Nowadays Medusas can be seen as a symbol of revenge against the male gaze. wildfirepunch / Instagram. Emailus. link to 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. If women venture to claim control over their heads, then they become a threat to the phallic, male-dominated structure. This extends to even monsters like Medusa which really showed us how the ancient Greeks viewed the things around them. She works with birth, death, and rebirth. Not only that, but Medusa is often used as a symbol of rage in feminism. As a symbol I don't see a problem with it. Ancient Egyptians used the Eye of Horus to provide protection. 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. 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. The labrys also appears in African religious symbolism and mythology (see Shango). Simi is a sophomore at American University and the events director for HerCampusAu. It was said that she protected those who were at war and during the hunt. Instead of being seen as a monster, she is now depicted as a feminine Fatale. The mythological symbol of the head of the Medusa can be traced back to this devaluation and loathing, that is, the impression made . Passionate about spirituality, numerology and spiritual accounts. Originally born in Weirton West Virginia she spent most of her life in Pittsburgh PA. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. Crypto These later images may have lost the gaping mouth, sharp teeth, and beard, but they preserve the most striking quality of the Gorgon: the piercing and unflinching outward gaze.. As a result, women with Medusa Tattoos can show their fierce determination and may also reflect their unpredictable and impulsive nature. Two solo photography exhibitions at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, expose the obscured, silenced, and unacknowledged histories of the slave trade. Before she was cursed for sleeping the Poseidon, medusa was a beautiful goddess and queen. In 1950 his uncompleted essay, Medusas Head, was posthumously published. Small Medusa Tattoo . It appears on numerous objects of applied art, such as earrings, cameo rings, and medallion necklaces, etc. 59 Likes, TikTok video from Sasha Melendez (@sashamelendez15): ""Medusa and her story have been reclaimed as a symbol of strength and power, with her image also being used as a mark of protection against evils." #viral #medusa #saawareness #9thgenaccord". The Medusa symbol might have a vary Medusa embodies menstruation's protective powers. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. She went against her vow and married him. The snake-like strands of hair also represent the cunning ability of snakes, which gives additional wisdom. That's why it's considered protective. What are your opinions on Medusa as a symbol of protection? According to Freud, it is for this reason that Perseus must decapitate her. 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. Medusa is a symbol of female power and a popular tattoo design that celebrates the womanhood of women. The Greeks loved to romanticize their culture in the form of Greek mythology and every character in it represented something about their culture. Dark tones enhance her hideous features and present the visage of Medusa as a frightening monster. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. According to Ferenczi,1 the head of the Medusa is a terrible symbol of the female genital region displaced from below upwards. 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). It bears worth mentioning that Im very new to Hellenism, so Im a little confused as to how this all works. 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. 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. 11 Spiritual Meanings, Medusa Spiritual Meaning: 11 Spiritual Messages, 10) Everything is turning out to your good. Shes been found on houses, tombs, walls of cities, and temples (including the famous example, the Temple of Artemis in Corfu, which is what my paper circles around). 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. One of the most complex drawings is medusa. The name Medusa means 'sovereign female wisdom,' 'guardian / protrectress,' 'the one who knows' or 'the one who rules.' It derives from the same Indo-European root as the Sanskrit Medha and the Greek Metis, meaning 'wisdom' and 'intelligence.' (1) Metis, 'the clever one', is Athena's mother. Medusa's head as a symbol of horror was classically worn upon her dress by the virgin goddess Athena. Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of Medusas story is that she was pregnant with Poseidons child when she was killed. Often times, this has allowed us to garner some sort of fable-like lesson from the stories of the Illiad or Metamorphoses. While she may be known for her monstrosity, her beauty remains just as dangerous. As weve mentioned, the myth of Medusa can be interpreted in various ways, but I think perhaps the most fascinating analysis is done through a feminist perspective because it unveils just how swift we are to circumvent female rage. Although other greek mythology claimed that she was a priestess and one of the 3 monstrous gorgons, which are known as 3 winged females. Romans were part of the Greek world, and yes a Gorgon head was an apotropaic symbol in the broader Greek world too. She also aided Perseus in later killing Medusa once and for all. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. In her book Put A Bag Over Her Head: Beheading Mythological Women, Wendy Doniger posits that if men fear castration of the penis, then women fear decapitation of the head; therefore the penis and the head become the locus of power within the man and woman respectively. 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: . Medusa Tattoo Designs 1. From ancient greek mythology, medusa is a goddess of art. I know it has a name but I can't think of it. Following the moment her head was removed, a Pegasus flew out of her body, representing the birth of beauty. Her energy can be channeled for spiritual activities like spells, rituals, and prayers. The Greeks believed most snakes to be poisonous as well which represents the end of a life cycle. "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. Throughout all of her work, Cixous decries phallocentric storytelling and histories in which men and the psychoanalytic lens of phallic imagery are centered in womens 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. Worth looking into it, if youre curious. In 1976, Hlne Cixous, a noteworthy French feminist theorist, wrote an essay called The Laugh of the Medusa, in which she unpacks this myth. "In a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women," she said. It also tells you to be confident in your physical looks. Peruvian Man Found With Mummy He Called a Spiritual Girlfriend, Picker Art Gallery Presents the Works of William Earle Williams and Nona Faustine, Hito Steyerl to Deliver 2023 Wolgin Lecture at Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Preserving an Archive of Chicana and Lesbian History, Internet Goes Wild Over Outdoor Gym of Hindu Puppets, Museum Under Fire for Showing AI Version of Vermeer Masterpiece, The Society Photographer of NYCs Downtown Underground, Affordable Art Fair Returns to NYC With Contemporary Art Under $12,000, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. While there were some hints at Medusa once being a beautiful woman, that narrative didnt really get popular until the Roman poet Ovid wrote Metamorphoses, which contained 15 books and over 250 myths, including his version of the Medusa story. She was no longer depicted as a monster like it was written in the stories about her. Across the internet, this sculpture has become a symbol of feminine rage for women fighting back against male oppression and, in a way, Medusa is the perfect face for the feminist movement: a woman who had her bodily autonomy taken from her, was cursed, forced to live a life she did not choose, but yet was still immensely powerful. Become a subscriber and support the site! 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. 1. Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. On a 570 BCE terracotta stand, Medusa is comically hideous, and fully bearded, sticking out her tongue between two tusks. Oftentimes, this message comes with the message of wisdom and spiritual understanding because they are intertwined. Early accounts placed the Gorgons in a faraway place on the edge of night. 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). People with great academic achievements are believed to be possessed with medusa. Simi is very passionate about talking about women of color in media, politics, and the arts. Today Medusa, with her snake hair and stare that turns people to stone, endures as an allegorical figure of fatal beauty, or a ready image for superimposing the face of a detested woman in power. It means that we all can stay relevant even if all odds are against us. On a chariot-pole finial from 1st-2nd century Rome, Medusa is almost angelic with her flowing hair (and a pair of snakes peeking through her tresses), yet her penetrating eyes of inlaid silver recall her petrifying gaze. Horse, dolphin, the Cretan bull. Medusa can be given to you as a sign and message. This is why she has been made into many ceramics, golden, bronze, and silver sculptures unlike other goddesses. Her writhing hair of serpents became wild curls, with maybe a couple of serpents beneath her chin to hint at her more bestial origins. Beyond the curse she sustained, medusa is known for her deep wisdom and understanding of the world. Medusa was the only one of the three who could ever be killed. In Medusas story, the Gorgon was born a beautiful mortal among her hideous immortal siblings which people saw as a blessing for her. Whenever you see a medusa sign, it is believed to have a close alliance with ancient wisdom and philosophy. feelings originating in powerful oral impulses, and, for women, a means for resolving in fantasy the resentment arising from the lack of a penis. Medusa's beautyand, in particular, her femininityremains as dangerous as her original monstrosity. Seventeen contemporary artists of the African Diaspora explore how movement and migration shape their artistic practices and lives. 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. One such symbolisation is the famous Perseus myth. She has a stern stare that prevents evil people from glancing at you with their jealous stare. She wants you to deliberately watch the things you say. 9 Meanings, 9 Vertigo Spiritual Meanings: Random Dizziness. If you have committed to accomplishing a task, stay true to it no matter what. Ideally, Medusa's face is so repulsive and terrifying that it will repel evil entities. He poses the idea that to decapitate = to castrate. Through this framework, Freud posits that the female head is akin to her genitalia keeping in mind that Medusa did in fact give birth to her child from her severed neck. Athena is one of Poseidons sworn enemies, and through raping her sister, he is able to take power from her. Medusa is an icon of Greek mythology, representing female strength and wisdom. 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. What does this mean? 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. Black And Gray Tattoos. And rightly so. Hence, Medusa's tale has served as a metaphor for power and bravery, particularly for women who have experienced s*xual harassment. Horus was the son of the goddess Isis. 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. Every situation you go through will turn around for your good. It also speaks of the power to generate new ideas for accomplishing a given task. In Greek mythology, she is one of the Gorgon sisters (derived from the Greek gorgs for dreadful), and Perseus uses a reflective bronze shield to defeat her. Medusa, who is often evil herself in these tellings, is used as a figure to repel other evil forces. She is an advocate of the exaltation of femininity. 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. 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. Ironic how a woman seen as a monster to men is used as a symbol of protection for the same people who wrote about her story. She argues that decapitation is not a symbol of castration anxiety, but rather a result of it. There is an alluring nature to Medusa, as she is both siren and saint she is the complicated woman we all understand and fear. When she's not reading at one of D.C's many coffeeshops she can also be found taking pictures of the different monuments. It is believed that she became a goddess after the curse was pronounced. The story of Medusa continues to provoke renewed perspectives on its symbolism including through the lens of feminism and psychoanalysis. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. She is revered for this power and grants wisdom to everyone that asks for it. So basically, Im wondering which is the most accurate? As Karoglou points out, the majority of hybrids (half-human, half-animal monsters like sirens or Gorgons) in ancient Greece were female. The fair fosters a welcoming environment for all those with an appreciation for art, regardless of background or technical know-how. The story of Medusa is such a famous Greek myth told in today's world, both to kids and adults alike. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! Even into the 19th century, as the romanticization continued, her eyes did not close. I do remember exactly, but as far as I remember, it was explained as she was born mortal, then died, and gave birth through this (the rebirth portion). The inclusion of Medusa in the center implies the protection of the goddess Athena, who wore the Gorgon's likeness on her aegis, as said above. 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. Men are trash even in ancient greece, we been knew. Her decapitation is in direct result of male anxiety about maintaining power and control. Medusa is seen as a powerful symbol of female intelligence and wisdom, related to the goddess Metis . She has the divine ability to keep your mind sane as a female. 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. I bought a Medusa pendant the minute Covid struck my area last March and have been wearing it since. Team Zutara forever. Medusa was protective of her chastity and rejected Poseidons advances when the God tried to seduce her. The tattoo design is empowering for women and can also be seductive. Her face looked like a monster, and venomous snakes made up her hair. Finally, shes a triple goddess. She is astute in the ways of protection and lends her guardianship to those who need her most. She is the goddess of philosophy and blesses people with this wisdom. Then her severed head, capable of transfixion even in death, is carted away to help him defeat the villain of his story. There is a painful recognition in the fact that Medusas head the center of her knowledge and power is taken from her in order to empower a man and to fight his battles for him. 1. Through the snake-like strands of medusas hair, the universe is warning you against the deception of your friends. Shoulder Medusa Tattoo Fabio Mauro Symbol Sage points out, "The beheading of Medusa can be seen as symbolic of silencing powerful women who voice their sentiments." Further to this ability to turn people into stone, depictions of Medusa were used as a type of protection against evil. Flower tattoos are associated with beauty . Thereby, to castrate a man is to severe his most vital organ; and to decapitate a woman is to take her most vital source of power. The evil eye bracelet is great for protecting people from evil stares. Additionally, the snakes in her hair can symbolize wisdom, healing, and . This is exactly why the story of Medusa continues to captivate us because she is a character that demands to be reimagined, she pushes back against the story that places Perseus at its center, who claims him to be blameless and heroic. She and Mars are Cupid's parents. Beauty, like monstrosity, enthralls, and female beauty in particular was perceived and, to a certain extent, is still perceived to be both enchanting and dangerous, or even fatal.. All content found on Angelical Balance is for informational purposes only.Made with lots of love, hard work, and energy! Athena grows jealous, as many men flock to her, only to glance at Medusa instead. All of Medusa's siblings were monsters by birth and, even though she was not, she had the misfortune of being turned . Therefore, the words you speak have consequences. I write about my spiritual experiences to help all those who go through the same. Which Hand to Wear Evil Eye Bracelet & Ring for Good Luck? The story of Medusa shifted over time along with her visage. 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. Furthermore, she advocates for the respect of the feminine gender. 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. Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art draws on around 60 works from the Manhattan museums collections to explore the transformation of Medusa and other classical female hybrid creatures, from sphinxes to sirens to Scylla, a sailor-eating sea creature with twelve legs and six necks who makes an appearance in Homers Odyssey. 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. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. For women in ancient times, this motif had a specific function and was of great importance. The symbol offers protection from harm caused by the evil eye. 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. When the God of the Sea, Poseidon, was mesmerized by her beauty and forced himself onto her, she was clearly the victim here. Many people have heard about Medusa and her tragic tale but not much is known about the Gorgon herself. As Elizabeth Johnston claims in her 2016 Atlantic essay, Medusa may be the original Nasty Woman. In 2020, it might be easy to chastise the women in the 90s who called Medusa the most horrific woman, but perhaps we would be better suited to remind ourselves just how recently things have begun to change. Some people tend to connect Medusas story with self-reflection and link Medusa to the darkest parts of ones soul. image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness. 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. From her severed neck, her child Pegasus is born. Many in Greek culture also link snakes to a womans menstruation cycle which relates to the cycle of life and death as well. Medusa remains the. She is the symbol of what female power looks like in the face of threatened male authority. Pharaohs would often be entombed wearing Wadjet amulets, and it was intended to protect them in the afterlife and ward off evil forces. The ability to understand science and ancient myths is also given by the goddess medusa. 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. She was a monster in her story but her symbols were often used for the good of mankind however ironic it is to hear. Best Greek Mythology Tattoos And Their Meanings. The eye of Horus is an ancient symbol embued with magickal power and meaning. Here we discuss Medusa as a goddess, gorgon, and icon AND we teach you 8 ways to work with her fierce energy. Many warriors are sent to kill her, including Perseus. 42. Her existence reflected on the behavior of men during ancient times in Greece and shows how much have we advanced since then. Founded in 2009, Hyperallergic is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. 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. How Long Will Joe Goldbergs Rampage Be Left Unchecked? Silencing Powerful Women - The beheading of Medusa can be seen as symbolic of silencing powerful women who voice their sentiments. It is only with help from all of the gods that Perseus is able to not only kill but fully decapitate her. In the myths, any mortal who set eyes upon it was immediately turned to stone. You should be fine if you worry about attracting her attention. Her power is also associated with protection, as she was often depicted as a guardian of the temple. To ensure your safety from spiritual attacks, try to keep a medusa symbol in front of your home. For example, a sun and moon tattoo, which you can view as a coming together of opposites and a representation of two opposing forces. Sculptors and painters would use the Medusa head as an apotropaic symbol to ward. Venus had many lovers both mortal and immortal. You only need to maintain a positive approach towards life and have a little faith. Historically, the figure of Medusa has been used to ward off evil. Medusa - whose name probably comes from the Ancient Greek word for "guardian" - was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, and sisters of the Graeae, Echidna, and Ladon. When it comes to relationships, medusa is a lesson to learn. The myths and stories about medusa are true. 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. She is then cast out and cursed by her own sister. Just like any other figure in Greek mythology, Medusa had her own symbols that represented things in the culture of Greece. The word means "protect, rule over" with Medusa meaning "guardian" or "protectress." Perseverance Some will get tattoos of Medusa's severed head, or Perseus holding it, as a representation of perseverance. The consequence led to a lifetime of living beneath her powers. Freuds analysis of the Medusa myth is that she was decapitated because she represents castration anxiety through phallic symbolism. Well Medusa's dead, she was the only mortal gorgons. As an ancient protection symbol, the Medusa in this way also symbolizes aspects of the mother goddess, especially as a child of Gaia, the creator. 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. Phoenix Tattoos. On view in NYC. She may also be accessed as a living goddess by those seeking menstrual, serpentine mysteries. (The Etruscans especially used to put her symbol on homes and temples to ward off evil spirits.) One day Neptune Found her and raped her, in Minervas temple, And the goddess turned away, and hid her eyes Behind her shield, and, punishing the outrage As it deserved, she changed her hair to serpents, And even now, to frighten evil doers, She carries on her breastplate metal vipers To serve as awful warning of her vengeance.. 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. Medusa was one of three daughters born with extraordinary beauty and stunning hair. In this version of the myth, Medusa is instead a beautiful womxn. As such she posed a great threat to the power of the Greek male-dominated sky gods. As this article from the Atlantic puts it: "In Western culture, strong women have historically been imagined as threats requiring male conquest and control. Because of the origin of medusa, she is an emblem of deep spirituality. Ultimately Freud and Ferencais conclusions are that women have anxieties because they do not have penises. 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. Therefore, seeing a medusa sign might speak about protection. 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. Therefore, anytime you see this image around (during a confusing situation), it is a sign that you should pay close attention to. Therefore, if you notice a dwindle in your spiritual consciousness, seek help from medusa. Her snakes are undoubtedly one of the better-known symbols in Greek mythology. 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. 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). the mouth becoming the vagina) the woman, in essence, loses her voice, or rather she is denied of her voice. From the blood that . This reminded me of how her story, despite it being one where she gets decapitated, has been reclaimed as of late by feminist scholars. My name is Marlin Davis and I am passionate about history of all sorts. The symbol of her snakes is closely related to life itself as well as the cycle of rebirth. Renee Gladmans drawings convey that idea in a more visceral, less cerebral way. Business, Economics, and Finance. Dangerous Beauty boldly mingles objects from across centuries in the compact exhibition.