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The mythological symbol of the head of the Medusa can be traced back to this devaluation and loathing, that is, the impression made . It has the divine power to protect you from harm. It looks particularly sexy on the back or thigh area, where the tattoo will draw attention to feminine body parts. According to various sources, Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal, so she was able to be beheaded by the Greek hero, Perseus. People with great academic achievements are believed to be possessed with medusa. What does a medusa symbolize? According to Ferenczi,1 the head of the Medusa is a terrible symbol of the female genital region displaced from below upwards. You only need to maintain a positive approach towards life and have a little faith. You can either pray to her or keep her image with you. About US | Privacy Policy | Contact Information | Pinterest | Web Stories. It also speaks of the power to generate new ideas for accomplishing a given task. On a 570 BCE terracotta stand, Medusa is comically hideous, and fully bearded, sticking out her tongue between two tusks. Medusa in Jewelry. This should be a lesson to learn. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! Answered, One Piece Won a Different Award at the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Than I Expected, and Im Delighted, Randall Parks Upcoming Film is Everything Ive Ever Wanted. Her expression is one of surprised, but unblinking, sorrow. She was very lovely once, the hope of many An envious suitor, and of all her beauties Her hair most beautifulat least I heard so From one who claimed he had seen her. "I believe the Medusa tattoo is the perfect visual depiction of a survivor's journey from pain to resilience, strength, empowerment and self-preservationa protective symbol, as she has the. The myth of Medusa lies at the nexus of conversations about symbolism, feminity, rage, and the ways women are symbols of generativity, desire, and power. People often come to secure their lives with some supernatural rituals and symbols when they do not feel secure with physical protection. All three are originally described as having tusks, wings, and the infamously iconic snake hair. American Traditional Medusa Tattoos Thereby, to castrate a man is to severe his most vital organ; and to decapitate a woman is to take her most vital source of power. In ancient Egyptian society, the Eye of Horus (Wadjet) was widely used as a symbol of protection, restoration, and royal power. Medusa Greek Mythology Quotes. (The Etruscans especially used to put her symbol on homes and temples to ward off evil spirits.) In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon - a creature with snakes for hair and the ability to turn anyone who looked at her into stone. I bought a Medusa pendant the minute Covid struck my area last March and have been wearing it since. This message is meant to keep you alert at all times. Your email address will not be published. Across the internet, this sculpture has become a symbol of feminine rage for women fighting back against male oppression and, in a way, Medusa is the perfect face for the feminist movement: a woman who had her bodily autonomy taken from her, was cursed, forced to live a life she did not choose, but yet was still immensely powerful. Horse, dolphin, the Cretan bull. In a later version, as told by the Roman poet Ovid, Medusa is a beautiful human woman, who is turned into a monster by Athena as punishment after she is raped by Poseidon (woe to mortal women in mythology). While there were some hints at Medusa once being a beautiful woman, that narrative didnt really get popular until the Roman poet Ovid wrote Metamorphoses, which contained 15 books and over 250 myths, including his version of the Medusa story. It is said that medusa was known for her innate wisdom, and many earlier scientists drew their great intellects and discoveries from her. Beyond the curse she sustained, medusa is known for her deep wisdom and understanding of the world. In Greek mythology, she is one of the Gorgon sisters (derived from the Greek gorgs for dreadful), and Perseus uses a reflective bronze shield to defeat her. Some believed that Medusa was the Libyan Goddess, Neith, who was the Goddess of Hunting and War. Moreover, the Gorgon was also seen as a symbol of protection to ward off the evils and negativity of life. Your email address will not be published. This extends to even monsters like Medusa which really showed us how the ancient Greeks viewed the things around them. Medusa was protective of her chastity and rejected Poseidons advances when the God tried to seduce her. 7 Spiritual Meanings of Slugs in the House: Is it Good Luck? At this point, Medusas head became a desired trophy for many warriors who wanted to brave her fierce monster-like powers. She argues that decapitation is not a symbol of castration anxiety, but rather a result of it. Medusa, who was once thought of as a boastful mortal who deserved to be turned into a monster, is now seen in a more sympathetic view by modern standards. Her representationthe Medusa Tattoohas long served as a symbol of protection from evil. In this version of the story, it is said that Medusa was in the temple of Minvera and that one day Neptune, the god of the sea, found her and sexually assaulted her. Emailus. She is telling you that you will never have to suffer what she endured. the "old women," Pemphredoo, Enyo, and Deino or Perso, who share one tooth and one eye which they pass between them; the Graiai play a role in Medusa's myth. The clinical material cited in the above papers refers to male patients, except one case cited by Flugel. In the original tale, Poseidon . Like the evil eye, the Medusa is an apotropaic symbol that protects from evil. Medusa slept with Poseidon in Athena's temple knowing the consequences, but did it anyways therefore Athena was right about punishing her. This will also encourage you to always keep to your words. It takes a high level of creativity to achieve this feat. Her beauty and wisdom were her confidence and she was respected in the greek world of gods. Other shades of history claimed that Poseidon raped her because he could not resist her beauty. The moving image artist will discuss her investigative practice and the implications of digital image proliferation, taking place via livestream and in Philadelphia. For this Athena punished her hideously. Ancient Egyptians used the Eye of Horus to provide protection. While there have been myths about Medusa in the past, the most famous myth is her being the monster that Persuses had killed. They were described as being winged With snakes for hair and having a hatred of mortal man.. In Ovids story, Medusa is no longer the same monster that had tusks and wings. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. Image Courtesy: pixabay.com. Romans were part of the Greek world, and yes a Gorgon head was an apotropaic symbol in the broader Greek world too. The Medusa tattoo features a snake-haired young woman, representing the might of women. Medusa, in effect, became the archetypal femme fatale: a conflation of femininity, erotic desire, violence, and death, writesKiki Karoglou, associate curator in the Mets Department of Greek and Roman Art and organizer of Dangerous Beauty, in an issue of theMets quarterly Bulletinon the show. According to The Met Museum, Medusa is portrayed in most Greek art as an "apotropaic symbol used to protect and ward off the negative," representing a "dangerous threat meant to deter other. For more often than not, shes depicted just as a severed head a visual that even has its own name,the Gorgoneion sculpted, painted, or carved being held aloft by her slayer Perseus. Returning to those startling early images of Medusa, with her bared teeth and frightful snake hair, theres a narrative here on how transforming her into something benignly ornamental was another level of control. Still lives in Brooklyn with her over 500 Pokmon that she has Eevee trained into a mighty army. Seventeen contemporary artists of the African Diaspora explore how movement and migration shape their artistic practices and lives. Nowadays Medusas can be seen as a symbol of revenge against the male gaze. Therefore, seeing a medusa sign might speak about protection. The complexity lies in how to represent her hair by art. She calls women to write and express themselves fully. Freuds analysis of the Medusa myth is that she was decapitated because she represents castration anxiety through phallic symbolism. Crypto An early 1800s plaster cast from the studio of Antonio Canova showspreparation for the marble statue that now presides over the Mets European Sculpture Court. The Greeks believed most snakes to be poisonous as well which represents the end of a life cycle. Although Athena had the power to prevent this, she chooses not to. In addition to this, seeing the image of medusa speaks of the intellectual ability of an artist to draw her perfectly. As weve mentioned, the myth of Medusa can be interpreted in various ways, but I think perhaps the most fascinating analysis is done through a feminist perspective because it unveils just how swift we are to circumvent female rage. 1. In addition to this, the medusa can help people regain their spiritual fervor and sensitivity. Her energy can be channeled for spiritual activities like spells, rituals, and prayers. The incomplete essay becomes far more phallocentric as it continues explaining how the sight of female genitalia instills fear of castration, how Medusas snake-like hair is (of course) a phallic symbol, and finally that Medusas ability to cause onlookers to become stiff, is a representation of an erection and therefore a confirmation of their manhood and of still having a penis it is in essence, their final confirmation of manhood. Small Medusa Tattoo . Dot-work Medusa tattoos might symbolize the connection to the religious part of Athena's story. . Seems a little ironic that a monster like Medusa would be used as a way to keep family protected against the evils of the world. A 450440 BCE red figure pelike container is among the earliest depictions of Medusa as an innocent maiden, with Perseus creeping up on the sleeping Gorgon. She is astute in the ways of protection and lends her guardianship to those who need her most. Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. Because Medusa refuses a fate of silence and subjectivity, Perseus is left with no option but to decapitate Medusa for wielding her power. Venus had many lovers both mortal and immortal. Simi is very passionate about talking about women of color in media, politics, and the arts. The Gorgon as a symbol of protection TW: Mention of r*pe. Medusa was the only one of the three who could ever be killed. Of course, one must never mention psychoanalysis and phallic imagery without then mentioning Sigmund Freud, who, during the 20th century, wrote prolifically about the intersection of sexuality and psychology. What are your opinions on Medusa as a symbol of protection? Terracotta two-handled funnel vase with Medusa head (Greek, South Italian, Apulian, Canosan, Early Hellenistic, late 4thearly 3rd century BCE), terracotta, height: 30 3/4 inches; diameter: 17 5/16 inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1906). She is then cast out and cursed by her own sister. She was likened to the modern evil eye and people believed that they needed an image of evil to ward off other evils that could affect them. Greek mythology has long fascinated me, but Im also intrigued by how the stories have changed and developed over time, as have interpretations of those stories. She was killed by Zeusbefore he fought his father and the Titans for power. Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. The symbol offers protection from harm caused by the evil eye. link to 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. She represents a dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil. If you have committed to accomplishing a task, stay true to it no matter what. I heard somewhere (that is not a very reliable source I know) that the story of Medusa is actually a story ancient Greek women would look to for empowerment. The Greeks loved to romanticize their culture in the form of Greek mythology and every character in it represented something about their culture. She represented the beauty of the female gender and advocated for it. It is said that everyone has a masculine and feminine self. She was also originally a goddess, and I can try to send you all my research on that if you want (though some may be hidden by a paywall, Im not sure). severed head, capable of transfixion even in death, is carted away to help him defeat the villain of his story. She was a beautiful goddess and was desired by many. While not the best source, Wikipedia seems to support your claim - it has images of her head used in gorgoneions. Another reminder that Minerva/Athena is not your feminist queen. Through the snake-like strands of medusas hair, the universe is warning you against the deception of your friends. Founded in 2009, Hyperallergic is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. One of the powers of medusa is protection. She was the child of Ceto and Phorcys. Dangerous Beauty boldly mingles objects from across centuries in the compact exhibition. She was cold, calculated, and terrifying. Medusa, the most famous of the Gorgon sisters, represented an array of things to the Greeks. When it comes to relationships, medusa is a lesson to learn. Men are trash even in ancient greece, we been knew. Required fields are marked *. To make this obvious, add a medusa pendant to your necklace. A soundscape in the exhibition composed by Austin Fisher (which you can also hear on the Mets site) is alternately serene and cacophonous, reflecting how Medusa is pulled back and forth between these seemingly opposed forms. Medusa is an icon of Greek mythology, representing female strength and wisdom. these associations, Medusa is a purely sexual symbol that pertains to the sexual anxieties of women. Medusa as a symbol for women's empowerment. Medusa's head as a symbol of horror was classically worn upon her dress by the virgin goddess Athena. It is said that medusa protects people from suffering what she suffered at the hands of Athena. Medusa's visage has since been adopted by many women as a symbol of female rage; one of the first publications to express this idea was a feminist journal called Women: . Black And Gray Tattoos. 9 Meanings, 9 Vertigo Spiritual Meanings: Random Dizziness. Keeping an image of medusa in front of your door wards off evil spirits. Modern women and pagans realize just how powerful Medusa's story is and what it means to women, trans women, the downtrodden and oppressed today. the mouth becoming the vagina) the woman, in essence, loses her voice, or rather she is denied of her voice. From a feminist perspective, Medusas story seems a cautionary tale of the symbolic decapitation of women and a loss of ones power. She is the symbol of what female power looks like in the face of threatened male authority. Before we talk about the different messages of medusa, let us discuss medusas symbolism. Up to that point that was Medusa was known for a monster that had the ability to turn her victims into stone. The god of the sea and of earthquakes, Poseidon had also some animals sacred to him. From her severed neck, her child Pegasus is born. Venus was a Roman goddess who symbolized sex, fertility, love, beauty, desire, and prosperity. Save. I Need To Know What 'Very Bland' Opinion Got J.K. Rowling Kicked Out of a Harry Potter Forum, Disney Found a Way To Make Us Care About Peter Pan Again, 'The Mandalorian' Makes It Pretty Clear Where Gina Carano's Cara Dune Went, 'Quantumania' Writer Shares Painful Thoughts on All the Negative Reviews, 14 Dead By Daylight Characters We Want to See in the Dead by Daylight Movie, The Mary Sue Book Club, March 2023: Powerful Magic, Sensational Secrets, & Public Policy, Was Ellie Gay in The Last of Us Game? She was regarded as the patron and protector of various cities across Greece, especially Athens, from which she gets her name. In fact, the name Medusa is derived from the Greek verb that means "to guard" or "to protect." And at the end of the story, Athena takes Medusa's severed head and uses it as her own protection in future battle (a symbol for these dual aspects of a woman becoming integrated.) There have been all kinds of well-known feminist attempts over the last fifty years or more to reclaim Medusa for female power (Laugh with Medusa, as the title of one recent collection of essays almost put it) not to mention the use of her as the Versace logo but its made not a blind bit of difference to the way she has been used in attacks on female politicians, writes Beard. This was to ensure that no man will ever be able to look at her anymore. Therefore, anytime you see this image around (during a confusing situation), it is a sign that you should pay close attention to. The stories of ancient Greek and Roman mythology have, over the years, been rediscovered, repurposed, and reinterpreted in more modern contexts. Shoulder Medusa Tattoo Fabio Mauro Symbol Sage points out, "The beheading of Medusa can be seen as symbolic of silencing powerful women who voice their sentiments." Further to this ability to turn people into stone, depictions of Medusa were used as a type of protection against evil. There is an alluring nature to Medusa, as she is both siren and saint she is the complicated woman we all understand and fear. Still no matter her form or decapitation her gaze is never averted, looking directly at the viewer as an assertion of her horrifying power that cannot be completely subverted by beauty. Many people have heard about Medusa and her tragic tale but not much is known about the Gorgon herself. Renee Gladmans drawings convey that idea in a more visceral, less cerebral way. Whenever you see yourself drawing medusa in a dream, it means that the universe has blessed you with creativity. However even in the face of tragedy and disgrace, the Medusa was portrayed as meaningful. Her petrifying gaze turns men into stone but only towards those who look at her hideous appearance. In a more modern sense, her image can be used as a warning to keep others at a distance. The story of Medusa shifted over time along with her visage. The fair fosters a welcoming environment for all those with an appreciation for art, regardless of background or technical know-how. Installation view of Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (photo by the author for Hyperallergic), Terracotta pelike (jar) with Perseus beheading the sleeping Medusa, attributed to Polygnotos (Greek, 450440 BCE), terracotta, height: 18 13/16 inches, diameter: 13 1/2 inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1945), Madeleine Glennonin a 2017 essay on Medusa in Ancient Greek Artfor the Met notes thatClassical and Hellenistic images of Medusa are more human, but she retains a sense of the unknown through specific supernatural details such as wings and snakes. Medusa can be a symbol of female strength and safety for women. Read the best quotes from Greek mythology about Medusa. [emailprotected]. From ancient greek mythology, medusa is a goddess of art. Press J to jump to the feed. She has the power to make you spiritually active and sensitive again. As Karoglou points out, the majority of hybrids (half-human, half-animal monsters like sirens or Gorgons) in ancient Greece were female. The closest alternative to the evil eye bracelet is the medusas bracelet. For example, a sun and moon tattoo, which you can view as a coming together of opposites and a representation of two opposing forces. (image: Public Domain/Medusa by Caravaggio). Cixous emphasizes the importance of the female voice, of womens story, she urges women to urgently learn to speak; because after all a woman without a body, dumb, blind, cant possibly be a good fighter. Herein, we see Medusas head, cut from her body, being held up by Perseus, she is reduced to being the servant of the militant male, his shadow. In what insidious ways are women made to be in a mans shadow? This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The most common interpretation of Medusa suggests she is an apotropaic symbol used to protect from and ward off the negative, much like the modern evil eye. "Pegasus, poetry, was born of Medusa when her head was cut off." - Joseph Campbell. It was really interesting and I hadnt heard that she was a triple goddess before, so Im glad I was able to learn something new. The consequence led to a lifetime of living beneath her powers. If women venture to claim control over their heads, then they become a threat to the phallic, male-dominated structure. Her existence reflected on the behavior of men during ancient times in Greece and shows how much have we advanced since then. It appears on numerous objects of applied art, such as earrings, cameo rings, and medallion necklaces, etc. Cixous disagrees with this analysis. You should be fine if you worry about attracting her attention. The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling. This is why she has been made into many ceramics, golden, bronze, and silver sculptures unlike other goddesses. 11 Spiritual Meanings, Medusa Spiritual Meaning: 11 Spiritual Messages, 10) Everything is turning out to your good. This talks about inner strength. The ability to understand science and ancient myths is also given by the goddess medusa. The snake-like strands of hair also represent the cunning ability of snakes, which gives additional wisdom. She becomes a priestess to her sister Athena and vows to her sister to remain pure. On funerary urns or armor, she was a talisman of protection, those eyes symbolically warding off evil. . Phoenix Tattoos. Worth looking into it, if youre curious. Medusa remains the. Other sacred animals to Poseidon were the . I almost got a Medusa pendent myself but I just never ended up getting one. Some people tend to connect Medusas story with self-reflection and link Medusa to the darkest parts of ones soul. Flower tattoos are associated with beauty . The Classical period of Greek art from 480 to 323 BCE further associated beauty with danger when Medusa, the sirens, sphinxes, and Scylla all got a little hotter, losing some scales and wings as their bodies were more and more humanized. This is a powerful combo to enjoy protection from the evil eye. Thankfully, we have collectively realized that the person who deserves to have his head cut off is Neptune, and hopefully one day that revenge fiction will be brought to the big screen. Venus was born from seafoam. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. Throughout all of her work, Cixous decries phallocentric storytelling and histories in which men and the psychoanalytic lens of phallic imagery are centered in womens stories. She is both feminine and monstrous. The first depiction of Medusa can be dated back from a poem by Homer as being part of the three gorgon sisters, Stheno and Euryale. After all, we are in a post #MeToo moment, when we can clearly recognize Medusas myth as a rape narrative one in which the victim is blamed and cast out by her community for crimes perpetrated against her. He poses the idea that to decapitate = to castrate. Through this framework, Freud posits that the female head is akin to her genitalia keeping in mind that Medusa did in fact give birth to her child from her severed neck. Statues of Medusa were used to guard Pagan Greek temples. All three are originally described as having tusks, wings, and the infamously iconic snake hair. What does Medusa Represent? If men have Medusa in their dreams, according to Freud and Ferencai, it is the terrifying mother syndrome with a castration When the artist Luciano Garbati made his sculpture . pic.twitter.com/u61VAuxhJ8. Only to be stalked and haunted constantly by status-seeking men, and inevitably, murdered by Perseus. According to Freud, it is for this reason that Perseus must decapitate her. The meaning of Medusa is powerful. This helps you to be more tender and caring towards other people. Medusa was r*ped by Poseidon in Athena's temple and Athena was wrong for punishing her. [5] Protection [ edit] Medusa is known as the god of philosophy, beauty, and art. Through these renditions of her visage, Medusa is painted into a half-human, half-animal monster. While she may be known for her monstrosity, her beauty remains just as dangerous. The labrys also appears in African religious symbolism and mythology (see Shango). To ensure that you are protected from evil, try wearing medusa as a pendant or amulet. This week, a Black Southern quilt collection is donated to a Mississippi museum, the fascinating AI-generated ceramic glazes, a map of Italian Fascist monuments, and can clothing ever truly be recycled? It wasnt until the Roman poet Ovid made her a more complex character than her original myth wrote her out to be. If you purchase something through our links, The Mary Sue may earn an affiliate commission., Have a tip we should know? The eye of Horus is an ancient symbol embued with magickal power and meaning. Although design houses like Versace (and some might say even comedian Kathy Griffin) have tried to reclaim the myth of Medusa for women, it has largely not been effective. Well Medusa's dead, she was the only mortal gorgons. Hence, Medusa's tale has served as a metaphor for power and bravery, particularly for women who have experienced s*xual harassment.