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). It was this sort of power dangerous, beautiful, and connected to women that both ancients and more modern people felt needed curtailing, oftentimes at the end of a sword. In 1976, Hlne Cixous, a noteworthy French feminist theorist, wrote an essay called The Laugh of the Medusa, in which she unpacks this myth. I would be super interested in reading your source materials if youre willing (I think I can get around the paywall by using my universitys library so its worth a shot) or I would also like to read your paper whenever youre dont with it if thats easier! 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. The tragedy of Medusa reflected how ancient Greece viewed women and their attitude towards them. How Long Will Joe Goldbergs Rampage Be Left Unchecked? . She was also a powerful representation of facing ones inner demons and how self-reflection can make you into a better person. 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. Some believed that Medusa was the Libyan Goddess, Neith, who was the Goddess of Hunting and War. Therefore, the words you speak have consequences. If you ever find yourself in Sicily, you will see the Trinacria being sold in all forms: magnets, key chains, pins, postcards and most stunning of all: ceramic Trinacria plaques that are hand-crafted by local artisans. Due to the apotropaic (protective) function of her image, the hydra Medusa motif has been widespread since the Hellenistic period. Historically, the figure of Medusa has been used to ward off evil. "Medusa and her story have been reclaimed as a symbol of strength and If we go back to Greek antiquity, Medusa was a mighty force endowed with the power to both kill and redeem. Zeus represented power, Hades represented fairness in death, but what did a mortal who turned into a monster, like Medusa, represent? The symbol offers protection from harm caused by the evil eye. Ancient Egyptians used the Eye of Horus to provide protection. Hence, Medusa's tale has served as a metaphor for power and bravery, particularly for women who have experienced s*xual harassment. Thank you so much for the response! What Do Medusa Tattoos Mean? - Myth & Symbolism - Beauty Mag Medusa, who was once thought of as a boastful mortal who deserved to be turned into a monster, is now seen in a more sympathetic view by modern standards. In this version of the story, it is said that Medusa was in the temple of Minvera and that one day Neptune, the god of the sea, found her and sexually assaulted her. She was very lovely once, the hope of many An envious suitor, and of all her beauties Her hair most beautifulat least I heard so From one who claimed he had seen her. In some cases, Medusa was even considered to be a symbol of fertility. One of the versions of Medusa has 3 different interpretations. The Medusa head became a symbol of protection because it wards off invaders and turns anyone who gets top close into stone. What does the Medusa symbolize? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The symbol appeared on ships and pharaohs entombed in the pyramids wore an Eye of Horus amulet around their neck. The Greeks loved to romanticize their culture in the form of Greek mythology and every character in it represented something about their culture. Keeping an image of medusa in front of your door wards off evil spirits. 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. She is telling you that you will never have to suffer what she endured. The Gorgon, Medusa, was a monster in Greek mythology but everything in Greek mythology always represented something in the real world. Medusa is seen as a powerful symbol of female intelligence and wisdom, related to the goddess Metis . Whenever you see yourself drawing medusa in a dream, it means that the universe has blessed you with creativity. Small Medusa Tattoo . Emailus. Dot-work Medusa tattoos might symbolize the connection to the religious part of Athena's story. In the myths, any mortal who set eyes upon it was immediately turned to stone. About US | Privacy Policy | Contact Information | Pinterest | Web Stories. The masculine part is the rigid, convinced, and hard-hearted aspect of us, while the feminine side is the tender, emotional, loving, and caring part of us. In a more modern sense, her image can be used as a warning to keep others at a distance. Therefore, seeing a medusa sign might speak about protection. Born of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, it is often forgotten that Medusa herself is a goddess of the sea. Luciano Garbati's sculpture "Medusa With the Head of Perseus" was unveiled Tuesday in Lower Manhattan. 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.) "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 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. Thankfully, we have collectively realized that the person who deserves to have his head cut off is Neptune, and hopefully one day that revenge fiction will be brought to the big screen. Pharaohs would often be entombed wearing Wadjet amulets, and it was intended to protect them in the afterlife and ward off evil forces. Required fields are marked *. Pastimes include playing with words, using my passport, and eating croissants. She swore an oath of commitment but did not stay true to it. The stories of ancient Greek and Roman mythology have, over the years, been rediscovered, repurposed, and reinterpreted in more modern contexts. Worth looking into it, if youre curious. 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. Its Medusas fault for being so beautiful. She was killed by Zeusbefore he fought his father and the Titans for power. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. I know it has a name but I can't think of it. Medusa slept with Poseidon in Athena's temple knowing the consequences, but did it anyways therefore Athena was right about punishing her. Before she was cursed for sleeping the Poseidon, medusa was a beautiful goddess and queen. Moreover, the Gorgon was also seen as a symbol of protection to ward off the evils and negativity of life. Medusa Tattoos Have Become Popular on TikTok Here's - Distractify 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. PDF One With Her Sheild - University of Hawaii at Hilo To prove her loyalty, she swore an oath of celibacy to be committed to the temple of Athena for the rest of her life. Now, the same generation has turned her into a feminist icon with a story too many can relate to; instead of being a symbol of fear, Medusa has become the symbol of justice for sexual assault victims. Passionate about spirituality, numerology and spiritual accounts. While there have been myths about Medusa in the past, the most famous myth is her being the monster that Persuses had killed. To make this obvious, add a medusa pendant to your necklace. At this point, Medusas head became a desired trophy for many warriors who wanted to brave her fierce monster-like powers. 1. Many people have heard about Medusa and her tragic tale but not much is known about the Gorgon herself. She may also be accessed as a living goddess by those seeking menstrual, serpentine mysteries. On funerary urns or armor, she was a talisman of protection, those eyes symbolically warding off evil. Oftentimes, this message comes with the message of wisdom and spiritual understanding because they are intertwined. I aim to share everything I know about history on this blog, hope you enjoy reading too! and rebirth and can be inked as a symbol of protection, warding off evil and keeping the wearer safe from harm. Anyone that believes in her will enjoy this protection continually. these associations, Medusa is a purely sexual symbol that pertains to the sexual anxieties of women. Sculptors and painters would use the Medusa head as an apotropaic symbol to ward. Silencing Powerful Women - The beheading of Medusa can be seen as symbolic of silencing powerful women who voice their sentiments. Modern women and pagans realize just how powerful Medusa's story is and what it means to women, trans women, the downtrodden and oppressed today. Athena brandished Medusa's head on her shield similarly to why Ancient Greek soldiers brandished Phobos's face on their shields: to insight fear. Medusa Tattoo Ideas - What Are Some of Her Most Popular plan? Can you now see the reason for her plight? The clinical material cited in the above papers refers to male patients, except one case cited by Flugel. 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. Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. Medusa remains the. The earliest portrayals of Medusa show a grotesque part human, part animal creature with wings and boar-like tusks. Whenever you see a medusa sign, it is believed to have a close alliance with ancient wisdom and philosophy. "In a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women," she said. She is both feminine and monstrous. Cixous emphasizes the importance of the female voice, of womens story, she urges women to urgently learn to speak; because after all a woman without a body, dumb, blind, cant possibly be a good fighter. Herein, we see Medusas head, cut from her body, being held up by Perseus, she is reduced to being the servant of the militant male, his shadow. In what insidious ways are women made to be in a mans shadow? She is assuring you that God will fight your battles, and help you to become victorious over your enemies. Statues of Medusa were used to guard Pagan Greek temples. What Does Medusa Tattoo Mean? | Represent Symbolism Her story always starts in these objects when her power is possessed, her head severed and turned into a weapon, whether shes a damsel in distress or a monster. That the only reason that Medusa is the way that she is is because of a curse that was placed on her.