So, I was just goofing around putting on this Medusa costume..
Added 2024-08-03 11:00:21 +0000 UTCSo, I was just goofing around putting on this Medusa costume but boy did the internet hit me with an overwhelming amount of art, opinion pieces, photoshoots, movies, logos, and most intriguing: a mountain of scholarly articles about her sexuality and the impact her tale has had on women's history. I thought this was going to be a lighthearted "hey look at my costume" kind of post but woah.
We all know Medusa as the only mortal Gorgon, from Greek literature, who was a fair, beautiful priestess dedicated to temple of Athena. Poseidon, one of the 12 OG Olympians and god of the Sea, was enamored with her and pursued her relentlessly. Finally, without asking, he had his way with her IN Athena's temple. Not exactly thrilled, Athena blamed Medusa and curses her with snakes for hair and a gaze that turned people to stone.
Athena, enraged at having any competition for her beauty, helped Perseus, a son of Zeus also known as the golden shower (OK he's actually referred to as a shower OF gold but c'mon the joke was right there) gave Perseus the tools to defeat her. Perseus rolls up to Medusa while she's asleep and with Athena's divine intervention, takes her head.
Perseus becomes the hero who defeated the monster Medusa, Medusa goes down in history as a grotesque character known only for her curse, and Athena proudly TAKES THE HEAD AND ATTACHES IT TO HER SHIELD to use as a tool. Wild.
Anyway, this story has been retold by Greek poets, philosophers and academics over time as an ancient case study on the trials and tribulations of women's sexuality. Also, I have a fun Medusa costume (see above). Enjoy 🐍💋
