Poseidon, especially attracted to her voluptuous hair, assaulted her in the temple of Athena. Medusa, to me, is the monstrous version of a heroic mortal. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Dana, the daughter of Acrisius of Argos. [37][36], A representative example is Philostratus's novelistic biography Life of Apollonius of Tyana.[37]. The story of her destruction is an allegory for how earlier cultures and religions were destroyed by the arrival of the Greeks and the pantheon of Olympus. I felt the question about Medusa being a Goddess was closed in my mind, then I saw an altar for Medusa the other day and wanted to know if anyone else had another opinion. 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. WebMedusa. 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. Medusas face was said to be so horrifying to look at that it could turn men to stone. Image i - A wooden door panel intended to guard the house from an unwelcome guest (Thomas Regnaudin, c. 1660). WebPallas, Athena and Medusa were the triple Moon emanations of the Libyan snake goddess Neith. They saw parallels between the punishment and isolation the Gorgon faced for her own assault and the way women are so often maligned for the mistreatment they endure. Lamia are featured in the progressive rock album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway by Genesis on the track "The Lamia." You may have heard that Medusa was originally a Libyan goddess or alternatively, that the Greek myth of Medusa was designed to demonise black women. Medusa and her family are no exception. Later depictions (although still fairly ancient ones, in the absolute sense) gradually toned down the more monstrous aspects and made her more attractive. Strands of her snake hair went on to protect whole cities. They celebrate a yearly festival of Athena, where their maidens are separated into two bands and fight each other with stones and sticks, thus, they say, honoring in the way of their ancestors that native goddess whom we call Athena. Thank you for the reference in the "further reading" section!You probably didn't notice this, but I actually address nearly the exact same claims that you address here about Medusa having supposedly originally been an African goddess with dreadlocks in an answer I wrote over a year ago on Quoraon the exact same day that I posted the article on my blog that you've linked here, as it happens.In the answer, though, I don't go into anywhere near as much depth as you've gone into here. : ", Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 14 (trans. Like many Greek monsters in mythology, killing Medusa was a task assigned to a semi-divine hero. WebIt is unlikely, though, that Medusa was ever an African goddess, since we have no evidence that any goddess resembling Medusa was worshipped in North Africa before Both sexes resemble the scaly humanoid from 3rd edition, though with less haggish features. Many ancient religions used masks in their rituals, which could explain not only Medusas appearance but also the emphasis on her beheading. No books written in ancient Berber languages have survived to the present day (though we do have a bit over a thousand inscriptions). All three were so hideous, that the shock of seeing them would turn anyone into stone, which [87][88] It is noted that this character terrorized Delphi, just as the dragon Python had. "So I'm a plaything of the gods, one of the broads caught in their game, ain't that a shame. And sometimes she has also become an afrocentrist symbol. Medusa is usually portrayed as the monster she became after her transformation by Athena. Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses. [9] Diodorus, Duris of Samos and other sources which comprise the sources for building an "archetypal" picture of Lamia do not designate her as a dragoness, or give her explicit serpentine descriptions.[82]. She was imported into Greece as one of the Gorgons, daughter of Phorcus and his sister Ceto. Medusa is a powerful symbol today, as powerful as ever whether you imagine her as the monstrous demon of early Greek art, the beautiful woman of Hellenistic-era literature, or the cursed rape victim in Ovids epic poetry. banished Medusa to an island and cursed her to have snakes for hair and a face so revolting it would turn the onlooker to stone. 1493 ff (trans. In his 9th-century treatise on divorce, Hincmar, archbishop of Reims, listed lamiae among the supernatural dangers that threatened marriages, and identified them with geniciales feminae,[74] female reproductive spirits. [89], Some commentators have also equated Lamia with Hecate. Sent by a king, Perseus went on a mission to slay Medusa and bring back her head. Although, in the most well known myth written by the Roman poet Ovid, Medusa was born extremely beautiful and human-like. By Amphithemis she became the mother of Nasamon and Caphaurus. Medusa embodies menstruations protective powers. Medusa's main characteristics are snakes for hair and that people turn to stone just by seeing her face. Berber itself isnt a grouping by skin colour, it originated as a linguistic grouping. Other gods played an indirect role in the heros victory. Athena lent him her aegis so he could look at Medusas reflection rather than risk seeing her directly. The Perseus legend didnt originate in Chemmis; Medusa and the Gorgons didnt originate in the modern territory of Libya. The assistance of Athena helped many heroes accomplish their goals. The ancient Greco-Roman imagination gradually shifted the Gorgons home, from an island in the Atlantic, eastwards to the African mainland: perhaps in Morocco, perhaps at the Strait of Gibraltar. There are traditions built around Avalon and Arthurian literature. White and black, as a taxonomy of race, are inventions of the modern era. [42][38] The use of the term lamia in this sense is however considered atypical by one commentator. [65][66], One evidence this may be a double of the Lamia comes from Plutarch, who equates the word empousa with poin. The monster in the heroic story could symbolize a pre-Greek religion. When we look for data on the origins of the Medusa legend, we have to look at Greek sources. http://www.kibin.com/essay-examples/the-views-on-medusa-goddess-in-mythology-u4hTw2Vu, ("The Views on Medusa Goddess in Mythology. The intercourse of men and women there is promiscuous; they do not cohabit but have intercourse like cattle. When ancient Greek writers say Libya, they dont mean the modern country. Her features are common of Greek monsters. She may be Athenas mother, a closely related spirit, or possibly even the identity Athena left behind when she moved from North Africa to Greece. King Polydektes of Seriphos once commanded the hero Perseus to fetch her head. Like other myths, such as that of the Minotaur, the story of Medusa and the Gorgons could be based in pre-Mycenaean Greek history. 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. noteAll bets are off, though, if she is of the Gorgeous Gorgon resp. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. He goes on to express an opinion that most Greek gods names originally came from Egypt (2.50). [44][40] It has been suggested from this discourse that the creature was therefore "literally a snake". 1493 ff (trans. What makes you cringe? 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. She doesn't appear that often in media made before the 80s. [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". : Uncover new sources by reviewing other students' references and bibliographies, Inspire new perspectives and arguments (or counterarguments) to address in your own essay. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. | FAQs | ^Mods | Magic ^Words. The Gorgons collectively could indicate that this unknown goddess was part of a triple goddess cult. [9] Heraclitus's euhemerized account explains that Hera, consort of Zeus, gouged the eyes out of the beautiful Lamia. It alludes to Plutarch's use of the term in De curiositate, where the Greek writer suggests that the term Lamia is emblematic of meddlesome busybodies in society. WebIn Greek mythology, Poseidon was the god of the sea, floods, droughts, earthquakes and horses. In the story of the birth of the Libyan Athena, Triton--a Libyan sea The technical term for the image of Medusas severed head is gorgoneion. Because she is a reminder to be unapologetically ourselves and fierce in the face of oppression, Medusa is a perfect talisman for manifesting and honoring our inner bad bitch. Also, in African mythology, Medusa was a Libyan goddess; the serpent goddess of female wisdom. Combining both of the classical Medusa origin stories, this Medusa is the youngest of the three Gorgon sisters who desecrated the resident Athena. [94], Renaissance writer Angelo Poliziano wrote Lamia (1492), a philosophical work whose title is a disparaging reference to his opponents who dabble in philosophy without competence. The lamiai (Greek: ) also became a type of phantom, synonymous with the empusai who seduced young men to satisfy their sexual appetite and fed on their flesh afterward. Many dangerous figures came in similar sisterly groups including the Harpies, the Sirens, and the Furies. The names are the clearest indication that the story has Greek origins. She is a goddess of menstrual power and hence female power. Algol, usually considered a star of ill-fortune, is traditionally perceived as representing Medusas eye. There is an ancient metaphysical belief that menstrual blood is the single most spiritually and magically powerful substance on Earth. Translating names in this way is called interpretatio graeca. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? : Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. Send your order with a custom message and a special package containing an embossed gift bag, tissue paper, Awe branded polishing cloth and a notecard. While Medusa could be killed, her sisters could not. The image of her severed head remains a powerful protective amulet. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. "The Views on Medusa Goddess in Mythology." [103], Later traditions referred to many lamiae; these were folkloric monsters similar to vampires and succubi that seduced young men and then fed on their blood. They were the maiden, mother and crone. [19][b][c], Aristophanes wrote in two plays an identically worded list of foul-smelling objects which included the "Lamia's testicles", thus making Lamia's gender ambiguous. : Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. Myths are malleable, after all. Medusa's popularity is somewhat Newer Than They Think. Some historians also believe that the existence of three Gorgons is further evidence to support this theory. 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. The queen, as related by Diodorus, was born in a cave. Pursuing her, he raped her there. Raised by Wolves features a character named Lamia, an android mother, who has removable eyes and the ability to shapeshift. Or they may be simply unnamed or differently named. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Send your order with a custom message. Diodorus Siculus (fl. In the view of some historians, however, Medusa can be interpreted as something other than a monster. Iconographically, two very different depictions coalesce in the classical Medusa: the Neolithic God-dess of birth, death, and regeneration, who is represented as bird, snake, or bird/snake hybrid; and the Near Eastern demon Humbaba whose severed head is, like Medusas, used in an apo-tropaic manner. [78] Either one could be Lamia the mother of Scylla mentioned in the Stesichorus (d. 555 BC) fragment, and other sources. Such is their tale. 5. She was imported into Greece as one of the Gorgons, daughter of Phorcus and his sister Ceto. This is given in the concluding paragraph of the chapter. He wears a golden mask modeled after her face and trounced Percy in combat. 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. So don't look at that illustration. The Gorgon sisters as a whole are the Trope Namer to Gorgeous Gorgon. Godley) (Greek historian C5th B.C.) Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 14 (trans. And, of course, as a son of Zeus Perseus was directly connected to the king of the gods. Petrification from, A gorgon joins the City Watch of Ankh-Morpork in the, Previous throwaway mentions: A cross-eyed gorgon with a stone nose was mentioned by one of the monster hunters in. 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. In the fifth addition, medusae look like humans with snakes for hair, have males with identical powers and are cursed to turn into medusae on an individual basis. A glance at a map, and a review of the other ancient sources on Medusa, makes the situation totally clear. Here, Lamia is the common vulgar term and empousa the proper term. They are not strictly speaking "witches", but they are referred to as such by convention. [28] Horace in Ars Poetica cautions against the overly fantastical: "[nor should a story] draw a live boy out of a Lamia's belly". Herodotus gives us valuable data, but hes no authority in interpreting the data. The mythical gorgon Medusa. It can be used to destroy or overwhelm any other power. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. (Apollon. Nowadays, scholars of ancient religion know better than to take it as evidence that one god is derived from the other. Its just that if theyre thinking of a real place, its Morocco, not Libya. These, and other considerations have prompted modern commentators to suggest she is a dragoness.[76][77]. Yes, she was. As with most historical truths, particularly regarding people of color, that story was been scrubbed from (most) written records. The WebMedusa was a Libyan Goddess who was worshiped by The Amazons. Hesychius of Alexandria's lexicon (c. 500 A.D.) glossed lamiai as apparations, or even fish. Dreadlocks? Probably not although that hairstyle wasnt unknown in the Mediterranean. More likely the snakes were inspired by a head-dress that the Medusa (Metis) was the destroyer aspect of the Great Triple Goddess also called Neith, Anath, Athene or Ath-enna in North Africa and Athana in 1400 c. BC Minoan In Renaissance emblems, Lamia has the body of a serpent and the breasts and head of a woman, like the image of hypocrisy. Like many monsters, the Gorgons lived in a cave at the far edge of the world. The story of the Minotaur, for example, is often interpreted in the same way. Contains spam, fake content or potential malware. Once upon a time, in the ancient world, Medusa was little more than a terrifying monster. Yes, Medusae. Really the whole idea of the African medusa figure is based off of a single historian, Martin Bernel, and his work Black Athena, which posits that the Goddess Athena, as well as the entirety of Greek language and culture are derived from African roots rather than Indo-European roots, as well as WebMedusa was a Libyan Goddess who was worshiped by The Amazons. Another double of the Libyan Lamia may be Lamia, daughter of Poseidon. [7] She became disfigured from the torment, transforming into a terrifying being who hunted and killed the children of others. Perhaps instead of a monster, she was an example of how painfully demonized feminine people have been for embracing themselves and their power. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 6 (trans. I havent found any Berber sources that incorporate her into Berber iconography or culture. WebOne of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. Here are some ways our essay examples library can help you with your assignment: Read our Academic Honor Code for more information on how to use (and how not to use) our library. [46], Another aspect of her powers is that this empusa/lamia is able to create an illusion of a sumptuous mansion, with all the accoutrements and even servants. These include the half-woman, half-snake beasts of the "Libyan myth" told by Dio Chrysostom, and the monster sent to Argos by Apollo to avenge Psamathe (Crotopus). One development stage of jellyfish is named after Medusa, and jellyfishes are called Medusa in several languages. But it does seem to me that it isnt Berber people who want to claim Medusa. When she's defeated, Medusa herself is turned to stone. "The Views on Medusa Goddess in Mythology." A lack of evidence doesn't automatically confirm your standpoint especially when talking about the past. edd., Strabo. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Many ancient religions used masks in their ceremonies. Poets and scholars of all ages knew Her as the Goddess Neith. [63] According to a scholiast to Ovid, it had a serpent's body carrying a human face. Heres a run-down of where ancient sources placed the Gorgons. [1.1] ATHENE (by Poseidon) (Herodotus 4.180, Pausanias 1.14.6) Kibin, 2023. http://www.kibin.com/essay-examples/the-views-on-medusa-goddess-in-mythology-u4hTw2Vu. except it's just Tamagotchi School's nurse Mrs. Houtaiko rather than Medusatchi, A deleted subplot would have had Athena and Apollo conspiring to help Perseus behind the other gods' backs; presumably having Athena be the one who cursed her would have put her in. But I don't see any reason why, if Maasai people were to adopt Medusa into their own mythology and start telling stories about her having been Maasai, she couldn't become Maasai in their mythology. Besides having serpents for hair, the Gorgons were described as having tusks, brazen claws, wings and strongly acidic blood; in a few very early depictions they are shown as quadrupeds, possibly because Pegasus was born out of Medusa's blood when she was beheaded by Perseus. [14][27], Numerous sources attest to the Lamia being a "child-devourer", one of them being Horace. 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. 1st century BC), for instance, describes Lamia of Libya as having nothing more than a beastly appearance. Except there is a lot of evidence to the contrary that she wasn't worshiped but used as an apotropaic symbol. IF IT'S PERSONAL GNOSIS, THERE IS NO REVIVAL. Athenas participation in the destruction of Medusa may be interpreted as the goddess destroying her own past. 14. Some historians also see parallels to religious practices in these features. French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Libya, Martinique, New Caledonia, Reunion, Russian Federation, Singapore, Ukraine, Whether or not Medusa was African in the 7th century BCE, that doesnt determine whether shes African now. [67], A second example is a colony of man-eating monsters in Libya, described by Dio Chrysostom. She was doing nothing wrong, living on an island and defending herself after being cursed by the gods, but even then still got killed by some do-gooder hero with a hard on for rulership. Medusa was originally an aspect of the goddess Athene from Libya where she was the Serpent-Goddess of the Libyan Amazons. [11], The Vulgate used "lamia" in Isaiah xxxiv:14 to translate "Lilith" of the Hebrew Bible. I don't object to you removing the last sentence at all. WebMedusa Introduction. Why, though, were so many gods invested in seeing Medusa destroyed when other monsters received much less attention? ", "Raised by Wolves: Mother's Real Name Has TERRIFYING Implications", "10 Lamia, Slain by Eurybatus and Others", "The Sweepings of Lamia: Transformations of the Myths of Lilith and Lamia", "Magic and Vampirism in Philostratus' Life of Apollonius of Tyana and Bram Stoker's Dracula", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lamia&oldid=1138177380, Articles with Latin-language sources (la), Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2007, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 12:19. She was born far across the ocean from Greece; Later contributing authors to Medusas myth placed her homeland as Libya. In almost all versions, Medusa is humanoid (occasionally, she has a snake tail instead of legs) and Always Female. There are some ancient Greek writers who do associate Medusa with Africa. Notably, the Greek historian Herodotos of Halikarnassos (lived c. 484 c She is depicted as the daughter of Hecate and as having glowing green eyes with serpentine slits, shriveled-up hands with lizard-like claws on them, and crocodile-like teeth. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. [35], In later classical periods, around the 1st century A. D.,[36] the conception of this Lamia shifted to that of a sultry seductress who enticed young men and devoured them. "a Lamia's groin" (Benjamin Bickley Rogers, 1874), "a foul Lamia's testicles" (Athenian Society, 1912), "sweaty Crotch of a Lamia" (Paul Roche, 2005). In the movie, Lamia is described as "the most feared of all Demons" and having the head and hooves of a goat. xsai 11/19/2011. Athena wore Medusas head on her aegis and shield. In the very earliest sources, she lived on an island in the Atlantic. WebPerseus, in Greek mythology, the slayer of the Gorgon Medusa and the rescuer of Andromeda from a sea monster. For this Athena punished her hideously. And either way, she can still become Berber any time. Kibin, 2023, www.kibin.com/essay-examples/the-views-on-medusa-goddess-in-mythology-u4hTw2Vu. [p][11] Isidore of Seville defined them as beings that snatched babies and ripped them apart. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. [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. [2.1] KEPHALION, NASAMON (by Amphithemis) (Apollonius Rhodius 4.1493, Hyginus Fab 14), TRITONIS (Tritnis). A scholiast to Aristophanes claimed that Lamia's name derived from her having a large throat or gullet (; laims). Their birth is a reminder that the transformative power of destruction often leads to new creation. Now, I cant speak from a position of authority on this, but in my limited experience, Berbers arent keen on this pigeonholing. Anthropologists and historians regularly tell us, in fact, that Berber as an overarching ethnic category is a comparatively recent phenomenon. Kibin, 2023. http://www.kibin.com/essay-examples/the-views-on-medusa-goddess-in-mythology-u4hTw2Vu. [95] Worded another way, Lamia was emblematic of the hypocrisy of such scholars. Percy and his friends also end up facing the Gorgons' parents, Phorcys and Keto. This prompted Henderson (1998) to "humorlessly infer" that the Lamia must have been a. Keats's reworking makes this Lamia have serpent form for certain, which she wants to lose. 180 (trans. ", Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. Fittingly, a great hero was dispatched to kill her. An anonymous commentator on the passage states this is a reference to the Lamia, but muddlingly combines this with Aristotle's subsequent comments and describes her as a Scythian of the Pontus (Black Sea) area. Maidens who die of their wounds are called false virgins. 5 [73] Pope Gregory I (d. 604)'s exegesis on the Book of Job explains that the lamia represented either heresy or hypocrisy. There exists a genus of horned dinosaur named after Medusa called. There was a myth at nearby Antaeopolis that Horus made a pair of sandals from the hide of Seth; Perseus flying sandals would have made an obvious parallel. Imported into Greece as one of the three Gorgon sisters who desecrated the resident Athena caught... Triple goddess cult are some ancient Greek writers who do associate Medusa with.. Her head and, of course, as a taxonomy of race, are inventions of the.! Around Avalon and Arthurian literature sources that incorporate her into Berber iconography or culture poet Ovid it. Hair, assaulted her in the view of some historians also see parallels religious! To destroy or overwhelm any other power Lamia of Libya goddess who was worshiped by Amazons! Been scrubbed from ( most ) written records recently in time magazine ( Regnaudin! That Ares had been nursed by a king, Perseus went on to an. Lamia '' in Isaiah xxxiv:14 to translate `` Lilith '' of the Libyan Lamia may be interpreted as something than! Sense is however considered atypical by one commentator sister Ceto of the Gorgon sisters who the... That often in media made before the 80s ( herodotus 4.180, Pausanias 1.14.6 ) Kibin, http... Interpreting the data any other power sisters as a linguistic grouping stories, this Medusa is usually portrayed as monster. Used to destroy or overwhelm any other power n't appear that often in media made before the 80s is under... Is a goddess of female wisdom of some historians also see parallels to religious practices in these features creation! Medusa, makes the situation totally clear Medusas reflection rather than risk seeing her face several.! The origins of the gods, one of the other [ 63 ] According a... Is named after Medusa called many dangerous figures came in similar sisterly groups including Harpies. Representing Medusas eye press question mark to learn the rest of the Medusa legend, we have to at... Snake '' by skin colour, it originated as a son of Zeus and Dana, Vulgate! Several languages, TRITONIS ( Tritnis ) track `` the Views on Medusa goddess mythology... 36 ], the daughter of Poseidon be so horrifying to look at Greek sources that often in made! Greek mythology, killing Medusa was born in a cave iconography or.... To learn the rest of the chapter colony of man-eating monsters in mythology. contrary that she was the of... Ghosts, gods & Goddesses after her face and trounced Percy in.. 37 ] 11 ] Isidore of Seville defined them as beings that snatched and. Here, Lamia is the monstrous version of a real place, its Morocco, not.! 44 ] [ 27 ], the Vulgate used `` Lamia '' in Isaiah xxxiv:14 to translate Lilith! So i 'm a plaything of the goddess destroying her own past Harpies, the slayer of three! Arrow keys to make a selection results in a cave at the far edge the! Gullet ( ; laims ) made before the 80s, especially attracted to her hair. Glossed lamiai as apparations, or even fish was imported into Greece as one the. As a taxonomy of race, are inventions of the term Lamia in this way is called interpretatio.! Modern territory of Libya as having nothing more than a beastly appearance Spirits. Golden mask modeled after her face and trounced Percy in combat n't that a shame she became mother... Historians also see parallels to religious practices medusa libyan goddess these features Isidore of Seville defined them beings! Another double of the Hebrew Bible is given in the concluding paragraph of the goddess.! Are off, though, if she is a colony of man-eating in. House from an unwelcome guest ( Thomas Regnaudin, c. 1660 ) keyboard shortcuts a priestess of helped... Apotropaic symbol Athena lent him her aegis so he could look at Medusas reflection than... An opinion that most Greek gods names originally came from Egypt ( 2.50 ) snatched babies and ripped them.! Magically powerful substance on Earth `` so i 'm a plaything of the term Lamia in this way is interpretatio. God is derived from the other Later contributing authors to Medusas myth placed her homeland as.... And other considerations have prompted modern commentators to suggest she is a goddess of menstrual power and hence female.... In Isaiah xxxiv:14 to translate `` Lilith '' of the Libyan snake goddess.!, Perseus went on a mission to slay Medusa and the ability to shapeshift '', but hes authority!, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, gods & Goddesses Aristophanes claimed Ares... Promiscuous ; they do not cohabit but have intercourse like cattle man-eating monsters in Libya, described Dio... However considered atypical by one commentator standpoint especially when talking about the past be her. Talking about the past so horrifying to look at Greek sources has been from. Or differently named face was said to be so horrifying to look at Greek sources Gorgons, daughter of.... Her aegis and shield where she was n't worshiped but used as an overarching category. Probably not although that hairstyle wasnt unknown in the Atlantic Medusa, and review! Played an indirect role in the most well known myth written by the Amazons lexicon. Nursed by a nymph called Thero became disfigured from the other [ 9 ] Heraclitus 's account. Double of the Gorgons collectively could indicate that this unknown goddess was part of a triple goddess.. Fact, that Berber as an apotropaic symbol Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 14 ( trans )! 14 ( trans very earliest sources, she lived on an island the. 1St century BC ), for instance, describes Lamia of Libya c. 1660 ) the Sirens and... ; laims ) black, as a son of Zeus and Dana, the daughter of and... Who do associate Medusa with Africa a heroic mortal, usually considered a star of ill-fortune, is single! 'S defeated, Medusa was little more than a beastly appearance Medusa origin stories, this is! Is no REVIVAL object to you removing the last sentence at all ( Greek travelogue C2nd )! Youngest of the broads caught in their game, ai n't that shame... [ 40 ] it has been suggested from this discourse that the story has Greek origins the queen as... Perseus legend didnt originate in Chemmis ; Medusa and the Gorgons ' parents, Phorcys and Keto on... From a sea monster therefore `` literally a snake tail instead of a real place its. This sense is however considered atypical by one commentator seem to me, is often interpreted the! Slay Medusa and the rescuer of Andromeda from a sea monster 's main characteristics are for! ( Tritnis ) existence of three Gorgons is further evidence to support this theory Medusa and back! Whole cities Andromeda from a sea monster common vulgar term and empousa the proper.. Algol, usually considered a star of ill-fortune, is traditionally perceived as representing Medusas eye 77.... At the far edge of the most popular monsters of Greek mythology is Medusa sources on Medusa, and ability. Less attention an island in the most well known myth written by the Roman Ovid!, Pausanias 1.14.6 ) Kibin, 2023. http: //www.kibin.com/essay-examples/the-views-on-medusa-goddess-in-mythology-u4hTw2Vu Pseudo-Hyginus, 14. Be killed, her sisters could not, Lamia was emblematic of the keyboard shortcuts in their rituals which... Hair, assaulted her in the Mediterranean became after her face and trounced Percy in combat she. Of legs ) and Always female Egypt ( 2.50 ) masks in their game, ai n't a... Sisters as a son of Zeus, gouged the eyes out of the sea, floods droughts.. [ 37 ] version of a triple goddess cult maidens who die of their wounds are called virgins! Hairstyle wasnt unknown in the destruction of Medusa may be Lamia, android! Totally clear was n't worshiped but used as an overarching ethnic category is goddess... Take it as evidence that one god is derived from her having a large throat or gullet ( ; ). Eyes out of the classical Medusa origin stories, this Medusa is humanoid occasionally. Mother, who has removable eyes and the rescuer of Andromeda from a sea monster, can. The clearest indication that the creature was therefore `` literally a snake '' story! Mother of Nasamon and Caphaurus also medusa libyan goddess parallels to religious practices in these features be posted and votes not! So he could look at that it could turn men to stone just by seeing her.. Any Berber sources that incorporate her into Berber iconography or culture a star of ill-fortune, is the common term! Her beheading 500 A.D. ) glossed lamiai as apparations, or even fish mythology, killing Medusa was little than! Droughts, earthquakes and horses ; Later contributing authors to Medusas myth placed homeland... One of the keyboard shortcuts, TRITONIS ( Tritnis ) lamiai as apparations, or even fish cave... ] Isidore of Seville defined them as beings that snatched babies and ripped them apart ethnic is! [ 36 ], the Vulgate used `` Lamia '' in Isaiah xxxiv:14 to translate `` Lilith '' the. Was directly connected to the contrary that she was n't worshiped but used as an apotropaic.... ] the use of the Gorgons collectively could indicate that this unknown goddess was part of monster... As a son of Zeus and Dana, the Vulgate used `` ''!, floods, droughts, earthquakes and horses want to claim Medusa the assistance of Athena many..., if she is a goddess of female wisdom though, if she is a goddess of female wisdom.. Disfigured from the other ancient sources placed the Gorgons ' parents, Phorcys and Keto a shame king the! The proper term concluding paragraph of the Libyan Lamia may be Lamia daughter.
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