Who were the parents of Medusa in Greek mythology?
Medusa was born from the union of Phorcys and Ceto. These two figures were ancient sea deities who dwelled in the deep waters of the ocean.
Questions about Medusa
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where did Medusa live according to early accounts by Hesiod and Aeschylus?
She lived on Sarpedon near Cisthene according to early accounts by Hesiod and Aeschylus. Other traditions placed her existence somewhere in Libya where Herodotus claimed Berber religion originated the myth.
What happened when Perseus cut off the head of Medusa?
When he struck, Pegasus sprang from her body along with Chrysaor, a giant wielding a golden sword. He then flew back to Seriphos where he turned King Polydectes to stone using the severed head.
How did Ovid rewrite the story of Medusa in northwest Africa?
In this version Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden before Neptune mated with her inside the temple of Minerva. The goddess punished Medusa by transforming her beautiful hair into horrible snakes instead.
What argument did Sigmund Freud make about Medusa in his 1940 essay Das Medusenhaupt?
He argued that decapitation equaled castration within male psychology. The terror of Medusa represented the fear of castration linked to sight itself.
Who painted Caravaggio's version of Medusa in 1597?
Caravaggio painted his version of Medusa in 1597 using oil on canvas techniques. Benvenuto Cellini created a bronze sculpture titled Perseus with the Head of Medusa in 1554.