She was also originally a goddess, and I can try to send you all my research on that if you want (though some may be hidden by a paywall, Im not sure). Reading Carol Ann Duffy's The World's Wife has got me thinking about historic women, particularly Medusa. A writer of all things gender, culture, and travel. It means that we all can stay relevant even if all odds are against us. We dont have proof of this, but it was said that medusa was one of the 5 goddesses that advocated for feminine equality. Athena grows jealous, as many men flock to her, only to glance at Medusa instead. All three are originally described as having tusks, wings, and the infamously iconic snake hair. Be careful of this. these associations, Medusa is a purely sexual symbol that pertains to the sexual anxieties of women. It also tells you to be confident in your physical looks. 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. On funerary urns or armor, she was a talisman of protection, those eyes symbolically warding off evil. Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. It is said that medusa was known for her innate wisdom, and many earlier scientists drew their great intellects and discoveries from her. Although Athena had the power to prevent this, she chooses not to. The Gorgon, Medusa, was a monster in Greek mythology but everything in Greek mythology always represented something in the real world. Medusa was trending on Twitter in June because of an incredible statue image of Medusa sitting on her throne in all her glory. In ancient Greek society, which was a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women. Medusa is, in other words, the ultimate femme fatale. Early Greek and English authors also said that Athena was the help Perseus had to behead Medusa. Venus was born from seafoam. However, she found a way to remain relevant. This began with the greeks and later flowed down to every other culture. It is believed that she became a goddess after the curse was pronounced. Medusa's visage has since been adopted by many women as a symbol of female rage; one of the first publications to express this idea was a feminist journal called Women: . In some cases, Medusa was even considered to be a symbol of fertility. In myth Medusa was the granddaughter of the earth (Gaia) and the ocean (Oceanus), a beautiful mortal Gorgon maiden sworn to celibacy to fulfill her duties as an attendant to Athena. As such she posed a great threat to the power of the Greek male-dominated sky gods. Lotus Flower (Asia) Red lotus flower. The labrys also appears in African religious symbolism and mythology (see Shango). The Classical period of Greek art from 480 to 323 BCE further associated beauty with danger when Medusa, the sirens, sphinxes, and Scylla all got a little hotter, losing some scales and wings as their bodies were more and more humanized. The tattoo design is empowering for women and can also be seductive. To become confident in your feminine gender, you should try keeping medusas image with you. In ancient history, females pray to her for confidence and strength especially in a world where men treat females as weak and helpless. I remember finding out one day that the name Medusa means protectress, and it makes me wish that someone had been able to protect her. The evil eye is similar to the Egyptian wedjat, also known as the udjat eye or the Eye of Horus , which is a symbol of protection and good health. Jeenah Moon for The New York Times. (The Etruscans especially used to put her symbol on homes and temples to ward off evil spirits.) It looks particularly sexy on the back or thigh area, where the tattoo will draw attention to feminine body parts. This is why it is a sign of creativity to dream of yourself drawing medusas head. Horus was the son of the goddess Isis. Use this symbol to keep you safe on your travels as did ancient sailors who would paint it on the sides of their boats. 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? At this point, Medusas head became a desired trophy for many warriors who wanted to brave her fierce monster-like powers. Medusa was protective of her chastity and rejected Poseidons advances when the God tried to seduce her. She is an advocate of the exaltation of femininity. Upon witnessing this act the goddess Minerva turned Medusa into the snake hair monster with the cold-stone stare that we all know her as. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Athena brandished Medusa's head on her shield similarly to why Ancient Greek soldiers brandished Phobos's face on their shields: to insight fear. From the blood that . Her existence reflected on the behavior of men during ancient times in Greece and shows how much have we advanced since then. Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art continues through January 6, 2019 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, Manhattan). Our image of Medusa is one of pure evil, but in reality, she is raped and impregnated by her rapist. You should never joke with what you say because forces are paying attention to every utterance of yours. What does the Medusa symbolize? I was thinking of getting one for my home then I made a painted wood thing invoking Heracles for protection as mentioned in Greek Religion. Allison C. Meier is a former staff writer for Hyperallergic. To understand the impact of medusa, the following spiritual messages are important. To prove her loyalty, she swore an oath of celibacy to be committed to the temple of Athena for the rest of her life. The closest alternative to the evil eye bracelet is the medusas bracelet. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three monstrous sisters comprised of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. Her writhing hair of serpents became wild curls, with maybe a couple of serpents beneath her chin to hint at her more bestial origins. Some stories say that there was one more unnamed Gorgon who was older than the others. The archive, belonging to lawyer Linda Coffee, contains nearly 150 documents and letters related to the historic case. According to some myths, this was the real head of Medusa. Venus had many lovers both mortal and immortal. She is the symbol of what female power looks like in the face of threatened male authority. It speaks about the ability to handle complex situations, and deal with hard tasks. Medusa remains the. 11 Spiritual Meanings, Medusa Spiritual Meaning: 11 Spiritual Messages, 10) Everything is turning out to your good. Medusa is the only one who is mortal and that is why the hero Perseus is sent to slay her. A soundscape in the exhibition composed by Austin Fisher (which you can also hear on the Mets site) is alternately serene and cacophonous, reflecting how Medusa is pulled back and forth between these seemingly opposed forms. 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 Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon - a creature with snakes for hair and the ability to turn anyone who looked at her into stone. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. She is telling you that you will never have to suffer what she endured. She went against her vow and married him. Just like any other figure in Greek mythology, Medusa had her own symbols that represented things in the culture of Greece. Silencing Powerful Women - The beheading of Medusa can be seen as symbolic of silencing powerful women who voice their sentiments. "When Medusa looks in the mirror, she sees the Lady of Sorrows." - Mason Cooley. Freuds analysis of the Medusa myth is that she was decapitated because she represents castration anxiety through phallic symbolism. Medusa has become an ubiquitous symbol of female empowerment and for good reason. Many in Greek culture also link snakes to a womans menstruation cycle which relates to the cycle of life and death as well. Medusa embodies menstruation's protective powers. Athena holds her head and Hades her soul. She represented the beauty of the female gender and advocated for it. Cixous disagrees with this analysis. January 28, 2022; asus rog zephyrus s gx531 ram upgrade; was medusa a symbol of protection for women Best Greek Mythology Tattoos And Their Meanings. During the late 20th century, feminists began to reassess the myth of Medusa. In ancient greek mythology, medusa was a beautiful priestess of Athena. 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. Google any famous womans name, perhaps Angela Merkel, Nancy Pelosi, or Hillary Clinton along with the word Medusa. For centuries women in power (or fighting for power) have been compared to Medusa, from Marie Antoinette to the suffragettes.Its clear in our society the sexually and intellectually independent woman is a fearsome sight to behold. 21. It was believed this would protect them on the journey into the next life. She is then cast out and cursed by her own sister. She calls women to write and express themselves fully. When the artist Luciano Garbati made his sculpture . "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. Different regions and cultures . In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. Her image was used in Byzantine Greece to protect pregnant women and newborns. The labrys symbolism is found in Minoan, Thracian, Greek, and Byzantine religion, mythology, and art, dating from the Middle Bronze Age onwards. Chariot pole finial with the head of Medusa (detail) (Roman, Imperial, 1st2nd century CE), bronze, silver, and copper, height: 7 1/4 inches, width: 7 inches; diameter: 4 1/4 inches (courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Rogers Fund, 1918). Ideally, Medusa's face is so repulsive and terrifying that it will repel evil entities. Listed below are the top 11 most important Symbols of Female Strength: Table of Contents [ show] 1. Medusa is known as the god of philosophy, beauty, and art. 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. The present ptient is a female. Medusa can be a symbol of female strength and safety for women. link to 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. What does a medusa symbolize? Since Ancient Greece, the snake-haired Gorgon has been a sexualized symbol of womens rage. Protection symbols are the specific signs that people use to safeguard against evil and negative energies, especially to have a strong spiritual and ritual impression in mind. ), 7 Eye of Horus Spiritual Meanings: The Egyptian Third Eye. She was also a ward of sorts for the Greeks to protect themselves against the negativity in life. Athena did not only curse Medusa but also her sisters. She is also seen as a protective figure, and her head is often used as a symbol of strength and power. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It has the divine power to protect you from harm. In ancient Greece, women were usually accused of provoking men with their image or their personality and are usually blamed when anything happens to them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgoneion. That the only reason that Medusa is the way that she is is because of a curse that was placed on her. She helps females to attain their primes and become who they choose to be. Ive seen a lot of variations of her myths that paint her as a vengeful monster, a symbol of feminine rage, or a protective one. Keeping an image of medusa in front of your door wards off evil spirits. Dot-work Medusa tattoos might symbolize the connection to the religious part of Athena's story. The consequence led to a lifetime of living beneath her powers. Hence, Medusa's tale has served as a metaphor for power and bravery, particularly for women who have experienced s*xual harassment. It bears worth mentioning that Im very new to Hellenism, so Im a little confused as to how this all works. She is transformed from a seeing subject to merely seen object, a demeaned and faceless body. My name is Marlin Davis and I am passionate about history of all sorts. The myths and stories about medusa are true. Medusa was a worshiper of Athena and a guardian of her temple. Even into the 19th century, as the romanticization continued, her eyes did not close. The first depiction of Medusa can be dated back from a poem by Homer as being part of the three gorgon sisters, Stheno and Euryale. 22. "In a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women," she said. On funerary urns or armor, she was a talisman of protection, those eyes symbolically warding off evil. She may also be accessed as a living goddess by those seeking menstrual, serpentine mysteries. Did the monstrous Gorgon bear any children that 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. 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. The story of Medusa shifted over time along with her visage. Though there is much to say about the tragedy of Medusa's story, she became a formidable foe. In the myths, any mortal who set eyes upon it was immediately turned to stone. Emailus. Of course, one must never mention psychoanalysis and phallic imagery without then mentioning Sigmund Freud, who, during the 20th century, wrote prolifically about the intersection of sexuality and psychology. Become a subscriber and support the site! Her power is also associated with protection, as she was often depicted as a guardian of the temple. Flower tattoos are associated with beauty . The eye of Horus is an ancient symbol embued with magickal power and meaning. It appears on numerous objects of applied art, such as earrings, cameo rings, and medallion necklaces, etc. Her gaze became an omen of protection, the snake on her hair became an omen of wisdom, and she is revered all over the world. In her 2017 book Women & Power: A Manifesto, classicist Mary Beard explores how the image of Medusa is used to skewer women in contemporary politics, from Angela Merkel to Hillary Clinton (with Trump as Perseus in a popular manifestation). Medusa's beautyand, in particular, her femininityremains as dangerous as her original monstrosity. Throughout the essay she encourages women to come closer in relation to her sexuality, to her womanly being, giving her access to her native strength. She goes on to say that in doing so she will get back her goods, her pleasure, her organs, her immense bodily territories. Cixous continues on, saying that for too long women's bodies have been occupied and deemed guilty guilty of everything, guilty at every turn: for having desire, for not having any; for being frigid, for being too hot; for not being both at once, perhaps even from being both woman and angry. 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. She was killed by Zeusbefore he fought his father and the Titans for power. Medusa is a symbol of female power and a popular tattoo design that celebrates the womanhood of women.