Medusa is one of the Gorgon sisters with a haggard face and hair made of snakes who can turn a person into stone when they look directly into her eyes.
Medusa was one of the Gorgon sisters, the daughter of Phorcys and Keto. She was once a beautiful maiden with long, golden hair. However, she swore a vow of chastity and soon broke it by having an affair with Poseidon, supposedly in Athena’s temple. As punishment, Athena turned her face into that of an old hag, turned her beautiful hair into a mane of snakes, and gave her skin a green hue. She also cursed her: whoever looked into Medusa’s eyes would instantly be turned into stone. Medusa wandered through Africa for awhile, and the snakes that dropped from her hair became the reason why there are poisonous snakes in Africa.
Perseus was sent on a quest by King Polydectes of Seriphus to bring back Medusa’s head. He used winged sandals provided by Hermes, Hades’ helm of invisibility, a sword provided by Hephaestus, and a reflective shield from Athena. When he tracked Medusa to her lair, he used the shield to see Medusa’s reflection and thrust the sword behind him, killing her. He removed her head, and as he did, her children Pegasus and Chrysaor sprang from her spilled blood.
Perseus put Medusa’s head in a sack and when he finally made it home, he discovered that the quest had been a ruse to get him out of the way so that King Polydectes could marry Perseus’ mother Danae. He used Medusa’s head to turn the king to stone and save his mother. He then threw her head to the bottom of the sea, where it makes coral wherever it drifts.
In other versions of the myth, Perseus gave Medusa’s head to Athena, who placed it onto the aegis she wears.
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Parents
Phorcys and Keto
Notable Myths
- Athena’s Curse
- Quest of Perseus
Attributes and Symbols
A haggard face with snakes for hair and green skin
How Tos about Medusa: Greek Mythology
How to create an engaging Medusa mythology lesson for students
Introduce Medusa’s story with visuals. Use artwork, images, or short video clips to spark curiosity about Medusa and Greek mythology. This helps students visualize her unique features and role in myths.
Guide students in comparing Medusa’s traits to other mythological figures.
Encourage discussion and analysis. Have students list Medusa’s characteristics and compare them to heroes or monsters from other myths. This builds critical thinking and deepens understanding.
Organize a creative writing activity based on Medusa’s perspective.
Assign a short diary or letter from Medusa’s point of view. Students imagine her feelings and experiences, building empathy and storytelling skills while reinforcing knowledge of myth elements.
Facilitate a group project to research Medusa’s influence in art and culture.
Divide the class into teams. Each group explores how Medusa appears in paintings, sculptures, or modern media. Present findings to connect ancient myths with today’s world.
Wrap up with a myth-busting quiz about Medusa.
Test student knowledge through fun questions. Include facts and misconceptions to reinforce learning and clarify common misunderstandings about Medusa.
Frequently Asked Questions about Medusa: Greek Mythology
What is Medusa in Greek mythology?
Medusa is a famous figure from Greek mythology known as one of the three Gorgons. She had snakes for hair and could turn people to stone with her gaze.
Why did Medusa have snakes for hair?
According to myth, Medusa was transformed by the goddess Athena as punishment, changing her hair into snakes and making her gaze deadly.
How was Medusa defeated?
Perseus, a Greek hero, defeated Medusa by using a mirrored shield to avoid her gaze and safely cut off her head.
What lesson does the story of Medusa teach?
The story of Medusa teaches lessons about consequences, bravery, and how appearances can be deceiving in myths.
What is the difference between Medusa and other Gorgons?
Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal and could be killed, unlike her sisters Stheno and Euryale, who were immortal.
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