Medusa, the woman with snakes in place of hair, is probably one of the most well known

creatures in Greek Mythology. However, she was not always like that.

Daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, two primordial deities of the sea, Medusa was born with
an incredible beauty. The young woman snatched heart wherever she went. Yet despite of her
seductive appearance, Medusa was chaste and pure.

Because she admired Athena, she decided to become a priestess of the temple
dedicated to Athena. Virginity and chastity were indispensible requirements for this position.
Medusa was a perfect priestess; perhaps, too perfect because she was so beautiful the
numbers of the visitors to admire her grew everyday that made Athena very jealous for having
the most beautiful hair in all of Greece. One day, a citizen dared to say that her hair would be
prettier than the hair of the goddess Athena. Although hurt and enraged, Athena did not take
revenge.

Nevertheless, one day when the shore was near, Medusa was spotted by Poseidon, god
of the Seas. He fell in love with the girl right away yet she resisted the constant flirtations of the
god. Poseidon had a personal feud with the goddess Athena that owning her priestess became
his obsession. Tired of being rejected, the god tried to seize her by force. Medusa runs
desperately into the temple of Athena in pursuit of protection. Poseidon entered behind her and
grabbed the young woman. He raped her on the floor in front of the goddess’ statue.

After the violence ended, the goddess appears enraged and she decides to cruelly
punish her priestess for the goddess to punish Poseidon was out of the question since she
considered that his act was of the male entity’s nature but she considered Medusa guilty of
seducing Poseidon and bringing dishonor to the temple and the goddess. Athena cursed the
young woman turning her beautiful hair into snakes. And to this day forward, anyone who looks
to her eyes will instantly petrify.

Medusa was then chased by warriors who wish for her head as a trophy yet they were
all turned into stones. The hero, Perseus, was able to decapitate the creature. But no one knew
that Medusa was carrying Poseidon’s offspring and with her death, from her shed blood was
born the giant Chrysaor and the Pegasus, a winged horse.