbol used to protect and ward off the negative," representing a "dangerous threat meant to deter other. 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. Seems a little ironic that a monster like Medusa would be used as a way to keep family protected against the evils of the world. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. They were described as being winged With snakes for hair and having a hatred of mortal man.. Different regions and cultures . Therefore, seeing her should remind us of the power of faithfulness. Ancient Egyptians used the Eye of Horus to provide protection. From ancient greek mythology, medusa is a goddess of art. 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. Whenever you see a medusa sign, it is believed to have a close alliance with ancient wisdom and philosophy. Her writhing hair of serpents became wild curls, with maybe a couple of serpents beneath her chin to hint at her more bestial origins.