She has been a frequent contributor to History.com since 2005, and is the author of Breaking History: Vanished! Of the many naga mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures, one particularly famous one was Mucalinda, a naga king who spread his great cobra hood to shelter the Buddha from a storm that arrived while the prophet was deep in meditation. The affairs and children of Zeus. The roots of this tree (usually growing in water) were guarded by Veles (Volos) the serpent god. Poseidon and Athena were often at odds in the myths, and the disrespect of raping Medusa within her temple infuriated the goddess. She was beheaded by the hero Perseus, using the sword Harpe, who thereafter used her head as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield (the Aegis . The subject of Perseuss quest, she is one of the most iconic monsters in Greek lore. Perseus then travels to the Graiae (the three Gray sisters who share only one eye), and he steals their eye until they . St. Patrick depicted with a snake under his foot. Their parents were early sea gods, predating the Olympians. Mythology medusa forearm piece Insta: @leigh . Athena gave some of the Gorgons blood to the legendary surgeon Aesclepius. The story of Perseus's defeat of the Gorgon is one of the most legendary in Greek mythology. When the feminist movement reexamined the legend, they came to a much different interpretation of Medusa than the Greeks subscribed to. Read on to find out! [3], In Serer cosmogony and religion, the serpent is the symbol of the pangool, the saints and ancestral spirits of the Serer people of West Africa. Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. Medusa began to look more like the woman she was described as in the texts. Perseus must battle Medusa and the Kraken to save the Princess Andromeda. Odin lost his eye upon visiting a Norse god named Mimir.Mimir was known as an extremely wise god, and he had also possessed a well called Mmisbrunnr.The waters in the well contained substantial wisdom and knowledge, and if someone drank from the well they would also gain wisdom. The winged stallion Pegasus is the offspring of the god Poseidon and the Gorgon Medusa, from whose neck he was born . Their other sisters were Scyllathe legendary monster who hid in a sea-cave, waiting to snatch sailors from their ships and eat them alivewas their sister, and Echidna a serpent woman who was . While Greco-Roman writers rationalized this singular Gorgon as a separate creature, it is more likely that Homer and Hesiod recounted stories from slightly different traditions. In another myth, the protector Vishnu slept on the coils of the world-serpent Shesha (or "Ananta the endless";). Until recently, some northern European communities held well dressing ceremonies to appease the snake-spirits which lived in village wells and told legends of saints defeating malevolent lake-snakes e.g. The most famous story of Medusa is that of her death at the hands of the great hero Perseus. She made humans one at a time with clay. All Rights Reserved. Additionally, the famous snakes on her head gave the artists a chance to display their skills with shape and texture. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. Their other siblings included the monsters Echidna, Scylla, and Ladon. Perseus made a deal with the monsters. Attic tradition, however, said that the Gorgons were created specifically to be enemies of the gods. They had in their possession other items belonging to the gods that would help Perseus survive an encounter with the monster and her sisters. Norse mythology holds there to be nine realms. The practice was so widespread that it is seen on the famous mural that depicts Alexander the Greats battle against the Persians. Outstanding Greek Mythology Essay Topics. Medusa was often depicted as a terrifying winged female with snakes instead of hair. [2], The West African kingdom of Dahomey regarded snakes as immortal because they appeared to be reincarnated from themselves when they sloughed their skins. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. Medusas punishment was more explicit and harsh than most victims in the Greek myths, but it was not entirely out of place. A demigod, the son of Zeus and Danae, Perseus is one of the greatest heroes of Greek mythology. This symbol has many interpretations, one of which is the snake representing cyclical nature of life and death, life feeding on itself in the act of creation. 10. Her face took a more traditionally human appearance. In both ancient Greek and Norse mythology, too, there are supernatural horses. Aldrich). They could also account for the different legends of their parentage. -Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. Although men may have found her name synonymous with monotonousness, in Medusa women could find a reflection of their own fury. The aegis (/ i d s / EE-jis; Ancient Greek: aigs), as stated in the Iliad, is a device carried by Athena and Zeus, variously interpreted as an animal skin or a shield and sometimes featuring the head of a Gorgon.There may be a connection with a deity named Aex or Aix, a daughter of Helios and a nurse of Zeus or alternatively a mistress of Zeus (Hyginus, Astronomica 2. Concept art: Medusa, Assassin's Creed. 14 Blood Of Zeus (2020) One of the latest additions to the pantheon of Greek mythology shows was Netflix's Blood of Zeus. Aapep would try to engulf the ship and the sky was drenched red at dawn and dusk with its blood as the Sun defeated it.[18]. Norse mythology is a source of inspiration for many art enthusiasts, particularly when it comes to tattoos. Day in and day out Nw amused herself making mud figures and watching them come to life.[15]. In Korean mythology, the goddess Eobshin was the snake goddess of wealth, as snakes ate rats and mice that gnawed on the crops. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. 15) Hel. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. Greek myth held that people could acquire second hearing and second sight if their ears or eyes were licked by a snake. In Greek mythology, Pegasus is primarily known for one tale which sees the winged horse used by the hero Bellerophon. They are stories about how the world was created and why certain things happen. Frigg is the Norse patron of marriage and motherhood, and the goddess of love and fertility. Rivers and lakes often had snake-gods or snake-guardians including Untekhi the fearsome water-spirit of the Missouri River. An actress plays the role of the White Snake in Baishe Zhuan (The Legend of White Snake) in a Chinese opera, 2000. This awesome sketch art card of Medusa from Greek mythology is drawn by the very talented artist Jane Manalo for our Classic Mythology IV trading card set. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. The earliest version of the story describes Poseidons seduction of the Gorgon as taking place in a meadow filled with flowers. As the Roman world embraced Christianity and its texts, Medusas evil status was furthered. Only they knew the location of the Hesperides and their garden. So Minerva advised Perseus to only look at Medusa's reflection. The modern take on Medusa often emphasizes her femininity by making her a seductive, sexual figure. In this region, females are more numbered as the worshippers of Nagas, which most closely resemble religious ritual.[27]. Medusa. In Egypt the snake has healing abilities. Early Greek and English authors also said that Athena was the help Perseus had to behead Medusa. These were: Muspelheim, the realm of the fire giants. Perseus was the real bad guy. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. As art interpretation focused on the ways in which art represented the female body for the view of men, Medusas ability to punish men for looking at her became a powerful symbol. However, Zeus turned into a gold shower and got Danae pregnant. In this, the Gorgon was not only a symbol of protection. He does not recount the entire story, but instead mentions it as though most people were already familiar with the details of the myth. The story makes more sense as an allegory: Snakes were a symbol of paganism, and Patrick was given credit for driving the pagans out and bringing Christianity to the Emerald Isle. In the Norse era, Kratos abandons his chained blades in favor of his late wife's Leviathan Axe, which was forged by the dwarves Sindri and Brok. About Mythology. Blood of Zeus follows the coming of age of a man named Heron who, like most fabled Greek myth heroes, is an illegitimate love child of a . Either way, the Book of Job employed both Leviathan and Behemoth to demonstrate to Job Gods power of creation, and the futility of questioning Him. In Norse mythology, few stories are as dramatic as that of Jormungand, the powerful sea serpent. Their union was unprecedented and was to shape the course of history forever. Sarah Pruitt is a writer and editor based in seacoast New Hampshire. Hod. Snakes taken from stories of mythology are expressed throughout the use of language. In ancient Mesopotamia, Nirah, the messenger god of Itaran, was represented as a serpent on kudurrus, or boundary stones. The Pomo people told of a woman who married a rattlesnake-prince and gave birth to four snake-children who freely moved between the two worlds of their parents. In Greek mythology, Chaos comes from the Greek word and Eris, the God of Chaos, was known among the other Greek gods for her short temper, moodiness, and bloodlust. Like her immortal sisters, she had snakes for hair, and one look at her face could turn any . "The snake dance is a prayer to the spirits of the clouds, the thunder and lightning, that the rain may fall on the growing crops.."[26] In the northwestern Indian city, Banaras, a festival called Naga Pancami is celebrated during the rainy season of Sravana (July/August) to pay homage to the supernatural snakes or deities. Ragnarok is a major event in the legends of the Norse. Once a renowned beauty, Medusa was now so horrifying that any man who looked upon her would be turned to stone. During the dance, live snakes were handled and at the end of the dance the snakes were released into the fields to guarantee good crops. Medusas famously beautiful hair was transformed into a writhing mass of snakes. As Perseus fled the cave, however, he and the Gorgons were no longer alone. He waved his staff, driving all Irelands snakes into the sea. Radicals saw the Gorgon herself as a type of revolutionary, taking power from the monstrousness that made her vulnerable. In these, Poseidon not only took Medusa by force, but did so in a temple of Athena. Greek cosmological myths tell of how Ophion the snake incubated the primordial egg from which all created things were born. [9][10] The Dogon believe that Lebe is the very reincarnation of the Dogon's first ancestorwho was resurrected in the form of a snake. In the broadest terms myths are traditional stories about gods, kings, and heroes. Friday is named for her. Depending on the source, Medusa has different origins. The Medusa in D&D 5e. The Yeti in Himalayan Mythology. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Though outsiders (notably Theodore Roosevelt) have been able to witness some aspects of the Snake Dance, much of the lengthy ceremony takes place in underground chambers called kivas, allowing its most sacred aspects to remain mysterious. She is killed by the hero Perseus, who cuts off her head.To the Greeks, Medusa is the leader of an ancient, older matriarchal religion that had to be obliterated; in modern culture, she represents vital sensuality and a power that is threatening to males. The death of Medusa had another immediate impact. Many myths date back to ancient times. But Pegasus, the winged horse, became a figure in many legends. According to most sources, she had two sisters that lived alongside her. Three-part deities are a common theme in ancient mythology, particularly in Indo-European tradition. They were associated with rocks, which when hidden below the surface of the water spelled disaster for ships passing by. Norse mythology is the body of mythology of the North Germanic people stemming from Norse paganism and . Perseus could not look at Medusa or he would be turned to stone. Medusas last scream in death woke the sleeping Gorgons, and the two sisters chased after the man who had killed her. This was in contrast to English liberty, which had been depicted as wise and powerful Athena. [22] A dragon-like creature with horns, the body and neck of a snake, the forelegs of a lion, and the hind-legs of a bird appears in Mesopotamian art from the Akkadian Period until the Hellenistic Period (323 BC31 BC). WATCH: Full episodes of 'Swamp People: Serpent Invasion' online. By the time of Ovid, she was one of the worlds great beauties. Two hundred soldiers were turned to stone, including at least one of his own men who accidentally looked at the artefact. A great degree of respect is afforded to snakes in Serer culture, as they are the very embodiment and symbol of their saints and ancestral spirits. . While her sisters Stheno and Euryale were immortals Medusa was a mortal being. Among the most prominent deities in Mesoamerican cultures, Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was a mix of bird and rattlesnake (coatl is the Nahuatl word for serpent). The creatures would remain common in North Africa forever after. Unlike Medusa, Sthenno and Euryale could not be killed. The cloak of invisibility that belonged to Hades allowed him to escape the lair of the Gorgon sisters without being seen after he killed Medusa. . She had many suitors and was especially known for her beautiful long hair. The hero drew his sword, prepared to fight, but realized she was nothing more than a hollow wraith. Egyptian myth has had several snake-gods, from the 'coiled one' Mehen who assisted Ra in fighting Aapep every day to the two-headed Nehebkau who guarded the underworld. The Chimera was a fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology. The head of Medusa was the single most frequently used symbol in ancient Greek art. More than ever before, the popular view of Medusa is a complex one. Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology? In these versions of her story, Medusas beauty would end up being her undoing. Lost in the telling are Medusas tragic origins and the unbelievable fate of her famous head. Medusas spirit stayed and faced him down. Examples include they decided to migrate to flee Islamization and persecution, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snakes_in_mythology&oldid=1144534248, This page was last edited on 14 March 2023, at 07:17. Top section of a runestone found at Sanda, Gotland, Sweden, dating to the Viking Age (793-1066 CE). On his journeys, he came across the Titan Atlas holding the world on his back and used the head to turn him to stone. Zeuss lovers were harassed by his jealous wife. With the help of the gods, the hero was able to kill one of the most terrifying monsters in the world. The classical symbol of the Ouroboros depicts a snake in the act of eating its own tail. If you think you know the whole story of Medusa, think again heres everything you never knew about the mythical Gorgon. The story of Medusa from Greek mythology is perhaps less well known than Medusa herself. To do this, Perseus received help from the gods. In Greek mythology, the Gorgon often refers specifically to Medusa. In that usage, the image of Medusa as a woman who can petrify men takes a more negative connotation than it does in feminist circles. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. But the gods help Perseus, and Hermes appears to him and gives him a magical sword, and Athena gives him a mirrored shield. 13). For instance, after slaying Medusa, he severs her head and carries it with him, using its gaze to petrify enemies. Fighting the Ethiopian king Phineus, Perseus used the head against his enemies. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! The Aztec god of wind and rain, as well as learning, agriculture and science, Quetzalcoatl was said to have played a key role in the worlds creation. They continued to believe this even after the development of the story that told of her punishment by Athena. It was just a trick so the king could get closer to Perseus' mother, Danae. Her large head and thick legs gave her a notably inhuman appearance that contrasted with the perfect forms of the gods and heroes. Myths often relate the creation of the world and sometimes its future destruction as well. 12. From the Aztec god of wind, rain and creation to the semi-divine human-snake creatures that guarded the Buddha, here are nine snakes or serpents that have emerged, through history or myth, to play important roles in the cultures they represent. While the Norse goddesses might be minor players in the Norse sagas, it is clear that they were an integral part of . Many later versions of the myth claimed that she was once a beautiful maiden loved by . Snakes are a common occurrence in myths for a multitude of cultures. According to Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, the Aegis is Zeus' breastplate, and was "awful to behold." It is used, for example, in the scientific names of many animals to reference some particularly unsightly species and, of course, some snakes. Athena also gave Heracles a bronze snake cut from Medusas head in a jar. But a myth is not just a made-up story. In this case Athena punished the sisters as well, although they had no involvement in the desecration of her temple. These were Medusas sisters, who were dangerous monsters in their own right. The earliest versions of the Gorgons connected them to sharp reefs and the storms that could drive ships onto them. Early accounts placed the Gorgons in a faraway place on the edge of night. He also defeated Medusa. It is more likely, however, that the legends of the Gorgons came from two separate traditions. Unfortunately, as was often the case in the ancient world, the victim bore the brunt of the punishment. After the god Zeus liberated the Cyclops , who had been held as prisoners of Tartarus, the giants wanted to return the favor. Athena also told him where to find further assistance. Carved stones depicting a seven-headed cobra are commonly found near the sluices of the ancient irrigation tanks in Sri Lanka; these are believed to have been placed as guardians of the water. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae. Let's transport ourselves to the Scandinavian lands with this funny template filled with illustrations of Norse gods, Viking ships and a beautiful design! This was where Athenas bronze shield became invaluable. Kratos also acquires the wax wings of Icarus and the Golden Fleece. In Indian myth, Shiva had a cobra coiled on his head and another at rest on his shoulder, ready to strike his enemies. Medusa - a woman cursed by Athena to become a snake woman , and people who . There are also stories about Balder, Freyr and Heimdall.But just like the world of men, the realm of the gods was populated by both men and women. The god of the sea, like many of his peers, had frequent affairs with mortal women and minor goddesses. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? Although Perseus is sent to kill her, her sisters cannot die so he instead has to avoid them. The fairest of the three Gorgons became the most hideous of them all. After creating Medusa herself, the goddess seemed especially eager to aid the hero in the monsters destruction. Dear Colleagues, Much of the Western world has a rising problem with white nationalists. Norse mythology. Medusa did nothing wrong. The Hesperides, a sisterhood of nymphs, were guardians of a wondrous garden at the edge of the world. If you're a viking lover or you have studied Norse. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. During the multi-day ritual, which is aimed at encouraging rainfall and fertility for the land, male dancers from the Snake Clan put live snakesranging from small garter snakes to rattlesnakesin their mouths and around their necks. In some cultures, eels (which spend their early lives in freshwater before returning to the sea as adults) were regarded as magical creatures. In Egyptian myth, every morning the serpent Aapep (symbolising chaos) attacked the Sunship (symbolizing order). For thousands of years, members of the Hopi Native American tribe of northern Arizona have performed the ritual known as the Snake Dance. As a result, God banishes Adam and Eve from the garden and curses the snake. Snakes have been associated with Hecate, the Greek goddess of magic and the lower world.[20]. Ariadne, the wife of Dionysus, is said by a 5th-century writer to have been turned to stone in the war between her husband and Perseus. But their children had work to do first. While they didnt have the power of the Gorgons head, they served as a frightening reminder of Athenas curse. Putting the helmet on his head kept them from seeing him, so they flailed blindly in their rage. In Buddhism, naga were often depicted as protectors of Siddhrtha Gautama, the Buddha, and the dharma (Buddhist teachings), but they were also seen as powerful, and potentially dangerous when angered. The second treasure was the magical helmet of Hades, given to him by the Cyclops in the Titanomachy. In art, Medusa and her sisters had every terrifying feature the Greeks could imagine. Others claim he threw the eye into the depths of Lake Tritonis. The Gorgons were the three sisters named Stheno (meaning Strength), Medusa (meaning Queen) and Euryale (meaning Wide-leaping), and were the children of Phorcys, son of Gaia. The Chimera's image remained consistent throughout the Greco-Roman era. Medusas head, the gorgoneion, appeared constantly in Greek art. According to Hesiod, the Gorgon sisters made their home on the farthest side of the western sea. Later writers would identify this as Libya, and in the Roman era Virgil said that it was at the gates of the Underworld. The Gorgons of Greek myth were snake-women (a common hybrid) whose gaze would turn flesh into stone, the most famous of them being Medusa. score: 22,174 , and 227 people voted. (Lyons Press, 2017), which chronicles some of history's most famous disappearances. Snakes were often also associated with immortality because they were observed biting their tails to form a circle and when they coiled they formed spirals. The underworld was part of a mythical world tree. She was killed by Zeus before he fought his father and the Titans for power. Some stories say that Perseus first used the Gorgons head while travelling back to his homeland. Perseus hid, waiting in the dark until two of the Graeae were passing the eye between each other. [24][25], The Hopi people of North America performed an annual snake dance to celebrate the union of Snake Youth (a Sky spirit) and Snake Girl (an Underworld spirit), and to renew fertility of Nature. Although Homer and Hesiod lived at roughly the same time, they were from different parts of the Greek world. [21] Sea monsters lived in every ocean from the seven-headed crocodile-serpent Leviathan of Hebrew myth to the sea-god Koloowisi of the Zuni people of North America and the Greek monster Scylla with twelve snake-necks. In these she takes two forms. In their traditional African religious belief, they say that the Serpent Lebe guided the Dogon people from Mand to the Bandiagara Escarpment (their current home) when they decided to migrate to flee Islamization and persecution. This created the first coral. Medusa has survived in art as a popular motif in tattoo culture. Hesiod would write the story that would become well-known. Some versions of the character emphasize her feminine features, while she is given more attributes of a snake at times when shes shown as particularly monstrous. In the Old Testament Book of Genesis, a serpent memorably appears in the Garden of Eden, the earthly paradise God created for the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. Before the soul can reach Jaaniiw in order to reincarnate (cii in Serer[4]), it must transform into a black snake. 36 42 (trans. It had the power to make its wearer invisible. After cutting off Medusas fearsome head (from which her two children with Poseidon, Chrysaor and Pegasus, emerged) Perseus mounted it on his shield, and used it to paralyze his enemies in battle. While Poseidon walked free, Medusa was villainized for the crime of attracting his attention. Medusa. As the Celtic god of fire, he was worshiped primarily in Gaul and Britain. He did the same to many citizens who supported his would-be stepfather, creating the rocky terrain of the island of Seriphos. Frigg is a Norse goddess of love and fertility. Even a piece of Medusas head, like the one Heracles gave to Sterope, was enough to repel enemies and cause uneasiness even if it didnt have the power to petrify. With their mortal sister gone, the other two Gorgons faded out of legend. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. Medusa and the Gorgons are used as characters in stories with direct links to Greek mythology, but also in general fantasy and horror settings. When a person dies, the Serer believe that their soul must make its way to Jaaniiw (a place where good souls go). In addition to the serpents on their heads, they had tusks like boars, lolling tongues, and bulging eyes. [23] Details vary among tribes, with many of the stories associating the mystical figure with water, rain, lightning and thunder. Though the earliest depictions of Quetzalcoatl show him clearly as a snake with a plume of feathers, later cultures represented him in human form. She and her sisters, Sthenno and Euryale, were daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Keto. The Hopi people of North America viewed snakes as symbols of healing, transformation, and fertility. Also, in Norse mythology, the snake biting its tail symbolized the sea as the eternal ring which enclosed the world. Snakes were called upon by the creator of Kerala, Parasurama, to make the saline land fertile. It is thought to depict inn, rr and Freyr. Still portrayed as a human woman, albeit with an increasingly thick nest of snakes on her hair, Medusa became a symbol of the Jacobin faction. After Bai falls in love with and marries a mortal man, Xu Xian, a Buddhist monk, Fahai, reveals her true identity to her husband. The Aztec underworld, Mictlan was protected by python-trees, a gigantic alligator and a snake, all of which spirits had to evade by physical ducking and weaving or cunning, before they could start the journey towards immortality.
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medusa in norse mythology