What is a Gorgon?
The Gorgon is not one of the most famous characters in Greek mythology, or at least not everyone knows them by name. When we talk about the gorgons, we refer to a female monster that is characterized by being very ruthless. On the other hand, the participation of gorgons in Greek mythology is very different from those of other creatures.
They were not only monsters that the Greeks feared, but were also treated by some as protective deities in certain ancient religious cults. The name Gorgon comes from the ancient Greek γοργώ (gorgō) , meaning terrible; they were powerful and feared. Myths tell of how they had the ability to petrify people with just a glance.
The image of the gorgons was used as a sign of warning and protection. They could be found in different places, from sacred temples to wine jars. Greek myths speak of three main gorgons, Medusa, the deadly and best-known Gorgon in history, Esteno and Euríale, her sisters. Despite this, the researchers have been able to rescue that the gorgons were already used long before these three were recognized.
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Classical tradition
There are many different ways in which gorgons are represented. However, the classic way of doing it visualizes them with golden wings, large bronze claws and powerful boar tusks in their mouths. While it is true that most myths speak of these creatures, many of the narratives emphasize their teeth and snake skin, their most characteristic feature.
Interestingly, his image was commonly used. Although people believed that they were bloodthirsty monsters, that did not prevent them from being used as a protection amulet, so they were seen in temples. Additionally, there are other creatures that were closely associated with gorgons, lionesses and sphinxes were frequently seen together.
homeric tradition
Homer is one of the most consulted authors in ancient myths, in his texts he only speaks of a single Gorgon. His head is represented in the Iliad as a kind of crown worn by Zeus to show off his power. On the other hand, this Gorgon's head has an equivalent for mortals, where it transforms into a contraption known as Agamemnon's shield.
Despite this reference in the Iliad, the Odyssey, a Greek epic poem written by Homer himself, makes another distinct reference to the gorgons, describing them as a monster of the underworld. The appearance of the three gorgons doesn't occur until 700 BC, when Hesiod speaks of the three gorgons, daughters of the relationship between Phorcys and Ceto, sea deities.
Medusa, the best known Gorgon
Medusa is the best known Gorgon, even though many do not know her for being this creature. This is because she was the mortal sister. While her sisters had a terrible appearance, Medusa, on the other hand, was a very beautiful maiden. The best known myth of Medusa is how she transforms into a monster similar to her sisters.
The story tells how Medusa was the protector of the temple of Athena when she was raped by the god Poseidon, staining the pure appearance of the place. Athena, enraged, decides to take revenge on Medusa and transforms her hair into poisonous snakes. Medusa had the same powers as her sisters, she could turn people into stone just by looking at them.
The end of Medusa's life happens thanks to the hero Perseus, who cut off her head to use as a weapon until he gives it to Athena to place on her shield. It is thanks to this story that Medusa becomes an important creature in mythology, making her, in turn, one of the best-known characters in ancient Greece.
Medusa's image
As we mentioned before, painters and carvers of the time imagined Medusa and her sisters as terrifying and monstrous beings. However, the stories are completely different, as scriptures speak of Medusa as a beautiful woman with fair cheeks. This, of course, is the image before she was transformed, so there are two versions of Medusa: the beautiful maiden and the monster.
It is impossible to research the history of Medusa without feeling a little sorry for this character. She was punished for something that she herself could not prevent, while the perpetrator of the crime did not get any punishment. Medusa has been welcomed by various feminist movements today. The image of her has been transformed to remain an amulet of protection, even in such modern times.
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Protective and healing powers
Gorgons were seen as a very extreme duality: on the one hand, they were terrifying monsters. On the other hand, they managed to be symbols of protection, even before the three gorgons were spoken of. In ancient Greece, they were drawn or engraved with a terrifying appearance, their floating heads, bulging eyes, snake-like skin, and their tongues between their fangs. These images were placed on doors, walls, floors, coins, shields, tombstones, temples, and homes in the hope that they would ward off evil from those places.
Myths explain that the gorgons had quite impressive powers, the most well-known being that they could turn living beings to stone just by looking at them. Despite this, myths also tell of beings even more powerful than the gorgons, who were immune to their curse. These beings were in fact demons or souls with bodies, guardians of the gorgons under the command of Hades.
History is not very clear about what other powers the gorgons had. Many say that taking the blood from the right side of this creature would manage to resurrect a dead person, while the blood from its left side was a powerful poison that achieved instant death. That speculation stems from the myth that Athena gave Asclepius healing blood, which was in fact taken from the left side, so he died instantly.
Origins
Locating the exact origin of the gorgons is not so difficult, since their concept is as old in mythology as that of Perseus and Zeus. However, there are several experts who theorize that the gorgons are in fact much older than the Greek religion.
In fact, archaeologist Marija Gumbutas believed she observed the prototype of the Gorgon in some Neolithic artifacts that suggested the use of this image as a protective object. Both anthropomorphic vessels and terracotta masks displayed the image of a creature with large, bright eyes, which they called divine eyes.
primitive religious rites
On the other hand, the gorgons' fangs, which are identical to snakes, were part of several primitive religious rites. Even if it was another similar creature, many simply associate it with the origin of the Gorgon. All Greek myths have one thing in common: the original story has disappeared over time. Today, there are different versions, some more famous than others, about the birth of certain creatures, characters, or important deities.
The reality is that we may never know what the exact origin was or why it was born. What we can assume is that it became important enough for the culture, which in turn made its image survive decades and decades of civilization.
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cultural representations
As we've mentioned before, the image of the gorgon has been used since ancient times. This mythological creature has been a significant part of the art and culture of ancient Greece, and has evolved enough to even reach the present day. Medusa is perhaps one of the most represented characters in mythology. Her diverse forms reveal how this character has gone through different facets, from a monster to a protective symbol and even a victim of rape and a curse.
Known for her hair filled with living poisonous snakes and her incredible power to turn creatures into stone, Medusa is an extremely popular ancient icon. Even now, in more modern times, the image of Medusa appears constantly in culture and art, especially in the branch of art considered to be pop art.
Medusa's popularity exceeds that of many other mythological characters, ranking above some heroes and even some gods. The representation of Medusa is the protagonist of the works of some renowned artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Peter Paul Rubens and Pablo Picasso.
From antiquity to the Renaissance
The objective of this section is to study how the image of Medusa has been represented in different eras and cultures, beginning with her birth. For the ancient Greeks, the Gorgon's head was a symbol of protection. This means that her image was used because it was believed to ward off or avoid evil, which is why she was most often seen in sacred places, such as temples.
On the other hand, this image showed us a Gorgon depicted with bulging eyes, fangs, and a snake-like tongue. This image was also used on Athena's shield and was one of her most famous representations to date. Furthermore, the image of Medusa did not remain solely with the Greeks; in 200 BC, the Alexander Mosaic, a Roman mosaic found in Pompeii, existed.
In the crudest and most realistic depictions of this creature, it can be visualized with blood flowing from beneath it. This is perhaps a shocking version for those who are sensitive to graphic images.
In the Renaissance, the artists of the time represented her, together with Perseus. In these works, Perseus was seen holding the head of Medusa, making a direct reference to the myth.
XIXth Century
After the French Revolution, the Medusa image was transformed to become a popular emblem of Jacobinism. Also, it was often used as a figure to represent French freedom. This symbol was an opposition to "English liberty" which was represented by the image of Athena.
For radicals like Percy Bysshe Shelley , the image of Medusa was that of an abject heroine. A victim who had suffered under tyranny, whose greatest weakness also became her greatest strength. On the other hand, Shelley published a poem about Leonardo da Vinci's Medusa, portraying her as a revolutionary figure.
Modern use
Moving to a more modern era, we encounter the image of Medusa's severed head, the most recognizable representation in Greek mythology. The depiction of Perseus with Medusa's head was used on the cover of several editions of Edith Hamilton's Mythology and various other publications dedicated to this field.
On the other hand, the image of Medusa also appears in fashion, as the Italian luxury brand Versace uses the head of a Gorgon as its logo. In more modern art, a representation of Medusa with the head of Perseus is the avatar of various feminist movements.
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