[2.1] KEPHALION, NASAMON (by Amphithemis) (Apollonius Rhodius 4.1493, Hyginus Fab 14), TRITONIS (Tritnis). Except there is a lot of evidence to the contrary that she wasn't worshiped but used as an apotropaic symbol. Kibin, 2023, www.kibin.com/essay-examples/the-views-on-medusa-goddess-in-mythology-u4hTw2Vu. An anonymous commentator on the passage states this is a reference to the Lamia, but muddlingly combines this with Aristotle's subsequent comments and describes her as a Scythian of the Pontus (Black Sea) area. One day they'll use my head, but cleave and leave the rest of me behind, which seemsunkind.". But once Apollonius reveals her false identity at the wedding, the illusion fails her and vanishes. Thank you for the reference in the "further reading" section!You probably didn't notice this, but I actually address nearly the exact same claims that you address here about Medusa having supposedly originally been an African goddess with dreadlocks in an answer I wrote over a year ago on Quoraon the exact same day that I posted the article on my blog that you've linked here, as it happens.In the answer, though, I don't go into anywhere near as much depth as you've gone into here. 1st century BC) gave a de-mythologized account of Lamia as a queen of Libya who ordered her soldiers to snatch children from their mothers and kill them, and ", Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. Because she is a reminder to be unapologetically ourselves and fierce in the face of oppression, Medusa is a perfect talisman for manifesting and honoring our inner bad bitch. It's nice to know that you have read my article. A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page. For this reason. These monsters had a woman's torso, the lower extremities of a snake, and beastly hands. The queen, as related by Diodorus, was born in a cave. Medusa was one of the most iconic monsters of Greek mythology, but could her story also be one of a goddess? "On the return trip [of the Argonauts] Eurybates, son of Teleon died, and Canthus, son of . When citing an essay from our library, you can use "Kibin" as the author. Percy also confronts the forgotten other son Chrysaor, embittered at being ignored in legend, who honors his heritage as a son of her and Poseidon by becoming a fearsome pirate. A nymph of lake Tritonis in Libya, who according to an ancient tradition was the mother of Athena by Poseidon. Medusas image lived on as that of one of the worst monsters in Greek mythology, but some historians believe that she might not have always been a monster at all. Like his brother Zeus, Poseidon fathered For this Athena punished her hideously. Another double of the Libyan Lamia may be Lamia, daughter of Poseidon. [9] Heraclitus's euhemerized account explains that Hera, consort of Zeus, gouged the eyes out of the beautiful Lamia. The basis of this identification is the variant maternities of scylla, sometimes ascribed to Lamia (as already mentioned), and sometimes to Hecate. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The story of Medusa is one of the most well-known in Greek mythology. There exists a genus of horned dinosaur named after Medusa called. In the fifth addition, medusae look like humans with snakes for hair, have males with identical powers and are cursed to turn into medusae on an individual basis. Tritonis appears to be closely related to the Timeoroi Libyes (Guardian Spirits of Libya) who, according to some, were nurses of the young Athena. This prompted Henderson (1998) to "humorlessly infer" that the Lamia must have been a. Keats's reworking makes this Lamia have serpent form for certain, which she wants to lose. except it's just Tamagotchi School's nurse Mrs. Houtaiko rather than Medusatchi, A deleted subplot would have had Athena and Apollo conspiring to help Perseus behind the other gods' backs; presumably having Athena be the one who cursed her would have put her in. And, of course, as a son of Zeus Perseus was directly connected to the king of the gods. [45][h] The empousa admits in the end to fattening up her victim (Menippus of Lycia) to be consumed, as she was in the habit of targeting young men for food "because their blood was fresh and pure". Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : [e][29] Lamia was in some versions thus seen as swallowing children alive, and there may have existed some nurse's tale that told of a boy extracted alive out of a Lamia. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. She transformed Medusa into a terrifying creature with snakes for hair and a face that literally turned those who gazed at her to stone. Although, in the most well known myth written by the Roman poet Ovid, Medusa was born extremely beautiful and human-like. Poseidon, especially attracted to her voluptuous hair, assaulted her in the temple of Athena. Her symbols were a shield that frequently appeared above her head in A slightly different version of the second origin is that Medusa was willingly seduced by Poseidon rather than raped. | FAQs | ^Mods | Magic ^Words. What makes you cringe? It was assumed, among other godlike attributes, as a royal aegis to imply divine birth or protection, by rulers of the Hellenistic age, as shown, for instance, on the Alexander Mosaic and the Gonzaga Cameo. We can leave that aside: Hyperborea was sometimes imagined as being in northern Ukraine, or to the north of the Caspian Sea.). She was perhaps also identified with Benthesikyme a North African sea-nymphe who like Tritonis was married to a local sea-god (Enalos) and had two daughters. Some of the Gorgons' depictions make them Snake People. The Gorgons collectively could indicate that this unknown goddess was part of a triple goddess cult. She doesn't appear that often in media made before the 80s. The loss of her children drove Lamia insane, and in vengeance and despair, Lamia snatched up any children she could find and devoured them. Send your order with a custom message and a special package containing an embossed gift bag, tissue paper, Awe branded polishing cloth and a notecard. [64], In Pausanias's version, the monster is called Poin (), meaning "punishment" or "vengeance", but there is nothing about a snake on her forehead. For the descriptions and nature of the Lamia, Keats drew from Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy. Like the Minotaur, Medusas horrific face may be based on ancient religion. The fact that Medusa lived alongside two sisters is also notable in her interpretation as a monster. Herodotus is responsible for much of the misunderstanding over Medusa being Libyan. As the source of earthquakes, he is also known as the Earth-shaker. His consort is the sea goddess Amphitrite. Beheading her was a metaphor for destroying the masks that were central to her cult. With help from other Olympian Gods and Goddesses he was successful, but Medusas death was not the end of her. Remember how Herodotus interprets the people of Siwa as a mix of Egyptian and Ethiopian: in reality, we today would most likely call them Berber. WebSome interpretations argue that Medusa was a Libyan goddess who was equated with Athena before the Greeks defeated them and demonized her as Athena's enemy and Medusa was originally an aspect of the goddess Athene from Libya where she was the Serpent-Goddess of the Libyan Amazons. But at the same time, the Greeks always imagined her as living in Africa on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Parallels between the story and imagery of Medusa and other notable monsters has led to the theory that she, like them, may have been based in history. [103] The contemporary Greek proverb, " " ("the Lamia's sweeping"), epitomises slovenliness;[103] and the common expression, " ' " ("the child has been strangled by the Lamia"), explains the sudden death of young children. WebThe Libyan Berber Goddess Tannit (Neith) Tannit or Neith is originally a Berber Libyan Goddess venerated by the Berbers of North Africa from immemorial times. Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses Written by Judika Illes Copyright 2009 by Judika Illes. The story of Medusa seems to obviously be one of a terrible monster. Yes. Many of the myths in Ancient Greece and Rome were inspired by people of African descent and deities who were venerated in places where African Strands of her snake hair went on to protect whole cities. [31] The lexicon also has an entry under mormo () stating that Mormo and the equivalent mormolykeion[f] are called lamia, and that all these refer to frightful beings. [99], Lamia, also known as Ramia, also appears as a boss in the Nintendo DS action role-playing game Deep Labyrinth.[100]. Thats clear from his description of the ethnic mix at Siwa (2.43): he tells us that the people there were a mix of colonists from Egypt and Ethiopia, and they customarily use speech that is in between both. He was well aware of ethnic differences between Siwa and the Nile valley, but interpreted them in terms that were familiar to him. Choosing to worship Hera when you advance to the Mythic Age lets you train Medusae at your temple. She went against her vow and married him. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Many pantheons, including the Greek one, had triple goddesses. Other gods played an indirect role in the heros victory. ", Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. Of the three sisters only Medousa was mortal. [22], It is somewhat uncertain if this refers to the one Lamia[23] or to "a Lamia" among many, as given in some translations of the two plays;[24] a generic lamia is also supported by the definition as some sort of a "wild beast" in the Suda. Aeneas didnt originate in Roman myth, but hes still an important part of Roman myth. In Greek mythology, Medusa bears many of the hallmarks of a monster. Thats the Greek myth. [72], By the Early Middle Ages, lamia (pl. One interpretation of the Medusa myth, therefore, is that she represents the priestesses of an unknown pre-Greek goddess. The males have different powers, in that they're bald (so no snake-hair attacks) and they can poison with their gaze rather than petrify, rather like certain mythological depictions of the basilisk. [89], Some commentators have also equated Lamia with Hecate. Kibin, 2023. http://www.kibin.com/essay-examples/the-views-on-medusa-goddess-in-mythology-u4hTw2Vu. [35], In later classical periods, around the 1st century A. D.,[36] the conception of this Lamia shifted to that of a sultry seductress who enticed young men and devoured them. They celebrate a yearly festival of Athena, where their maidens are separated into two bands and fight each other with stones and sticks, thus, they say, honoring in the way of their ancestors that native goddess whom we call Athena. It purports to give a full account of the capture of "Lamia of Corinth" by Apollonius, as the general populace referred to the legend. Hopefully ppl do know that there are African Greeks. Just like there are African Indians, Afro-Mexicans and etc.. Just true history is needed.. no Available via Live Chat Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm EST Email Us anytime at info@aweinspired.com. Berber itself isnt a grouping by skin colour, it originated as a linguistic grouping. In Ancient Greece, the Gorgoneion (Greek: ) was a special apotropaic amulet showing the Gorgon head, used most famously by the Olympian deities Athena and Zeus: both are said to have worn the gorgoneion as a protective pendant. [1.1] ATHENE (by Poseidon) (Herodotus 4.180, Pausanias 1.14.6) "The Views on Medusa Goddess in Mythology." edd., Strabo. to view the complete essay. [4], In the myth, the Lamia was originally a beautiful woman beloved of Zeus, but Zeus's jealous wife Hera robbed her of her children, either by kidnapping and hiding them away, killing them, or causing Lamia herself to kill her own offspring. Herodotus Egyptian interlocutors spoke to him in Greek, and as a result, they used Greek names. 490 BCE (British Museum, McDaniel, S. 2020. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair Medusa heads were traditionally carved as coral cameos for an extremely powerful protective amulet. Medusa, the most beautiful and only mortal Gorgon sister, is a sea spirit. Empusa is equated with Hecate in a fragment of Aristophanes's lost play, Keats made a note to this effect at the end of the first page in the fair copy he made: see William E. Harrold, "Keats' 'Lamia' and Peacock's 'Rhododaphne'". Ancient sources do indeed put Medusa in or near northern Africa. "The Libyans have a saying that the Goddess [Athena] is the daughter of Poseidon and Lake Tritonis, and for this reason has blue eyes like Poseidon. Medusa and her family are no exception. Engraged, Athena, unable to punish Poseidon, banished Medusa to an island and cursed her to have snakes for hair and a face so revolting it would turn the onlooker to stone. Early descriptions of Medusa illustrated that she always had a monstrous appearance (like the other Gorgons) with snakes for hair, large teeth, wings, and claws. Athena was sent to a foundry in North Africa to be raised by a Cyclops. 133163; 2019b). The heads of both figures are inhuman, which is used to convey their monstrousness. It completely passed me by.On reflection you have a point about Maasai Medusa. Medusa's main characteristics are snakes for hair and that people turn to stone just by seeing her face. As for Athena, they say that she was daughter of Poseidon and Lake Tritonis, and that, being for some reason angry at her father, she gave herself to Zeus, who made her his own daughter. Here are some ways our essay examples library can help you with your assignment: Read our Academic Honor Code for more information on how to use (and how not to use) our library. 180 (trans. When a woman's child is well grown, the men assemble within three months and the child is adjudged to be that man's whom it is most like. Perseus beheaded Medusa while she slept, but her severed head retained its power to paralyze and turn viewers to stone. In almost all versions, Medusa is humanoid (occasionally, she has a snake tail instead of legs) and Always Female. This framework slots all European and African people into either black or white pigeonholes. In the anime Monster Musume, the character Miia is a lamia. [a][14][17], According to the same source, Lamia was taken by Zeus to Italy, and that Lamos, the city of the man-eating Laestrygonians, was named after her. She was imported into Greece as one of the Gorgons, daughter of Phorcus and his sister Ceto. Athena was one and the same with Pallas and Medusa. Medusa is not just a minor sea spirit. This is given in the concluding paragraph of the chapter. 144 (trans. A single glimpse of Medusas face was enough to kill a man instantly. To protect the anonymity of contributors, we've removed their names and personal information from the essays. [i][47][48] The same joke was used in theatrical Greek comedy,[49] and generally. Both girls cultivated the military life, which once led them into contentious dispute. Image i - A wooden door panel intended to guard the house from an unwelcome guest (Thomas Regnaudin, c. 1660). Alternatively she desired Medusas power. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Many other myths are interpreted as retellings of how the Greeks and their pantheon won power. 5 [28] Horace in Ars Poetica cautions against the overly fantastical: "[nor should a story] draw a live boy out of a Lamia's belly". Another myth suggests that Athena possessed more than Medusas head: she flayed Medusa and wore her skin. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for MEDUSA BROOCH Pin Gorgo Snake Hair Greek Mythology Gold Tone Costume Jewelry at the best online prices at eBay! 14. It's founded on a distortion, but as you say, myths are malleable. Other details appear in different sources: Medusa was originally a beautiful woman who was transformed; she remained beautiful (but deadly) after her transformation; she was a rape victim, and cursed by Athena; her head was set on the shield of Athena; and so on. The technical term for the image of Medusas severed head is gorgoneion. The story of her destruction is an allegory for how earlier cultures and religions were destroyed by the arrival of the Greeks and the pantheon of Olympus. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) Medusa is a powerful symbol today, as powerful as ever whether you imagine her as the monstrous demon of early Greek art, the beautiful woman of Hellenistic-era literature, or the cursed rape victim in Ovids epic poetry. Yes, Medusae. He did so by using the helm of Hades to escape their sight. [14] A different authority remarks that Lamia was once queen of the Laestrygonians. So if Berber people want Medusa to be Berber, then yes, shes Berber. [1.2] ATHENE, PALLAS (by Triton) (reconstructed from Apollodorus 3.144) Ancient Greek names are normally built out of meaningful Greek words. [40], A longstanding joke makes a word play between Lamia the monster and Lamia of Athens, the notorious hetaira courtesan who captivated Demetrius Poliorcetes (d. 283 BC). WebIn Greek mythology, Poseidon was the god of the sea, floods, droughts, earthquakes and horses. Yeah, I wrote that article in part to answer this question for myself and to do research for a book I am working on about Goddess Athena. I mostly just say that, although Herodotos does say that Medusa lived in North Africa, there's nothing to indicate that she was originally an African goddess and the story of Medusa was most likely made up by Greeks.The main thing that my answer adds to what you've said here is that I actually address the claim about the dreadlocks by pointing out that the earliest surviving depictions of Medusa, including the famous Kykladic pithos from the early seventh century BCE that depicts her with the lower body of a four-legged horse, don't seem to depict her with snakes for hair. When ancient Greek writers say Libya, they dont mean the modern country. [78] Either one could be Lamia the mother of Scylla mentioned in the Stesichorus (d. 555 BC) fragment, and other sources. A gypsy curse associated with him has Lamia torment the victim for three days before having its minions drag them into Hell to burn in its fires for all eternity. 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