Because Medusa refuses a fate of silence and subjectivity, Perseus is left with no option but to decapitate Medusa for wielding her power. To prove her loyalty, she swore an oath of celibacy to be committed to the temple of Athena for the rest of her life. 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. Medusa remains of temporal importance because she is the symbol of what female power looks like in the face of threatened male authority. It keeps your spiritual atmosphere thick enough to repel every negative force. Among them, the most prominent was the horse, a symbol of valor and beauty since he himself fathered many horses, the best-known being the winged horse Pegasus by the Gorgon Medusa. It appears on numerous objects of applied art, such as earrings, cameo rings, and medallion necklaces, etc. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. Some stories say that there was one more unnamed Gorgon who was older than the others. Her power is also associated with protection, as she was often depicted as a guardian of the temple. That's why it's considered protective. Our image of Medusa is one of pure evil, but in reality, she is raped and impregnated by her rapist. The Gorgon was also a representation of protection and had symbols. mustache stubble was replaced by smooth cheeks, and fangs concealed by shapely lips, a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women, represents a conflicting view of femininity, one that is seemingly alluring but with a threatening or sinister underside. The eye of Horus is an ancient symbol embued with magickal power and meaning. Bronze greave (shin guard) for the left leg with Medusa head (Greek, 4th century BCE), bronze, width: 4 7/8 inches; length: 15 3/4inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan P. Rosen, 1991). In some cases, Medusa was even considered to be a symbol of fertility. The labrys also appears in African religious symbolism and mythology (see Shango). When it comes to relationships, medusa is a lesson to learn. Her beauty and wisdom were her confidence and she was respected in the greek world of gods. Without the support of the gods, he would have been petrified like every other warrior. This message is meant to keep you alert at all times. She is the opposite of what Michael Foucault called, docile bodies. A concept in which women are expected to conform and submit to the enforced codes and structures of a patriarchal society. According to some myths, this was the real head of Medusa. The mythological symbol of the head of the Medusa can be traced back to this devaluation and loathing, that is, the impression made . 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. Answered, One Piece Won a Different Award at the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Than I Expected, and Im Delighted, Randall Parks Upcoming Film is Everything Ive Ever Wanted. 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). Even after the curse was initiated, medusa still carries that energy for wisdom and deep understanding. It is said that medusa was known for her innate wisdom, and many earlier scientists drew their great intellects and discoveries from her. Simi is a sophomore at American University and the events director for HerCampusAu. If you have committed to accomplishing a task, stay true to it no matter what. Some believed that Medusa was the Libyan Goddess, Neith, who was the Goddess of Hunting and War. This prompted the curse she sustains till this moment. Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of Medusas story is that she was pregnant with Poseidons child when she was killed. The labrys was formerly a symbol of Greek fascism. There is an alluring nature to Medusa, as she is both siren and saint she is the complicated woman we all understand and fear. Two solo photography exhibitions at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, expose the obscured, silenced, and unacknowledged histories of the slave trade. You can keep medusas image with you to remind you of the danger of unfaithfulness. 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. In the new and annotated edition of Metamorphoses (highly recommend), it becomes clear that in the eyes of the Romans, Minervas wrath against a rape victim is seen as just, same as with Atalantas rape punishment (getting turned into a lion). You only need to maintain a positive approach towards life and have a little faith. It is believed that she became a goddess after the curse was pronounced. Finally, shes a triple goddess. Within this context, it seems as if both the male genitalia and female head are their respective centers of power. Cixous disagrees with this analysis. If we go back to Greek antiquity, Medusa was a mighty force endowed with the power to both kill and redeem. 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. Still lives in Brooklyn with her over 500 Pokmon that she has Eevee trained into a mighty army. AirplaneMode - BONES. Beyond the curse she sustained, medusa is known for her deep wisdom and understanding of the world. Therefore, seeing medusa might be telling you to embrace your inner beauty. Angered by this, Athena placed a curse on her by turning her hair into snakes and making her gaze dangerous. "When Medusa looks in the mirror, she sees the Lady of Sorrows." - Mason Cooley. Only to be stalked and haunted constantly by status-seeking men, and inevitably, murdered by Perseus. 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. According to various sources, Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal, so she was able to be beheaded by the Greek hero, Perseus. Sculptors and painters would use the Medusa head as an apotropaic symbol to ward. From Freuds telling, the entire story takes place through the perspective of the man in the story, reducing Medusa to something sub-human. Have a tip or story idea? 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. It bears worth mentioning that Im very new to Hellenism, so Im a little confused as to how this all works. Medusa was trending on Twitter in June because of an incredible statue image of Medusa sitting on her throne in all her glory. The answer you seek might just be around the corner. It was said that she protected those who were at war and during the hunt. Including floral details in the tattoo gives it a softer, more feminine finish. To ensure your safety from spiritual attacks, try to keep a medusa symbol in front of your home. She is transformed from a seeing subject to merely seen object, a demeaned and faceless body. Modern feminism often uses Medusa as a symbol of their rage against the stigmatization of female sexuality. Through the snake-like strands of medusas hair, the universe is warning you against the deception of your friends. Medusa has 11 spiritual meanings, which we look at in this article. Silencing Powerful Women - The beheading of Medusa can be seen as symbolic of silencing powerful women who voice their sentiments. In fact, her name means Queen, and her sisters have similar positive names, whereas Perseus means to destroy and if that doesnt mean something, I dont know what does. Reading Carol Ann Duffy's The World's Wife has got me thinking about historic women, particularly Medusa. What does Medusa Symbolize? Other sacred animals to Poseidon were the . The original Hamsa amulet was shaped like a hand with 3 fingers in the middle and the thumb and small finger in a curved shape on either side of the hand. Horus was the son of the goddess Isis. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. . The meaning of Medusa is powerful. At this point, Medusas head became a desired trophy for many warriors who wanted to brave her fierce monster-like powers. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. Medusas snakes were said to represent the cycle of life, rebirth, and death. The evil eye bracelet is great for protecting people from evil stares. 7 Spiritual Meanings of Slugs in the House: Is it Good Luck? Medusa is often seen as a strong and powerful woman, who has the ability to destroy her enemies. However, seeing her in your dream changes the narrative. Medusa, the most famous of the Gorgon sisters, represented an array of things to the Greeks. Venus had many lovers both mortal and immortal. To ensure that you are protected from evil, try wearing medusa as a pendant or amulet. In other words, symbolic decapitation, is a symptom of the real dangers that women face in a culture that is anxious about the powers of masculinity. Cixous demonstrates these points by claiming Freud himself is reductive and neglects to address the female experience in the Medusa myth, thereby erasing her experience, or, symbolically decapitating her as well. 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. According to ancient history, it is recorded that medusa was one of the prettiest goddesses in the universe. 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. The closest alternative to the evil eye bracelet is the medusas bracelet. Dot-work Medusa tattoos might symbolize the connection to the religious part of Athena's story. You will see this in movies like clash of the titans. Greek mythology has long fascinated me, but Im also intrigued by how the stories have changed and developed over time, as have interpretations of those stories. It means that medusa can encourage men to embrace their feminine selves. Keeping an image of medusa in front of your door wards off evil spirits. If humans werent so tempting then maybe most of the male gods wouldnt be serial rapists. It is said that everyone has a masculine and feminine self. She swore an oath of commitment but did not stay true to it. Hellenism (Greek: Ellinisms, Latin: Hellenismus), also less frequently called Olympianism (Greek: Olympianisms, Latin: Olympianismus) or Dodekatheism (Greek: Dodekathesms, Latin: Duodecimdeismus), is the traditional polytheistic and animistic orthopraxic religion, lifestyle, aesthetics, and ethos of the ancient Graeco-Roman world, and is the indigenous religion of the common Greek and Latin cultural sphere. 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. She argues that decapitation is not a symbol of castration anxiety, but rather a result of it. To understand the impact of medusa, the following spiritual messages are important. Medusa, who is often evil herself in these tellings, is used as a figure to repel other evil forces. Whether you see her as a monster or more of that, the fact is that Medusa slithering her way into being more than meets the eye. In a new study, researchers propose that the mind creates an opinion of an artwork after dissecting it into discrete elements. It wasnt the most pleasant of behaviors but history does teach us its lessons and we should learn from them. In the myths, any mortal who set eyes upon it was immediately turned to stone. Medusa was a monster in Greek mythology but she represented some real-world problems for the Greeks and the rest of the world. Up to that point that was Medusa was known for a monster that had the ability to turn her victims into stone. Whenever you see a medusa sign, it is believed to have a close alliance with ancient wisdom and philosophy. Medusa represents feminine power. 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. Men are trash even in ancient greece, we been knew. Her symbols were a shield that frequently appeared above her head in ancient hieroglyphics which was why she was killed with a reflective shield in Greek mythology. You might have asked questions about the reason behind medusas plight. She was one of the three Gorgons, or literally "the terrible ones.". She was killed by Zeusbefore he fought his father and the Titans for power. According to Ferenczi,1 the head of the Medusa is a terrible symbol of the female genital region displaced from below upwards. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three monstrous sisters comprised of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. Feel free to correct me if Im wrong about anything! Men back in the day didnt have the same level of respect for women as they do today because each gender had a different role in society. In the Artemis temple of Corfu, Medusa is depicted in archaic form as a symbol of fertility with a belt of intertwined snakes on her body. Become a subscriber and support the site! Her symbols were a shield that frequently appeared above her head in ancient hieroglyphics which was why she was killed with a reflective shield in Greek mythology. My name is Marlin Davis and I am passionate about history of all sorts. An early 1800s plaster cast from the studio of Antonio Canova showspreparation for the marble statue that now presides over the Mets European Sculpture Court. Medusa was protective of her chastity and rejected Poseidons advances when the God tried to seduce her. Statues of Medusa were used to guard Pagan Greek temples. The present ptient is a female. If you also desire wisdom and deep understanding, keep a medusa bracelet with you and mediate on it constantly. . The beginning of the cycle represents an opportunity to bring in new life while the later parts represent the end of life. as an almost comically hideous figure, with a lolling tongue, full beard, and bulging eyes. Texas Zero Property Tax Bill Has Extreme, Discriminatory Catches, Eurovision 2023 Tickets Announced on Ticketmaster, Celebrating Womens History With Qiu Jin, Chinese Revolutionary, The Penguin Tells a Batverse Scarface Story. It speaks about the ability to handle complex situations, and deal with hard tasks. How Long Will Joe Goldbergs Rampage Be Left Unchecked? During my free time, I love reading and researching history. She is an advocate of the exaltation of femininity. Emailus. The complexity lies in how to represent her hair by art. Every situation you go through will turn around for your good. In fact, the name Medusa is derived from the Greek verb that means "to guard" or "to protect." And at the end of the story, Athena takes Medusa's severed head and uses it as her own protection in future battle (a symbol for these dual aspects of a woman becoming integrated.) The earliest portrayals of Medusa show a grotesque part human, part animal creature with wings and boar-like tusks. Because Medusa refuses a fate of silence and subjectivity, Perseus is left with no option but to decapitate Medusa for wielding her power.