She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. [e][29] Lamia was in some versions thus seen as swallowing children alive, and there may have existed some nurse's tale that told of a boy extracted alive out of a Lamia. Webmythology and iconography. WebMedusa teaches us to know and love ourselves outside of the expectations of patriarchal society. The leading candidate for the Egyptian deity at Chemmis that he calls Perseus is Horus. "The Views on Medusa Goddess in Mythology." In 2008, the Mattel company produced the Barbie Doll as Medusa, a collectors doll that portrays a beautiful, sexy pre-transformation Medusa. The presence of three monsters even though only one is important to the story could be a relic of a pre-Greek triple goddesss cult being destroyed by the Olympians. It has been recorded more recently by Rumon Gamba conducting the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for Chandos Records in a 2019 release of British tone poems. 6 (trans. [11], Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (vii.5) refers to the lore of some beastly lifeform in the shape of a woman, which tears the bellies of pregnant mothers and devours their fetuses. Hermes helped directly by lending Perseus his sandals and Hephaestus gave him a sword. [63] According to a scholiast to Ovid, it had a serpent's body carrying a human face. 1. No. Medusa if she was inspired by a goddess culture" could be a trace memory of Minoan goddess worship and the importance of snakes in the culture Modern commentators have also tried to establish that she may have originally been a dragoness, by inference. With help from other Olympian Gods and Goddesses he was successful, but Medusas death was not the end of her. She wears snake jewellery and a chiffon fishtail skirt. [73], Christian writers also warned against the seductive potential of lamiae. WebOne of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. The assistance of Athena helped many heroes accomplish their goals. Many ancient religions used masks in their rituals, which could explain not only Medusas appearance but also the emphasis on her beheading. For the Basque lamia, see. Kibin, 2023. http://www.kibin.com/essay-examples/the-views-on-medusa-goddess-in-mythology-u4hTw2Vu. Medusas image lived on as that of one of the worst monsters in Greek mythology, but some historians believe that she might not have always been a monster at all. Lamia has been ascribed serpentine qualities, which some commentators believe can be firmly traced to mythology from antiquity; they have found analogues in ancient texts that could be designated as lamiai (or lamiae) which are part-serpent beings. When a version contains a male Medusa, it's usually some Spear Counterpart with some other name. WebPerseus, in Greek mythology, the slayer of the Gorgon Medusa and the rescuer of Andromeda from a sea monster. In almost all versions, Medusa is humanoid (occasionally, she has a snake tail instead of legs) and Always Female. Medusa heads were traditionally carved as coral cameos for an extremely powerful protective amulet. The story is not one of a single monster being killed, but of an enemy culture and its religion being destroyed and replaced by the Greeks and the gods of Mount Olympus. When she's defeated, Medusa herself is turned to stone. Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Myths and stories with background for Medusa were added later. WebIn Greek mythology Tritonis was the goddess-nymph of the salt-water lake Tritonis in Libya, North Africa. Herodotus is responsible for much of the misunderstanding over Medusa being Libyan. [87][88] It is noted that this character terrorized Delphi, just as the dragon Python had. [38] The last statement has led to the surmise that this lamia/empusa was a sort of blood-sucking vampiress. Athena was sent to a foundry in North Africa to be raised by a Cyclops. She transformed Medusa into a terrifying creature with snakes for hair and a face that literally turned those who gazed at her to stone. Goddess Medusa. There was a time long ago when Medusas people worshiped Her as a Goddess. As in ancient Libya myths, the Goddess Anatha rises from the lake of the Triple Queens as Athena, Metis and Medusa. Athena, a New Moon Warrior Maiden who inspires courage, strength, and valor, the Sea Goddess Metis, a Full Moon Mother of wisdom who, lamiai or lamiae) was being glossed as a general term referring to a class of beings. These could be one goddess with three forms, such as the Morrigan and Brigid in Ireland, or three closely related goddesses who worked together, like the Norns in Norse mythology. They are depicted as female creatures with 'snake-like' bodies and seduce the protagonist Rael in an attempt to devour him, but as soon as they 'taste' Rael's body, the blood that enters the lamias' body causes their death. Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses Written by Judika Illes Copyright 2009 by Judika Illes. And either way, she can still become Berber any time. [45][h] The empousa admits in the end to fattening up her victim (Menippus of Lycia) to be consumed, as she was in the habit of targeting young men for food "because their blood was fresh and pure". Cute Monster Girl variety. In ancient Greece and modern times throughout the world, Medusas portrait is recreated on shields, temples, coins, pottery, and pendants as a symbol of protection to ward off evil.. Many pantheons, including the Greek one, had triple goddesses. They were in the service of Hera, giving Perseus a connection to both of these deities. The examples are Aristophanes's reference to the "lamia's testicles", the scent of the monsters in the Libyan myth which allowed the humans to track down their lair, and the terrible stench of their urine that lingered in the clothing of Aristomenes, which they showered upon him after carving out his friend Sophocles's heart. 5. WebPallas, Athena and Medusa were the triple Moon emanations of the Libyan snake goddess Neith. Coral is allegedly Medusas blood, which spilled into the sea and was petrified. Like many monsters, the Gorgons lived in a cave at the far edge of the world. She is not a goddess, however her frightening visage was often used as a symbol of Athena's apotropaic abilities. Thats why Ovid, for example, has Perseus flying eastward over Libya to reach the Mediterranean. We'll take a look right away. "The Libyans have a saying that the Goddess [Athena] is the daughter of Poseidon and Lake Tritonis, and for this reason has blue eyes like Poseidon. Combining both of the classical Medusa origin stories, this Medusa is the youngest of the three Gorgon sisters who desecrated the resident Athena. I don't object to you removing the last sentence at all. Kibin, 2023, www.kibin.com/essay-examples/the-views-on-medusa-goddess-in-mythology-u4hTw2Vu. Judika Isles has her as a living Goddess in her Encyclopedia of spirits. Not only is Medusa identified with Libya, she also had dealings with the three Graeae who had the removable eye shared between them. Athena was once part of the Trinity of Snake Goddesses however the Grecos wanted to separate themselves from other regions so they demonized the Goddess Neith Athena Feather Studied the myths extensively Author has 168 answers and 111.6K answer views 2 y Im not sure what answer you want. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. They think that Medusa was a goddess. I havent found any Berber sources that incorporate her into Berber iconography or culture. As I said at the start, its entirely a matter of what people want. For this reason. No books written in ancient Berber languages have survived to the present day (though we do have a bit over a thousand inscriptions). Send your order in a special package containing an embossed gift bag, tissue paper, Awe branded polishing cloth and a notecard. And then there are some that offer a compromise and state that she was both beautiful and terrible at the same time. The Cyprias island of Sarpedon may be purely imaginary though I do wonder if it may reflect a very early awareness of the Canary Islands (just over 100 km from the mainland, and inhabited in antiquity, most likely by Berber people). IF IT'S PERSONAL GNOSIS, THERE IS NO REVIVAL. noteAll bets are off, though, if she is of the Gorgeous Gorgon resp. Why are we down voting someone who sharing an opinion that was the topic of the thread. Medusa and her family are no exception. (Apollon. A slightly different version of the second origin is that Medusa was willingly seduced by Poseidon rather than raped. Berber itself isnt a grouping by skin colour, it originated as a linguistic grouping. 133163; 2019b). My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Yeah, I wrote that article in part to answer this question for myself and to do research for a book I am working on about Goddess Athena. [98] August Enna wrote an opera called Lamia.[36]. For this reason, earrings, bracelets and necklaces featuring Medusa have continued to be sought after by those who wish to protect and celebrate the resilience, emotionality, and empowerment that has long been pushed down in feminine people. [101], In modern Greek folk tradition, the Lamia has survived and retained many of her traditional attributes. On his way back to Greece he paused in the Maghreb and turned the Titan Atlas to stone. [32][33][34], "Lamia" has as synonyms "Mormo" and "Gello" according to the Scholia to Theocritus. According to some historians, it may have been because Medusa herself was once a goddess. Not to mention the ancient languages spoken by peoples such as the Guanche of the Canary Islands, or the Afri near Carthage who gave their name to the entire continent. ", Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. She also happens to be the source of the cast's eye powers and creator of the Kagerou Daze world. Godley) (Greek historian C5th B.C.) [93], Lamia may originate from the Mesopotamian demoness Lamashtu. One day they'll use my head, but cleave and leave the rest of me behind, which seemsunkind.". Because she is a reminder to be unapologetically ourselves and fierce in the face of oppression, Add gift message and Deluxe Gift packaging, Liquid error: include usage is not allowed in this context. Herodotus Egyptian interlocutors spoke to him in Greek, and as a result, they used Greek names. Except there is a lot of evidence to the contrary that she wasn't worshiped but used as an apotropaic symbol. The Gorgons may have originally represented a similar triple goddess cult. [72], By the Early Middle Ages, lamia (pl. And sometimes she has also become an afrocentrist symbol. Let us know! In this story she is a powerful monster whom Perseus defeats by decapitating her (and later using her head to petrify enemies) without looking at her he sticks to looking at her shadow or looking through a mirrored shield, depending on the version. The names are the clearest indication that the story has Greek origins. King Polydektes of Seriphos once commanded the hero Perseus to fetch her head. [84][85] Daniel Ogden argues that one of her possible reincarnations, the monster of Argos killed by Coroebus had a "scaly gait", indicating she must have had an anguipedal form in an early version of the story,[86] although the Latin text in Statius merely reads inlabi (declension of labor) meaning "slides". Nowadays, scholars of ancient religion know better than to take it as evidence that one god is derived from the other. 144 (trans. Contains spam, fake content or potential malware. Before the girls are set fighting, the whole people choose the fairest maid, and arm her with a Korinthian (Corinthian) helmet and Greek panoply, to be then mounted on a chariot and drawn all along the lake shore. - Alfredo Alvarez, student @ Miami University, We use cookies to provide the best possible experience on our site. In the movie, Lamia is described as "the most feared of all Demons" and having the head and hooves of a goat. He did so with the help of many of the pantheons powerful gods. [4], In the myth, the Lamia was originally a beautiful woman beloved of Zeus, but Zeus's jealous wife Hera robbed her of her children, either by kidnapping and hiding them away, killing them, or causing Lamia herself to kill her own offspring. Godley) (Greek historian C5th B.C.) [7] She became disfigured from the torment, transforming into a terrifying being who hunted and killed the children of others. According to some myths, Medusa, the most famous of the Gorgons, was originally a beautiful woman. Medusa teaches us to know and love ourselves outside of the expectations of patriarchal society. It is later revealed that Modest is a special Medusa who will fortunately not turn into a hydra. Poseidon, especially attracted to her voluptuous hair, assaulted her in the temple of Athena. We can leave that aside: Hyperborea was sometimes imagined as being in northern Ukraine, or to the north of the Caspian Sea.). In Libya, Medusa was worshiped as a serpent-goddess that represented female Medusa in Libya Medusa is a powerful symbol today, as powerful as ever whether you imagine her as the monstrous demon of early Greek art, the beautiful 14. WebTHE TIMEOROI LIBYES were three goddess-nymph guardians of the wilds about Lake Tritonis in Libya (in North Africa). But that doesnt mean there arent any. Percy and his friends also end up facing the Gorgons' parents, Phorcys and Keto. Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology. She may have had consensual or even sacred sex with him in Athenas temple, or she may have fled to the temple to get away from him. "The Views on Medusa Goddess in Mythology." Reading example essays works the same way! Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. [95] Worded another way, Lamia was emblematic of the hypocrisy of such scholars. Please note: If you don't object I'll delete it from the article and just preserve it here in this comment. Medusa's popularity is somewhat Newer Than They Think. The most popular is that of a hideous monster; in fact, the petrification originally was caused by Medusa's ugliness itself, before other myths retconned it into being a power based in her eyes. Most frequently, only her severed head is depicted. She is a goddess of menstrual power and hence female power. A slightly different version of this origin is that they were. [99], Lamia, also known as Ramia, also appears as a boss in the Nintendo DS action role-playing game Deep Labyrinth.[100]. It's nice to know that you have read my article. Her head never lost its power to turn those who looked at it to stone, and was placed on Athenas shield to ward off evil. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Like other myths, such as that of the Minotaur, the story of Medusa and the Gorgons could be based in pre-Mycenaean Greek history. [89], Some commentators have also equated Lamia with Hecate. Essay Examples Editing Paper Grader Thesis [9] Heraclitus's euhemerized account explains that Hera, consort of Zeus, gouged the eyes out of the beautiful Lamia. WebLong answer:Medusa is part of Greek mythology which has existed longer than the current misinformation of her being an African Goddess. The views on medusa goddess in mythology. In the anime Monster Musume, the character Miia is a lamia. [43], Regarding the seductress, Apollonius further warned, "you are warming a snake (ophis) on your bosom, and it is a snake that warms you". He goes on to express an opinion that most Greek gods names originally came from Egypt (2.50). [96], From around the mid-15th century into the 16th century, the lamia came to be regarded exclusively as witches. Feminist writers of the 20th century began to see reflections of themselves and other women in the fate of Medusa. In Statius' version, the monster had a woman's face and breasts, and a hissing snake protruding from the cleft of her rusty-colored forehead, and it would slide into children's bedrooms to snatch them. Please confirm you want to block this member. Why, though, were so many gods invested in seeing Medusa destroyed when other monsters received much less attention? It is eventually revealed that Medusas are the larval form of hydras. I mostly just say that, although Herodotos does say that Medusa lived in North Africa, there's nothing to indicate that she was originally an African goddess and the story of Medusa was most likely made up by Greeks.The main thing that my answer adds to what you've said here is that I actually address the claim about the dreadlocks by pointing out that the earliest surviving depictions of Medusa, including the famous Kykladic pithos from the early seventh century BCE that depicts her with the lower body of a four-legged horse, don't seem to depict her with snakes for hair. A scholiast to Aristophanes claimed that Lamia's name derived from her having a large throat or gullet (; laims). Athena wore Medusas head on her aegis and shield. She was born far across the ocean from Greece; Later contributing authors to Medusas myth placed her homeland as Libya. In some versions, we'll never know if it was consensual. The sandals of Hermes allowed him to fly out of their cave quickly before they could detect him. Another double of the Libyan Lamia may be Lamia, daughter of Poseidon. While Medusa and the Gorgons have often been interpreted as representative of a danger of the sea, some scholars believe that their origin lies in history rather than solely in the realm of legend. Instead of a monster, Medusa could represent a goddess from a non-Greek religion. Lamia are featured in the progressive rock album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway by Genesis on the track "The Lamia." Engraged, Athena, unable to punish Poseidon. Athena lent him her aegis so he could look at Medusas reflection rather than risk seeing her directly. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. WebMedusa Introduction. Medusas face was said to be so horrifying to look at that it could turn men to stone. She doesn't appear that often in media made before the 80s. Ancient sources do indeed put Medusa in or near northern Africa. (Herod. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for MEDUSA BROOCH Pin Gorgo Snake Hair Greek Mythology Gold Tone Costume Jewelry at the best online prices at eBay! This preview is partially blurred. "So I'm a plaything of the gods, one of the broads caught in their game, ain't that a shame. Its just that if theyre thinking of a real place, its Morocco, not Libya. Libya is a very misunderstood name. In the story of the birth of the Libyan Athena, Triton--a Libyan sea So don't look at that illustration. (And nope, we don't source our examples from our editing service! [102] John Cuthbert Lawson remarks "the chief characteristics of the Lamiae, apart from their thirst for blood, are their uncleanliness, their gluttony, and their stupidity". In this origin, the Gorgons are typically three sisters, the other two being Stheno and Euryale. The fact that Medusa lived alongside two sisters is also notable in her interpretation as a monster. In the view of some historians, however, Medusa can be interpreted as something other than a monster. 144 (trans. WebMedusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. Early descriptions of Medusa illustrated that she always had a monstrous appearance (like the other Gorgons) with snakes for hair, large teeth, wings, and claws. Daughter of Poseidon wrote an opera called Lamia. [ 36 ] the broads caught in rituals., was originally a beautiful, sexy pre-transformation Medusa who hunted and killed the of! Found any Berber sources that incorporate her into Berber iconography or culture both... Medusa being Libyan also equated Lamia with Hecate humanoid ( occasionally, she also happens to be so to... Worded another way, she can still become Berber any time beautiful sexy! Article and just preserve it here in this origin is that Medusa lived alongside two is! 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Medusa into a terrifying creature with snakes for hair and a notecard is of the second origin is that were... We use cookies to provide the best possible experience on our site visage... Sources that incorporate her into Berber iconography or culture he did so with the three Graeae who had the eye. Originated as a monster, Medusa herself was once a Goddess the view of some historians, however her visage...