raped for her beauty, murdered for her ugliness
Medusa, meaning to guard or protect, was one of three sisters of Phorcys and Ceto, she being mortal while her sisters were immortal. Medusa was devoted to the goddess Athena and would pay tribute to her every night in her temple, making her Athena’s favorite of the sisters and was in line to be the new priestess. Medusa was extremely beautiful and was lusted after but kept herself pure. One night while she was praying to the goddess, she caught the attention of the God Poseidon. Taking her on the floor of the temple he raped her while she screamed out for help, then left her broken and crumpled, wailing. Athena heard her cry’s but couldn’t do anything against another God especially one as powerful as Poseidon, her hands were tied. Zeus ordered Athena to punish Medusa for defiling her temple. Athena, being Zeus’s favorite child had to do as her father commanded.
“Goddess Athena, help me! Please comfort me and protect me! Protect me from a man defiling me ever again!” Medusa cried out to the goddess.
Being the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill Athena devised a plan where she could help Medusa and not disappoint Zeus. She stormed down from Olympus to her sacred temple, “Medusa! You have defiled my temple and for that I curse you with a face so hideous that if any Man looks at you he will be turned to stone!” The goddess yelled, cursing Medusa. It was the only thing the goddess could do to protect her favorite child and keep her fathers favor.
Medusa made her way out of the temple hiding her face as best she could, making her way to the mountains. She found a cave that had been abandoned, much like herself she thought as she peered through the darkness. She tumbled to the ground and wept wishing for some comfort after her goddess had forsaken her. Then she felt a warmth around her body and heart and heard Athena’s voice: “Oh my daughter, do you not see? This curse I have given you is to protect you. No man will ever lay a hand on you again and any man that tries will be turned to stone.” After Medusa heard her, her eyes welled up and spilled over with relief and love. The goddess did not forsake her but gifted her with protection. Medusa lived in peace for a long time, every now and then a mortal man would try to conquer her but he would never triumph and would add to her stone collection, until Zeus had figured out Athena’s plan on keeping Medusa alive and scheme to have his son Perseus kill her. He had convinced Polydectes, the man that was in love with Perseus’s mother, to plot against him and send him away to retrieve Medusa’s head, and ordered Athena to aid in his quest. Athena sent Perseus to the Graeae, thinking they would kill him, but he tricked the old seers to tell him where Medusa was. After he had killed her taking her head her sisters tried to attack him but he escaped. Athena clutched Medusa’s headless body to her breast mourning for her along with her sisters. Even though Athena knew Medusa would die she still memorialize her after by carving Medusa’s face on her shield and breastplate.
dededos
areudirty
titsay
janainaart
dailybridgerton
izzy806
gummygunk