Medusa History Explained (Greek Mythology)
A famous figure of Greek mythology, Medusa was a feminine monster that had no place of hair and transformed into stones all who forgot his direction.
Two centuries ago, or myth was popularized in various parts of the world. Medusa was represented through painting, sculpture, literature and music, among other media, becoming part of our collective imagination.
As três Górgonas: Medusa e suas irmãs
Filhas das divindades marinhas Forcis e Ceto, as Górgonas were three signs of monstrous appearance that were chamavam Euryale, Esteno and Medusa. Just at the last time it was mortal and or seu nome from it derived from the verb "to send", meaning "that which commands".
Já a word "górgona" arose from the adjective "gorgós" which, not ancient Greek, was synonymous with "terrível" or "selvagem". With serpents on the head and golden handles, assustavam ate you deuses. Pierre Grimal unveiled the creatures in his work Greek Mythology:
As Górgonas tinham looks scary. Their heads were enveloped by serpents, armed with large prey, similar to those of javalis; his mine was made of bronze; asas de ouro lhes permitiam voar. Seus olhos faiscavam, and give them a penetrating olhar that burned or turned into stone. An object of horror, they have been relegated to the limits of the world, not meio da noite, and no one was used enough to address them.
Personifying the medes and the evils It gives humanity, as Górgonas have to stay hidden from the rest of the world. They were watched over and protected by Greias, who were also most irresistible and já nasceram velhas, just as we needed to partilhar.
Mulher amaldiçoada pelos deuses
Second to the myth that is told by Ovídio, Medusa was always a gorgon and her past was very different, before she was cursed. She was a priestesslong hair that servia no temple gives deusa Athena. Being an extremely pretty woman, she attracted the attention of all, mortals and imortais.
Apos to insistence of deus Poseidon, which governs the seas, you will wrap yourself intimately not inside the temple. O ato was interpreted as a disrespect to the local sacred and to a woman was given a severe punishment.
Athena, deusa who was known to be wise, ficou tão zangada who transformou Medusa num monster. Assim, her hair turned cobras: a vision so scary that she was able to petrify anyone who was directly.
In some narratives, a woman was seduced by her hair and, for not having fulfilled her duties as a priestess, she would be worthy of punishment. Contudo, noutras verses, she was attacked by Poseidon and não teve escolha, being condemned by um crime that she did not commit.
Perseu, or warrior who killed Medusa
Perseu was um semideus that she was born gives the union of Zeus with Dânae, a mortal. In order to seduce her, a divindade was transformed, a numa chuva de ouro that fell on her body. Or pai da moça não aceitou with unexplained pregnancy, then placed or newly born in their mother a small boat, waiting for them to be shipwrecked.
Contudo, Zeus resolved to protect them and allow them to stay in security in the area governed by Polidecto. As years, Perseu became a fierce warrior and full of courage; These qualities will come to intimidate or laugh, who will try to get rid of him. O sovereign ordered, then, that he should cut the head of Medusa and trazê-la as prize.
To conclude a tarefa tão arriscada, o herói recebeu o divine aid. Athena offered a bronze shield, Hades gave up an elmo who either made Hermes invisible, or messenger two deuses, provided his winged sandals. Serving himself of invisibility, Perseu approached the Gréias and got roubar or olho delas, fazendo as that all fell not sound.
Assim, he managed to pass through them and check on the Górgonas who were also asleep. Using the sandals of Hermes, he hovered over the creatures and, as he could not smell directly for Medusa, he used the bronze shield to see or reflect on her.
Em followed, Perseu cut your head I went to carregá-la, using-a as a weapon to defend two inimigos. A famous dinner was recorded in sculptures by various artists, such as Benvenuto Cellini, Antonio Canova and Salvador Dalí.
When Medusa was beheaded, dois filhos sprout do seu sangue, fruits of old I found with Poseidon. Um deles was Pegasus, or dig it with handles; Another was Crisaor, a giant who was born securing a sword of ouro.
Perseu used the gorgon's head to defeat Atlas and also a huge marine monster who was ready to devour Andrômeda, who became his wife. Later, I gave the head of Medusa to Athena and to deusa começou to carregá-la no seu shield, called Égide.
Meaning of myth: um contemporary olhar
A gorgon figure passed to be painted or sculpted as shields, sacred temples and everyday objects, such as wine cups. The objective of the design was to guarantee protection and a lot, defending malevolent forces.
As a passage of the tempo, new interpretations and readings for the ancient myth emerged. Reflecting an era dominated by male gender, history seems to metaphorize the way in which women were treated, expressing mainly repression and demonization of sexuality.
A capacity to transform homens into stone and into their own expressão do seu rosto, with various artistic representations, viraram synonymous with feminine fury. Also, the figure of Medusa has become an icon of the feminist struggle: no more faced as a monster, but as a powerful woman, in search of hair repair that she sofreu.
Looking at history through a contemporary olhar, we see that Medusa I was violated For Poseidon, more responsibility and punishment will fall on her. Because of this, she became a symbol for survivors of sexual violence.
A new version of the myth was represented in Medusa with the Head of Perseu, by Luciano Garbati, which will provide you with messages of famous works that we refer to more about, illustrating força e resistance das mulheres.
A statute was associated with the movement #MeToo, The United States gives America and international attention in 2020, when I pass to be exposed in front of the Criminal Court of New York, announcing justice for the victims.
Bibliographic sources:
- BULFINCH, Thomas. O Livro de Ouro da Mitologia. Rio de Janeiro: Ediouro, 2002
- GRIMAL, Pierre. Greek mythology. Porto Alegre: L&PM, 2009
- Etymological Dictionary of Greek Mythology (DEMGOL). São Paulo: online, 2013
Take the opportunity to see also:
- Ancient Greek Art
- Homer's Odisseia: Livro Explained
- Tragédia Édipo Rei, by Sophocles
- Livro Apologia de Sócrates, by Platão
- Lendas of Brazilian Folklore Explained
