Medusas beheading is the ultimate offense because it involves a complete dismemberment, a permanence within the male gaze, and a double darkness. According to Hlne Cixous article The Laugh of Medusa, she claims that. Meaning of Medusa Tattoo: Studio of Antonio Canova, Head of Medusa (Rome, 1806-07), plaster cast with modern metal rod (courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fletcher Fund, 1967). Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of Medusas story is that she was pregnant with Poseidons child when she was killed. Dangerous Beauty boldly mingles objects from across centuries in the compact exhibition. The god of the sea and of earthquakes, Poseidon had also some animals sacred to him. When it comes to medusa, we have several mixed stories; however, both stories affirm the fact that medusa was very beautiful. Allison C. Meier is a former staff writer for Hyperallergic. Every situation you go through will turn around for your good. She represented the beauty of the female gender and advocated for it. One day Neptune Found her and raped her, in Minervas temple, And the goddess turned away, and hid her eyes Behind her shield, and, punishing the outrage As it deserved, she changed her hair to serpents, And even now, to frighten evil doers, She carries on her breastplate metal vipers To serve as awful warning of her vengeance.. Medusa slept with Poseidon in Athena's temple knowing the consequences, but did it anyways therefore Athena was right about punishing her. I know you wrote this comment nearly a year ago, but Im actually writing a paper on this (which got me into Hellenism, but thats a whole other thing). Can you now see the reason for her plight? What does the Palm Tree Symbolize? However, Poseidon fell in love with her and slept with her. Her expression is one of surprised, but unblinking, sorrow. Gaia Symbol of fertility, power, and creation. My name is Marlin Davis and I am passionate about history of all sorts. I bought a Medusa pendant the minute Covid struck my area last March and have been wearing it since. Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art, in a 2017 essay on Medusa in Ancient Greek Art, which you can also hear on the Mets site, From Ancient Egypt to Teotihuacn, Centuries-Old Palettes Illuminate the Role of the Painter, Tucked Away in LA For Decades, 2,000-Year-Old Roman Mosaic Returns to Italy, Manhattan DA to Seize Looted Hindu Artifact From Met Museum, Roe v. Wade Case Documents Fetch Over $600K at Auction, At the Outsider Art Fair, Passion Trumps Prestige, The Photography Show Presented by AIPAD Arrives in New York. Image Courtesy: pixabay.com. 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. 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. 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. This should be a lesson to learn. All of Medusa's siblings were monsters by birth and, even though she was not, she had the misfortune of being turned . She is a woman who represents a conflicting view of femininity, one that is seemingly alluring but with a threatening or sinister underside. The femme fatale archetype has found permanence in our storytelling, and confirms to us that: to be both beautiful and fearsome to be a woman who has bodily autonomy and anger is not at all normative and that those women must be cast aside or have power taken from them. Whenever you see yourself drawing medusa in a dream, it means that the universe has blessed you with creativity. If we go back to Greek antiquity, Medusa was a mighty force endowed with the power to both kill and redeem. It is also given to help you keep your secrets to yourself, thereby avoiding betrayal. Therefore, this secret behind medusa is the reason for many movies that portrayed her as a head full of snakes. Founded in 2009, Hyperallergic is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. She was one of the three Gorgons, or literally "the terrible ones.". 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: . Love this, I decided half an hour before seeing this post to get or make one myself, as an apotropaic symbol. They represent female power Medusa tattoos are a great way to express your feminine power and independence. You should never joke with what you say because forces are paying attention to every utterance of yours. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. In this version of the myth, Medusa is instead a beautiful womxn. 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. The tragedy of Medusa reflected how ancient Greece viewed women and their attitude towards them. Shes been found on houses, tombs, walls of cities, and temples (including the famous example, the Temple of Artemis in Corfu, which is what my paper circles around). If you also desire wisdom and deep understanding, keep a medusa bracelet with you and mediate on it constantly. For women in ancient times, this motif had a specific function and was of great importance. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. People often come to secure their lives with some supernatural rituals and symbols when they do not feel secure with physical protection. The symbol appeared on ships and pharaohs entombed in the pyramids wore an Eye of Horus amulet around their neck. 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. As Elizabeth Johnston says in her 2016 piece The Original Nasty Woman on Medusa: In Western culture, strong women have historically been imagined as threats requiring male conquest and control, and Medusa herself has long been the go-to figure for those seeking to demonize female authority.. The clinical material cited in the above papers refers to male patients, except one case cited by Flugel. The story of Medusa is such a famous Greek myth told in today's world, both to kids and adults alike. Even after the curse was initiated, medusa still carries that energy for wisdom and deep understanding. 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. Before we talk about the different messages of medusa, let us discuss medusas symbolism. Stepping on a Crack Superstition and Meaning: Its a Bad Omen? Beauty, like monstrosity, enthralls, and female beauty in particular was perceived and, to a certain extent, is still perceived to be both enchanting and dangerous, or even fatal.. Cal Poly State University - San Luis Obispo, California State University - Los Angeles, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, California State University, Channel Islands, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Federal University Of Agriculture Abeokuta, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico San German campus, Keiser University - Latin American Campus, London School of Economics and Political Science, California State University of Sacramento, Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, University of North Carolina - Wilmington, University of South Florida - St. Petersburg, William Paterson University of New Jersey. Medusa represents feminine power. So basically, Im wondering which is the most accurate? Therefore, seeing medusa might be telling you to embrace your inner beauty. Ive seen a lot of variations of her myths that paint her as a vengeful monster, a symbol of feminine rage, or a protective one. The Greeks believed most snakes to be poisonous as well which represents the end of a life cycle. Medusa, the most famous of the Gorgon sisters, represented an array of things to the Greeks. The symbol of her snakes is closely related to life itself as well as the cycle of rebirth. It speaks about the ability to handle complex situations, and deal with hard tasks. Here we discuss Medusa as a goddess, gorgon, and icon AND we teach you 8 ways to work with her fierce energy. Ancient Egyptians used the Eye of Horus to provide protection. Zeus represented power, Hades represented fairness in death, but what did a mortal who turned into a monster, like Medusa, represent? She is currently studying CLEG and her pronouns are she/her/hers. The phallocentric understanding of Medusa that attempts to claim her as an erotic object denies her of her full power of speech, thought, and importance. As Karoglou points out, the majority of hybrids (half-human, half-animal monsters like sirens or Gorgons) in ancient Greece were female. Therefore, seeing a medusa sign might speak about protection. Read the best quotes from Greek mythology about Medusa. 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. If women venture to claim control over their heads, then they become a threat to the phallic, male-dominated structure. (The Etruscans especially used to put her symbol on homes and temples to ward off evil spirits.) Ultimately Freud and Ferencais conclusions are that women have anxieties because they do not have penises. Many warriors are sent to kill her, including Perseus. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three monstrous sisters comprised of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. Beyond the stories we have heard about this goddess, there are things to learn from her, which can be applied to our daily living. In ancient Greece, women were usually accused of provoking men with their image or their personality and are usually blamed when anything happens to them. However, the spiritual world can communicate different messages to you. In a new study, researchers propose that the mind creates an opinion of an artwork after dissecting it into discrete elements. The fair fosters a welcoming environment for all those with an appreciation for art, regardless of background or technical know-how. The Medusa tattoo features a snake-haired young woman, representing the might of women. Medusa - whose name probably comes from the Ancient Greek word for "guardian" - was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, and sisters of the Graeae, Echidna, and Ladon. Medusa's name derives from an ancient Greek verb that means "to protect and guard," which may be a nod to Athena's attempt to guard and protect Medusa from further abuse at the hands of Poseidon and other men. It is said that medusa was known for her innate wisdom, and many earlier scientists drew their great intellects and discoveries from her. Many writers will tell you that writing is a physical activity. Freuds analysis of the Medusa myth is that she was decapitated because she represents castration anxiety through phallic symbolism. Different versions of a myth can grow in popularity, replacing others, and there ends up being no one singular original story. The gorgons have some interesting lore, well beyond what you see in pop culture. Medusa is a symbol of female power and a popular tattoo design that celebrates the womanhood of women. She argues that decapitation is not a symbol of castration anxiety, but rather a result of it. 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. The story of Medusa continues to provoke renewed perspectives on its symbolism including through the lens of feminism and psychoanalysis. Protection symbols are the specific signs that people use to safeguard against evil and negative energies, especially to have a strong spiritual and ritual impression in mind. Use this symbol to keep you safe on your travels as did ancient sailors who would paint it on the sides of their boats. Her snakes are undoubtedly one of the better-known symbols in Greek mythology. She has a stern stare that prevents evil people from glancing at you with their jealous stare. Since Ancient Greece, the snake-haired Gorgon has been a sexualized symbol of womens rage. Which Hand to Wear Evil Eye Bracelet & Ring for Good Luck? The tattoo design is empowering for women and can also be seductive. If humans werent so tempting then maybe most of the male gods wouldnt be serial rapists. A writer of all things gender, culture, and travel. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Evil Eye. I Need To Know What 'Very Bland' Opinion Got J.K. 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Sculptors and painters would use the Medusa head as an apotropaic symbol to ward. From a feminist perspective, Medusas story seems a cautionary tale of the symbolic decapitation of women and a loss of ones power. Jeenah Moon for The New York Times. The reason for this is that the origin of philosophy and science is traceable to her. However, seeing her in your dream changes the narrative. In addition to this, the medusa can help people regain their spiritual fervor and sensitivity. She has the divine ability to keep your mind sane as a female. Seventeen contemporary artists of the African Diaspora explore how movement and migration shape their artistic practices and lives. 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. Medusa is so alluring to us, because she is the image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness. She is seductive to us in her contemporary application and dimensionality. For this Athena punished her hideously. Feel free to correct me if Im wrong about anything! The mythologically beheaded woman is seen (or at least partially seen) does not see; she is blinded and those who have beheaded her are blinded to her real nature. She works with birth, death, and rebirth. Just like any other figure in Greek mythology, Medusa had her own symbols that represented things in the culture of Greece. This gorgeous black and gray tattoo is of Athena, the Greek Goddess. The snake-like strands of hair also represent the cunning ability of snakes, which gives additional wisdom. One of the powers of medusa is protection. Even into the 19th century, as the romanticization continued, her eyes did not close. She was also a ward of sorts for the Greeks to protect themselves against the negativity in life. Indian artist Diptej Vernekar attached puppets of Hindu avatars to exercise equipment that anyone could activate and engage with. It also speaks of the power to generate new ideas for accomplishing a given task. Some believed that Medusa was the Libyan Goddess, Neith, who was the Goddess of Hunting and War. is derived from a conviction that women lack a penis. On funerary urns or armor, she was a talisman of protection, those eyes symbolically warding off evil. Small Medusa Tattoo . Medusas story showed us the representation of women in ancient Greek society and how people viewed them. Early accounts placed the Gorgons in a faraway place on the edge of night. Yes, Medusa is a protection symbol. a protection against . 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. Medusa was a worshiper of Athena and a guardian of her temple. Although Athena had the power to prevent this, she chooses not to. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. Doniger claims that beheading equals the release or termination of sexuality, male or female. Doniger submits that through the sexualization of the female head, (i.e. Beyond the curse she sustained, medusa is known for her deep wisdom and understanding of the world. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! I know for a fact Romans wore this as an apotropaic symbol, to avert evil (sorry not as knowledgable about Greek practices yet) . Like the evil eye, the Medusa is an apotropaic symbol that protects from evil. Now Medusa is now seen as a feminist icon as her ability to turn men into stone can be seen as a way to empower womxn; as Poet Percy Shelley writes about the snaked hair womxns powers as both being full of grace and terror. It is also thought that the symbol brings its owner luck, happiness, good . 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. Chariot pole finial with the head of Medusa (detail) (Roman, Imperial, 1st2nd century CE), bronze, silver, and copper, height: 7 1/4 inches, width: 7 inches; diameter: 4 1/4 inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Rogers Fund, 1918). This prompted the curse she sustains till this moment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgoneion. One such symbolisation is the famous Perseus myth. Early Greek and English authors also said that Athena was the help Perseus had to behead Medusa. 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. Our image of Medusa is one of pure evil, but in reality, she is raped and impregnated by her rapist. To the Egyptians, it was a symbol of protection and royal power. 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. Up to that point that was Medusa was known for a monster that had the ability to turn her victims into stone. It is only with help from all of the gods that Perseus is able to not only kill but fully decapitate her. From Freuds telling, the entire story takes place through the perspective of the man in the story, reducing Medusa to something sub-human. 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. Ancient Greek artists originally portrayed Medusa as an almost comically hideous figure, with a lolling tongue, full beard, and bulging eyes. This image of Medusa began to shift when mustache stubble was replaced by smooth cheeks, and fangs concealed by shapely lips, as Classical artists began to feminize her once again. Thank you so much for the response! Crypto This is exactly why the story of Medusa continues to captivate us because she is a character that demands to be reimagined, she pushes back against the story that places Perseus at its center, who claims him to be blameless and heroic. 42. Medusa in Jewelry. Become a subscriber and support the site! Due to the apotropaic (protective) function of her image, the hydra Medusa motif has been widespread since the Hellenistic period. According to Ferenczi,1 the head of the Medusa is a terrible symbol of the female genital region displaced from below upwards. The story has always been heavily discussed by classics scholars because of the very gendered image of Perseus cutting Medusas head off and the castration anxiety that became very popular around any type of chopping in psychoanalysis, especially after Sigmund Freuds Das Medusenhaupt (Medusas Head) was published in 1940 after his death. Horus was the son of the goddess Isis. Upon witnessing this act the goddess Minerva turned Medusa into the snake hair monster with the cold-stone stare that we all know her as. Medusa is also seen as a symbol of freedom and liberation for women, as she was used as a symbol of French liberation during the French Revolution. Romans were part of the Greek world, and yes a Gorgon head was an apotropaic symbol in the broader Greek world too. It wasnt the most pleasant of behaviors but history does teach us its lessons and we should learn from them. On view in NYC. This is why she has been made into many ceramics, golden, bronze, and silver sculptures unlike other goddesses. She was regarded as the patron and protector of various cities across Greece, especially Athens, from which she gets her name. Many people have heard about Medusa and her tragic tale but not much is known about the Gorgon herself. Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Medusa was protective of her chastity and rejected Poseidons advances when the God tried to seduce her. During my free time, I love reading and researching history. Within this context, it seems as if both the male genitalia and female head are their respective centers of power. In the 1994 book, Female Rage: Unlocking Its Secrets, Claiming Its Power, the authors claimed that when they asked women what female rage looked like to them, it was always Medusawho came to mindIn one interview after another they were told that Medusa is the most horrific woman in the world. None of the women they interview could remember the details of the myth, and perhaps, had they been able to, they would have had a different perspective. 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. Her power is also associated with protection, as she was often depicted as a guardian of the temple. Victim in Stone Benvenuto Cellini , Perseus with the Head of Medusa, 1545-1554, Florence. "Pegasus, poetry, was born of Medusa when her head was cut off." - Joseph Campbell. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. It wasnt until the Roman poet Ovid made her a more complex character than her original myth wrote her out to be. Angered by this, Athena placed a curse on her by turning her hair into snakes and making her gaze dangerous. Medusa was trending on Twitter in June because of an incredible statue image of Medusa sitting on her throne in all her glory. 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? This reminded me of how her story, despite it being one where she gets decapitated, has been reclaimed as of late by feminist scholars. Gorgon Medusa. The myths and stories about medusa are true. One of the most complex drawings is medusa. Additionally, the snakes in her hair can symbolize wisdom, healing, and . Her luscious hair was her most defining feature and she wasnt shy of flaunting herself to others either. How Long Will Joe Goldbergs Rampage Be Left Unchecked? I do remember exactly, but as far as I remember, it was explained as she was born mortal, then died, and gave birth through this (the rebirth portion). Medusa embodies menstruation's protective powers. While there have been myths about Medusa in the past, the most famous myth is her being the monster that Persuses had killed. Keeping an image of medusa in front of your door wards off evil spirits. . In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three monstrous sisters comprised of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. In her 2017 book Women & Power: A Manifesto, classicist Mary Beard explores how the image of Medusa is used to skewer women in contemporary politics, from Angela Merkel to Hillary Clinton (with Trump as Perseus in a popular manifestation). "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. In her book Put A Bag Over Her Head: Beheading Mythological Women, Wendy Doniger posits that if men fear castration of the penis, then women fear decapitation of the head; therefore the penis and the head become the locus of power within the man and woman respectively. 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. All of this points to one thing, which is Intellectual power. In recent years, Medusa has been reformed into a tragic figure who was slut-shamed and victim blamed, simply because punishing a male god (Neptune/Poseidon) would have been considered unthinkable. link to 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. I was thinking of getting one for my home then I made a painted wood thing invoking Heracles for protection as mentioned in Greek Religion. The Gorgon was also a representation of protection and had symbols. What are your opinions on Medusa as a symbol of protection? Other shades of history claimed that Poseidon raped her because he could not resist her beauty. "In a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women," she said. American Traditional Medusa Tattoos 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. Simi is a sophomore at American University and the events director for HerCampusAu. 7 Spiritual Meanings of Slugs in the House: Is it Good Luck? Medusa can be a symbol of female strength and safety for women. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Medusa is the perfect symbol of this". Nowadays Medusas can be seen as a symbol of revenge against the male gaze. The jazz drummers polymathic experimentation also spanned visual art, botany, and even an improvisational martial art he invented called Yara. Therefore, the words you speak have consequences. Medusa was one of three daughters born with extraordinary beauty and stunning hair. While the wild red locks of Edvard Munchs 1902 lithograph The Sin (Woman with Red Hair and Green Eyes), or Dante Gabriel Rossettis Lady Lilith (1867) with the Pre-Raphaelite subject brushing her long hair, are more of a stretch in the narrative, they reinforce the ongoing artistic portrayal of women as dangerous through their looks or power.