Attack on Prime Halloween Anthology: Medusa
Main Story
Hachishakusama
Annabelle
Russian Sleep Experiment
“So what enticing tale do you have for us today?” Hanji asked as they sat around the bonfire once more.
Optimus thought it over, placing a hand under the holoform chin. “I wish to take a more different approach.”
“I don’t like where this is going,” Connie declared.
“The island has had much of it’s history and knowledge erased about the outside world. Even so, the outside world itself has a much different history from Earth.” Optimus explained, “Earth has an interesting plethora of history and mythology that might not be frightening to me, but can be terrifying to you, simply due to unfamiliarity.”
“But this monster in the story isn’t real, right?” Eren asked.
“No,” Optimus answered before he began to narrate, “A long time ago, humans were created by a multitude of gods. The humans had built temples in honor of these many gods, and had priest and priestess to care for the temple and guide in worship. At the temple of Athena: the goddess of wisdom, there was a priestess named Medusa, who was known throughout the town for her beauty. Many would enter Athena’s temple just to see this priestess. Unfortunately, her beauty ended up catching the attention of another god.
Poseidon, the god of the sea, had seen her one night and wished to bed her. However, she had refused his advanced, for only virgins could serve under the goddess Athena. Tired of hearing her rebuff his advances, and feeling personal anger towards Athena, he decided to take her by force. Medusa raced to the temple of Athena, begging the goddess to protect her, but her prayers were not answered, and Poseidon had taken his claim.
Later, Athena had returned to see the aftermath. With her temple defiled and her anger prominent, she had cursed Medusa instead of Poseidon. Her hair had turned into a multitude of snakeheads. Her skin had become scales. Her fingers had become claws. Her body from the waist down had turned into the coils of a snake. She was transformed into an entity known as a ‘gorgon.’ Medusa had her beauty taken away from her, and anyone who had looked directly at her, would be turned to stone. She would forever be hunted by those who wanted her head as a trophy. She would be forever isolated as many have driven her out. She would be forever alone, for she could no longer love or have any form of human connection ever again.”
“That is completely fucked up!” Sasha exclaimed.
“Yeah, what the hell?!” Jean demanded.
“Why was Medusa the one punished instead of Poseidon?” Armin demanded, “Was it because she was a human?”
“The Greek Gods have a very specific hierarchy,” Optimus explained, “Poseidon is one of the most powerful gods, along with his brothers Zeus and Hades. While Athena is the goddess of wisdom and war, she is still a lesser god compared to them. If she were to attack him, she would suffer the consequences. Also, the Greek gods were...morally questionable. At best,”
“But the monster is quite fascinating,” Hanji retorted, “I don’t understand why they would turn to stone.”
“Greek mythology also has a wide plethora of monsters: gorgons, ogres, Cerberus. It would take a while to go through them all,” Optimus explained.
“Still, the thought of looking at someone and being turned to stone is terrifying,” Armin shuddered.
“Are they still conscious after being turned to stone?” Mikasa asked.
“Oh my god!” Sasha screamed at her.
(Someone recommended that I do Medusa, so I thought I’d get to it. Also, there is a guy on Tiktok writing a musical about the Odysseus, so go check him out. It’s really good so far. I can’t wait to hear the whole thing.
