Who Is Medusa-The Gorgon Medusa

When the name Medusa is mentioned, we immediately think of the horrible female creature with a writhing mane of poisonous snakes, a contorted hideous face with large fangs jutting out of her mouth and those eyes! It is the large, staring eyes that cause death by petrification to anyone who looks upon them. Imagery of the character further depicts her as a half female, half serpent creature that slithered among her stone victims to strike at the trespassers on her island looking to claim her head as a trophy. Moreover, history/mythology has demonized the former high priestess to be the monster to rival all other monsters of the ancient days. In so doing, Medusa became the pivotal monster at the end of a quest (crafted by the Greek gods) to be slain, her head taken to be used against armies of men or other monsters in the ancient world. And as a final disgrace for Medusa, Athena took the remains of her high priestess and placed it on a shield to be used as both her knew standard and as a weapon against her enemies. This was the tale of Medusa according to Greek mythology and some historical accounts, however, has anyone asked, "Who was Medusa before the Gorgon?"

The Gorgon Medusa, Book I: Herstory answers many of those questions and explores the life, death and resurrection of mythology's most powerful but underrated being. This story seeks to give Medusa a voice to tell her story in a way that makes us understand that she was the victim, not the wayward, aggressive seducer mythology would portray her for beguiling a god. This story explores her life in Greece as a woman tasked with serving the goddess Athena and maintaining her relationship with those whom she cared for. Herstory also sheds more light on her sister Gorgons and the hours leading up to the confrontation between Gorgon and the demigod Perseus.

There she would remain to guard one of the passage ways into the realm of Hades. For over 100 years, these three monsters would dispatch the numerous warriors seeking to claim Medusa's head. It was not until Perseus, son of Zeus and half-brother to Athena, came upon Medusa and severed her head while she slept. The two other sisters awoke and pursued Perseus only to lose track of him. Perseus would later return Medusa's head to Athena but not before using it to dispatch many of his enemies and lay the foundation for his kingdom.

That was the end of the story of Medusa but it left many other questions unanswered. For example, who was Medusa other than a high priestess to Athena? Who was her family? Who were the servants that maintained Athena's temple? Why did Poseidon attack Medusa other than to have sex with her? Why did Athena select Medusa to be her high priestess but did nothing to save her from Poseidon? Who were the other Gorgons, Stheno and Euryale? What happened to them?

Athena cursed Medusa to become a Gorgon, a hideous monster with writhing hair of snakes and deadly eyes powerful enough to petrify all who look upon her face. The woman known as the high priestess Medusa was gone to be replaced by the Gorgon Medusa. Her first victims were the other servants at the temple. One by one, Medusa dispatched each mortal with a single glance, catching them in their last moment of terror frozen in stone for all time. If the torment Medusa suffered was not enough, Athena then cast her across the sea to live on a secluded island with two other Gorgons, Stheno and Euryale.

These qualities also attracted Poseidon, the god of the seas, to leave his domain and seek out virgin high priestess. Alone in the temple, Medusa was attacked and brutally raped by the sea god. Horrified and pained by the assault, Medusa fled into a private sanctuary in the Parthenon and prayed to Athena for mercy. Athena was not as benevolent as one would think. When the goddess sighted blood on the gown of the high priestess and sensing she had sexual intercourse, Athena knew Medusa had broken her vow of chastity. Furthermore, engaging in a sexual act in the goddess's sacred temple with another god was enough for Athena to ignore Medusa's pleas for comfort and pronounce judgement on her high priestess.

From ancient accounts, Medusa was the high priestess to the goddess of wisdom Athena and she performed many rituals at the Parthenon, Athena's main temple. The high priestess was bonded to Athena and because the patron goddess was a virgin (not knowing man), Medusa was commanded to be a virgin as well. Including the fact that she was a beautiful, young woman, these virtues were not a blessing to the high priestess but a curse. It provoked jealousy from Athena as many were taken by Medusa's splendor and grace.

However, Medusa's story did not end with her decapitation or Perseus surrendering the head to Athena. In the vast pages of Book I: Herstory, Medusa reveals her past story to archaeologist Jerimiah Clarke and shares with him an adventure unlike any most people would ever experience. Medusa's life over a 3,000 year existence has transitioned from many different roles as she observed humankind over the centuries. If you dare to read and listen to her story, you will be amazed but more importantly, Medusa will cease being that monster of Greek mythology!

When the name Medusa is mentioned we immediately think of the horrible female creature with a writhing mane of poisonous snakes, a contorted hideous face with large fangs jutting out of her mouth and those eyes! It is the large, staring eyes that cause death by petrification to anyone who looks upon them. Imagery of the character further depicts her as a half female, half serpent creature that slithered among her stone victims to strike at the trespassers on her island looking to claim her head as a trophy. Moreover, history/mythology has demonized the former high priestess to be the monster to rival all other monsters of the ancient days. In so doing, Medusa became the pivotal monster at the end of a quest (crafted by the Greek gods) to be slain, her head taken to be used against armies of men or other monsters in the ancient world. And as a final disgrace for Medusa, Athena took the remains of her high priestess and placed it on a shield to be used as both her knew standard and as a weapon against her enemies. This was the tale of Medusa according to Greek mythology and some historical accounts, however, has anyone asked, "Who was Medusa before the Gorgon?"