medusa in norse mythology medusa in norse mythology
Snakes taken from stories of mythology are expressed throughout the use of language. [2], The West African kingdom of Dahomey regarded snakes as immortal because they appeared to be reincarnated from themselves when they sloughed their skins. The roots of this tree (usually growing in water) were guarded by Veles (Volos) the serpent god. name was later used for the great serpents Poseidon, Medusa within her temple infuriated the goddess, Medusa as a former beauty afflicted by a terrible curse, characters in stories with direct links to Greek mythology. Either way, the Graeae had shown him the way to the hidden garden of the Hesperides. Medusa was often depicted as a terrifying winged female with snakes instead of hair. When Odysseus travels to the Underworld, he fears that Persephone will send the head of the Gorgon out of the house of Hades to attack him. Her powers are expanded in modern media. Horned Serpents were major components of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex of North American prehistory. The snakes are painstakingly gathered and washed before the ceremony, which also involves members of the Antelope Clan. [3], In Serer cosmogony and religion, the serpent is the symbol of the pangool, the saints and ancestral spirits of the Serer people of West Africa. Soldiers used Medusas head on their shields and armor, emulating the image of Athena, in an attempt to ward off death itself. Healing and snakes were associated in ancient Greek myth with Asclepius, whose snake-familiars would crawl across the bodies of sick people asleep at night in his shrines and lick them back to health. Norse mythology is a source of inspiration for many art enthusiasts, particularly when it comes to tattoos. The Story of Medusa in Greek Mythology Explained Why Kill Medusa? Valhalla | Definition, Myth, & Meaning | Britannica It was more rare for a victimised woman to be helped and avenged than it was for her to be punished. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. Later writers would identify this as Libya, and in the Roman era Virgil said that it was at the gates of the Underworld. As in modern . The Gorgon sisters were born to Ceto, goddess of sea monsters, and Phorcys, a primodial sea god with a fish's tail and crab claws. All of Medusa's siblings were monsters by birth and, even though she was not, she had the misfortune of being turned . Apollo and Artemis. As the story goes, St. Patrick, a fifth-century Christian missionary, was fasting for 40 days atop a hill when he was attacked by snakes. Perseus stuffed the head of Medusa in the bag and made his escape. Medusa began to look more like the woman she was described as in the texts. But the Medusa is a unique symbol - something strong. Greek Mythology and Norse Mythology Crossover | FanFiction Their parents were early sea gods, predating the Olympians. Many later versions of the myth claimed that she was once a beautiful maiden loved by . Attic tradition, however, said that the Gorgons were created specifically to be enemies of the gods. Medusa, the daughter of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, was the most feared of the Gorgons. Artists of the Renaissance made the slaying of Medusa one of their favorite subjects in sculpture and painting. The Curse of Medusa From Greek Mythology - ThoughtCo In Egypt the snake has healing abilities. Mythology Part 3, Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts 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. Greek writers never specified why only one Gorgon sister was mortal. Medusa was one of three Gorgon sisters born from ancient marine gods Phorcys and Ceto, the offspring of Oceanus and Gaia. It was said that anyone who looked directly at her was immediately turned to stone. Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three sisters, who was cursed by Athena and became a monster. She was killed by Zeus before he fought his father and the Titans for power. From Prometheus to the garden of Eden - the price of knowledge. Everywhere, from Lord of the Rings to The Elder Scrolls games, these creatures are deeply woven into our cultural fabric. In ancient Aztec mythology, Quetzalcoatl was the son of the fertility earth goddess, Cihuacoatl, and cloud serpent and hunting god, Maxicoat. In sculpture, mosaics, and painting, the Gorgon began to lose her more beastly attributes. In these she takes two forms. The Real Story of Medusa: Protective Powers from a Snake-Haired Gorgon In Egyptian myth, the state of existence before creation was symbolized as Amduat; a many-coiled serpent from which Ra the Sun and all of creation arose, returning each night and being reborn every morning. Frigg is the Norse patron of marriage and motherhood, and the goddess of love and fertility. According to Hesiod, the Gorgon sisters made their home on the farthest side of the western sea. In these, Medusa is said to be the only one of the Gorgon sisters who is mortal. Despite her family connection to monsters, she fit the mould of many beautiful young human women in mythology. Though outsiders (notably Theodore Roosevelt) have been able to witness some aspects of the Snake Dance, much of the lengthy ceremony takes place in underground chambers called kivas, allowing its most sacred aspects to remain mysterious. The tradition of the three Gorgon sisters appears to not be the only one in Greek mythology. Also, in Norse mythology, the snake biting its tail (Ouroboros) symbolized the sea as the eternal ring which enclosed the world. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Phineus himself was the last of his army to be killed in this way. The classical symbol of the Ouroboros depicts a snake in the act of eating its own tail. The Great Goddess often had snakes as her familiarssometimes twining around her sacred staff, as in ancient Creteand they were worshipped as guardians of her mysteries of birth and regeneration. The earliest known record about the story of Medusa and the Gorgons can be found in Hesiod's Theogony.According to this ancient author, the three sisters, Sthenno, Euryale, and Medusa, were the children of Phorcys and Ceto and lived "beyond famed Oceanus at the world's edge hard by . 14. From a monster to a passive victim, Medusa evolved into an example of the femme fatale archetype. Mythology is the rich collection of traditional tales called myths from cultures all over the world. In Buddhism, naga were often depicted as protectors of Siddhrtha Gautama, the Buddha, and the dharma (Buddhist teachings), but they were also seen as powerful, and potentially dangerous when angered. Medusas body was often shown as abnormally large and disproportionate. The most common type of flute in ancient Greece had two bodies, a reflection of the two surviving Gorgons. Medusa - Mythopedia Athena also told him where to find further assistance. While some later writers claimed that Sthenno had a scream that was as deadly as Medusas gaze, this does not seem to fit the legend of how Perseus escaped by becoming invisible. But it didnt take long for that to change. Combining two traditionally popular images, that of a beautiful womans face and that of coiling snakes, she is chosen to represent both her modern power and her ancient demonism. The Gorgons Of Greek Mythology Medusa, Stheno, And Euryale Medusa - Jane Manalo by Pernastudios on DeviantArt American Gods (American Gods, #1) by. Pegasus - Wikipedia What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. They could also account for the different legends of their parentage. He was sent on a quest to kill Medusa, and with help from the gods and his intelligence, courage, and strength, he successfully located and beheaded her by using his shield as a mirror and avoiding direct eye contact while battling her. Hesiod claimed that the head mentioned in Homers works was that of only one Gorgon, Medusa. In ancient Mesopotamia, Nirah, the messenger god of Itaran, was represented as a serpent on kudurrus, or boundary stones. [27] Thousands of people gather around snake pools called Naga kuan that are said to lead to Nagaloka, the lavish underwater world of these snake deities or Nagas. Perseus, therefore, with Athena guiding his hand, kept his eyes on the reflection in a bronze shield as he stood over the sleeping Gorgones, and when he saw the image of Medousa, he beheaded her. 21st century morals would see Medusa as a victim who was deserving of sympathy instead of punishment. Bragi is the Norse god of eloquence and poetry, and the patron of skalds (poets). Blood of Zeus follows the coming of age of a man named Heron who, like most fabled Greek myth heroes, is an illegitimate love child of a . On his journeys, he came across the Titan Atlas holding the world on his back and used the head to turn him to stone. Ragnarok is a major event in the legends of the Norse. Delighted, she made another figure, and another and another, and each came to life in the same way. [21] Sea monsters lived in every ocean from the seven-headed crocodile-serpent Leviathan of Hebrew myth to the sea-god Koloowisi of the Zuni people of North America and the Greek monster Scylla with twelve snake-necks. Perseus: Perseus was a demi-God in the Greek mythology who rescued Andromeda from a sea-monster. This created the first coral. Yeti. mythology - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help The second treasure was the magical helmet of Hades, given to him by the Cyclops in the Titanomachy. Perseus was the real bad guy. In Norse mythology, few stories are as dramatic as that of Jormungand, the . ( Assassin's Creed Wiki ) Perseus kills Medusa after Seriphus' king, Polydectes, sends the legendary Greek hero on a quest to bring him Medusa's head. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) While the tradition of there being three Gorgon sisters was established early on, they and their abilities were not fully explained until much later. Saint George killing a maiden-devouring serpent or Saint Columba lecturing the Loch Ness Monster which then stopped eating humans and became shy of human visitors. Danae's father, Acrisius, King of Argos was told that he would be murdered by Danae's son. Bellerophon had been tasked with killing the Chimera, the fire breathing monster of antiquity. Additionally, the famous snakes on her head gave the artists a chance to display their skills with shape and texture. Medusas famously beautiful hair was transformed into a writhing mass of snakes. It was just a trick so the king could get closer to Perseus' mother, Danae. The menacing face of the monster became a totem of protection. Agamemnon has a similar shield that shows the image of the Gorgon to inspire fear and dread. She frequently appears as a villain in comic foods, video games, and fantasy movies. A woman. Irish culture is brimming with myths and legends, perhaps none so prevalent as that of St. Patrick, Irelands patron saint, banishing every last snake from the Emerald Isle. Perseus holding Medusa's head. She and her sisters, Sthenno and Euryale, were daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Keto. birth to the two boys, Medusa's blood spilled onto the sands of Libya and a baby girl, Amphisbaena was born, during which Perseus was flying over the desert with the poor gorgon's head. Friday is named for her. The Hopi people told of a young man who ventured into the underworld and married a snake-princess. [23] Details vary among tribes, with many of the stories associating the mystical figure with water, rain, lightning and thunder. When he arrived at the sisters lair, the Gorgon was sleeping. But Perseus was able to spite the king by killing Medusa while she was sleeping, thanks to some help from the gods. Kincaid. In ancient Indian myth, the drought-serpent Ahi or Vritra swallowed the primordial ocean and did not release all created beings until Indra split the serpent's stomach with a thunderbolt. In Egyptian myth, every morning the serpent Aapep (symbolising chaos) attacked the Sunship (symbolizing order). The most basic similarity between Norse and Greek mythologies is that they are polytheistic, meaning their respective followers believe in more than one god.. However, in her case, the snakes leaned into her ears and whispered the secrets of the universe (i.e. It was shown with three heads, each of a different animal, growing along the length of its body. Odin (Old Norse: inn) is the main god in Norse mythology.Described as an immensely wise, one-eyed old man, Odin has by far the most varied characteristics of any of the gods and is not only the deity to call upon when war was being prepared but is also the god of poetry, of the dead, of runes, and of magic.. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. Top 10 Greek Mythology Movies - IMDb Medusas spirit stayed and faced him down. Later writers would try to rationalize the discrepancies by saying that there had once been a single Gorgon that fit Homers description. In Indian myth, Shiva had a cobra coiled on his head and another at rest on his shoulder, ready to strike his enemies. Nor did ancient writers specify what powers or abilities the Gorgon sisters possessed. Stheno and Euryale, Medusas sisters, were immortal. The good guy sometimes doesnt win and innocent people are sometimes harmed. As Perseus used the sandals to fly over the sands of Libya, the droplets of blood that fell to the ground created enormous vipers. A huge battle occurs, along with a series of natural disasters that consume the world. Midgard, the realm of mankind; it was made from Ymir's brow. Two hundred soldiers were turned to stone, including at least one of his own men who accidentally looked at the artefact. Zeuss lovers were harassed by his jealous wife. Perseus hid, waiting in the dark until two of the Graeae were passing the eye between each other. It is thought to depict inn, rr and Freyr. Perseus and Medusa. But Pegasus, the winged horse, became a figure in many legends. Medusas last scream in death woke the sleeping Gorgons, and the two sisters chased after the man who had killed her. Hesiod said they flicked their tongues, much like snakes. Medusa Legendary Snake Haired Gorgon of Greek Mythology Early writers, for example, did not mention whether or not Medusa looked any different than her sisters. As the Roman world embraced Christianity and its texts, Medusas evil status was furthered. Perseus killed the monster and later married the princess. In A Tale of Two Cities , for example, Charles Dickens compares the exploitative French aristocracy to "the Gorgon" even devoting an entire chapter to . His petrification was slow and painful. In Greek mythology, the Gorgons were snake-women whose gazes would turn people to stone; they had serpents for hair, long claws, sharp teeth and scales covering their bodies. In most Norse texts, Odin is depicted as a long-bearded, one-eyed man wearing a broad hat and a cloak. This symbol has many interpretations, one of which is the snake representing cyclical nature of life and death, life feeding on itself in the act of creation. Many myths date back to ancient times. In games and books, however, she actively attacks her enemies or lures them in with her sexuality. In some accounts she is Odin's wife, making her foremost among the Aesir goddesses. Her continued portrayal as a more feminine and human figure furthers this difference in interpretation. The Aztec spirit of intelligence and the wind, Quetzalcoatl ("Plumed Serpent"). It's Norse mythology time! Pegasus (Greek: , translit. Paris was famous for for marrying Helen of Troy, which led to the Trojan War. In the case of Norse mythology, the pantheon of major gods consists of no less than ten deities of noteworthy stature. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. During this transformation, the snake hides in a tree. Snakes were also commonly associated with water especially myths about the primordial ocean being formed of a huge coiled snake as in Ahi/Vritra in early Indian myth and Jormungand in Nordic myth. Kidnapping was a valid form of marriage in Greek mythology and women were often described as fleeing from or fearing the amorous gods. With monstrous features and snakes in place of her hair, she was a frightful creature that the Greeks believed could scare off even the most potent evil. Tiresias gained a dual male-female nature and an insight into the supernatural world when he killed two snakes which were coupling in the woods. [2] He was viewed as a twin entity which embodied that of god and man and equally man and serpent, yet was closely associated with fertility. This ancient Chinese myth tells the story of a powerful female white snake demon who lives underwater but takes human form as Madame White, or Bai Suzhen. They drink liquor that flows from the udders of a goat, and their sport is to fight one . His roles took the form of everything from bringer of morning winds and bright daylight for healthy crops, to a sea god capable of bringing on great floods. Judeo-Christian belief had always seen snakes as part of mankinds fall from perfection and her serpentine hair made Medusa more recognizably evil than ever. The complicated nature of Medusas crime and punishment is something our culture still grapples with today. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. Major Gods and Goddesses in Norse Mythology - ThoughtCo Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. Belenus Mythology, Cult & Facts | The Celtic God of Fire Later writers would make Sthenno and Euryale resemble their sister more, even as Medusa took on a more human appearance in art. It had the front of a lion, the torso of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating 882,061 ratings. Until recently, some northern European communities held well dressing ceremonies to appease the snake-spirits which lived in village wells and told legends of saints defeating malevolent lake-snakes e.g. Theres debate over whether the passages in Job about Leviathan and another giant Biblical creature, Behemoth, describe mythological beastsor actual animals that existed at the time but later may have gone extinct. Quickly and deftly, he snatched the eye from their grasp. It's about going all the way. The first was a strong bag in which to hold his trophy, the head of the Gorgon. Aldrich). While her sisters Stheno and Euryale were immortals Medusa was a mortal being. As early as the 5th century BC there were mentions of Medusa being a beautiful woman in her youth. Likewise, the Korean snake goddess Eobshin was portrayed as a black snake that had human ears. Unlike Perseus, the protagonists in these stories actually have to fight her. In both ancient Greek and Norse mythology, too, there are supernatural horses. -Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. Being punished for her own victim hood made Medusa an emblem of the discrimination and violence faced by real women. Some versions of the character emphasize her feminine features, while she is given more attributes of a snake at times when shes shown as particularly monstrous. Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. Medusa | Myths and Folklore Wiki | Fandom Greek myth held that people could acquire second hearing and second sight if their ears or eyes were licked by a snake. Medusa - Symbolizing the Power of the Feminine - Symbol Sage Why is Medusa Important? - Myth Nerd Radicals saw the Gorgon herself as a type of revolutionary, taking power from the monstrousness that made her vulnerable. He does not recount the entire story, but instead mentions it as though most people were already familiar with the details of the myth. . In addition to the serpents on their heads, they had tusks like boars, lolling tongues, and bulging eyes. Such regional variations could explain why Hesiod wrote about three Gorgon sisters while Homer mentioned only a single monster. The pointed tusks and extended tongue disappeared. Their union was unprecedented and was to shape the course of history forever. Gazing directly upon her would turn men to stone. "Here there is an evil dragon named Nidhogg that gnaws constantly at the root, striving to destroy Yggdrasil" [19] Greek cosmological myths tell of how Ophion the snake incubated the primordial egg from which all created things were born. Why So Many Mythological Monsters Are Female - Smithsonian Magazine Medusa is seen by some today as the first example of victim blaming. Passing their eye back and forth, one could be watchful at all times. Even in its more beautiful form, the gorgoneion was used as a symbol to ward off greater evils. She ended up mounting it on her shield, granting her the power to turn people to stone. Three-part deities are a common theme in ancient mythology, particularly in Indo-European tradition. Gorgons, especially Medusa, have become a common image and symbol in Western culture since their origins in Greek mythology, appearing in art, literature, and elsewhere throughout history. He was the God of thunder and the sky. The vision of Medusa as a victim of tyranny continues today. The Chimera was a fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology. All Rights Reserved. Like many pretty young women in Greek legend, she attracted the attention of a god. Mythology medusa forearm piece Insta: @leigh . Who were the Gorgon sisters and why did Perseus not kill them as well? Creatures in Norse Mythology - Life in Norway We strive for accuracy and fairness. Gorgon Medusa. Medusa | Myth & Story | Britannica More than ever before, the popular view of Medusa is a complex one. Strong, Unique, Thinking. Hymns and offerings were made to it since it was believed that the Goddess could manifest through the snake. In their traditional African religious belief, they say that the Serpent Lebe guided the Dogon people from Mand to the Bandiagara Escarpment (their current home) when they decided to migrate to flee Islamization and persecution. In ancient Slavic paganism a deity by the name of Veles presided over the underworld. She gave her shining shield of bronze, the aegis, for protection. The idea of snake-people living below the Earth was prominent in American myth. The Gorgons were the three sisters named Stheno (meaning Strength), Medusa (meaning Queen) and Euryale (meaning Wide-leaping), and were the children of Phorcys, son of Gaia. Werewolves and Witches remained separate and hidden for centuries, branded as monsters. The good guy sometimes doesn't win and innocent people are sometimes harmed. Donatella Versace. The circle was particularly important to Dahomeyan myth where the snake-god Danh circled the world like a belt, corseting it and preventing it from flying apart in splinters. The favorite daughter of Zeus. Frigg is similar to Hera as the patron of marriage and motherhood. Athena took her anger out on Medusa. Athena later helped the hero Perseus slay Medusa, giving him a shiny bronze shield that he used to watch the Gorgons reflection rather than looking directly at her. In East Asia snake-dragons watched over good harvests, rain, fertility and the cycle of the seasons, whilst in ancient Greece and India, snakes were considered to be lucky and snake-amulets were used as talismans against evil. Thor battling the Midgard Serpent. I guess this makes Pegasus, Chrysaor and Amphisbaena triplets, haha! A man. The winged stallion Pegasus is the offspring of the god Poseidon and the Gorgon Medusa, from whose neck he was born . It is possible that the Gorgon, one of the most terrifying monsters of Greek mythology, was imagined by some to be an evil counterpart to a three-part goddess. Medusa is a dimorphic character in the popular imagination; either a tragic feminist hero or a terrifying monstrous villain. In ancient Greek mythology, Medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters known as the Gorgons. Norse Mythology Thesis Odin, Thor, Freya, Loki, Frigg Do these names ring a bell to you? They wore snakes around their waists instead of normal belts. The subject of Perseuss quest, she is one of the most iconic monsters in Greek lore.