UDC 159.964.2 © Larin N.A., 2013 GORGON MEDUSA - VICTIM AND KILLER. PSYCHODYNAMIC MODEL
Annotation. The article presents a psychoanalytic analysis of the myth of Medusa the Gorgon, reveals the psychodynamic relationships of the main characters of the myth and substantiates the psychodynamic model of behavior.
Key words: myth, psychodynamic relationships, li-tamen, psychodynamic model, individual history, generic values.
© Larin N.A., 2013 GORGON MEDUSA -VICTIM AND THE MURDERER. PSYCHODYNAMIC MODEL
Abstract. The article presents a psychoanalytic analysis of the myth of Medusa the Gorgon, are disclosed psychodynamic relationship of the main characters of myth and proved psihodina-nomic model of behavior.
Key words: myth, psychody-namic relations litamen, psycho-dynamic model, individual history, ancestral values.
“The soul either submits to natural inclinations, or fights with them, or defeats them. This results in the villain, the crowd and people of high virtue.”
M. Yu. Lermontov
Few people know that the myth of Medusa the Gorgon is one of the most ancient Greek myths that has come down to us. It was retold long before Homer. And the “Gorgoneion” masks, depicted on the clothes and armor of the ancient Greeks, only confirm the fact of the extreme antiquity of this myth. For this reason, there are many discrepancies in the presentation of this myth by different authors. We took the classic myth about the adventures of Perseus and retold it from the perspective of Medusa the Gorgon.
First, let's look at the etymology of words. Medusa, or Me5osha (Greek) is a female name, translated meaning “protector, guardian, ruler,” and Gorgon is a type of monster to which Medusa belonged.
The myth of Medusa the Gorgon. The Gorgons were born from the union of Fork and Keto, and Medusa was the youngest among them and the only mortal of the sisters. But this was easily compensated for by her youth and beauty. She was so beautiful that she wanted to compete in beauty with Athena, although she was a servant of her temple. Medusa's eyes were so charming that as soon as she looked at a person, his soul and heart were forever captivated. And her hair was so silky and enchanting that people couldn’t take their eyes off when they saw it. And this beauty was able to captivate even the great Poseidon, the god of the seas and oceans. He, turning into a bird, took Medusa by force when she was in the temple of Athena. Seeing Medusa's adultery in her temple, Athena, in a rage, cursed Medusa, changing her appearance. Her hair turned into the heads of snakes, and her gaze began to kill anyone who looked at her.
Hiding the chaste face. So that sin would not remain without punishment, she turned the hair of the Gorgons into terrible hydras. Now, in order to terrify the enemies who have become afraid, the goddess carries the snakes created by Her on her chest.
(Publius Ovid Naso. Metamorphoses. Book 2. 800-804) In agony and horror from the curse, Medusa disappeared from the city, fleeing to her sisters, the other Gorgons. And Medusa the Gorgon hated all people, and began to kill with her gaze anyone who passed by her cave, be it a person or an animal, turning them to stone.
Each sprout is young with juice that is not yet diminishing, having drunk the poison of the monster, it instantly becomes a stone; (Publius Ovid Naso. Metamorphoses. Book 4. 743-744) And on the roads - people and animal likenesses, the very ones
They turned to flint as soon as they saw Medusa.
(Publius Ovid Naso. Metamorphoses. Book 4. 780-781) So Medusa the Gorgon lived in pain and suffering from her curse and hatred of everything, until Pereseus was instructed by King Polydectes to kill Medusa. The gods Athena and Hermes helped Perseus cope with Medusa. On their advice, he went to the Grays, the sisters of Medusa. Arriving at Forca's daughters, Enio, Pefredo and Dino, Perseus stole their only eye, quietly offering his hand as they passed it to each other. Grai had no choice but to show the way to the Gorgons in exchange for her eye and give Perseus the winged sandals, the magic bag and the invisibility cap of Hades. From Hermes, Perseus received a sharp curved knife as a gift, and from Athena - a polished copper shield. Armed, Perseus went to fight Medusa. Looking at her reflection in the shield, so as not to petrify, Perseus approached Medusa and, rising into the air on winged sandals, was able to cut off her head.
Perseus grabbed Medusa's bloody head and put it in a magic bag. But having heard Medusa's dying cries, the other Gorgons already knew that something wrong had happened to their sister. Perseus hid from them using Hades's invisibility cap and escaped from the lair of the Gorgons.
From the streams of blood that spilled from the body of the headless Medusa, two children of Poseidon emerged - the winged horse Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor, the father of the three-body Geryon.
Hidden, boldly passing through their terrible crackling forest, the Gorgon approached the house; as I saw everywhere on the plain and on the roads - people and animal likenesses, the very ones that turned to flint, they barely saw Medusa; How, however, in the shield on his left hand, reflected by Copper, he first saw the terrifying image of Medusa; Heavy as if taking advantage of the sleep that engulfed both her and the vipers,
He tore his head from his neck; and also - like the swift-winged Pegasus and his brother were born from the blood shed by their mother.
(Publius Ovid Naso. Metamorphoses. Book 4. 776-790)
Athena collected the blood that flowed from Medusa's body. The one that flowed from the left side brought death; according to legend, a drop of this blood that fell on the lands of Libya gave birth to many poisonous snakes that killed all living things. And the blood that flowed from the right side carried life and was used by Asclepius to save people.
Even after death, Medusa’s head did not lose its power; it could still turn anyone into stone, and Perseus took advantage of this magical property of the head more than once. He turned Keto, the mother of the Gorgons, and Grai, who devastated the lands of Ethiopia, into stone; he turned into stone King Polydectes and his servants, who were pursuing Danae, the mother of Perseus, and even Atlas, the mighty Titan who held the firmament on his shoulders. And after all these events, the head of Medusa the Gorgon was placed on the aegis of Athena for the edification and intimidation of enemies.
Analysis of the myth. In this work we will consider the myth of Medusa from three sides, as was done by J. Hollis in the book “Mythologems”: as a psychodynamic structure, as an individual scenario and as a family scenario.
Considering myth as a psychodynamic model, we will talk and try to explain, using the example of a behavioral model, how a person behaves situationally. Considering a myth as an individual story, let us consider how an image, being in the shadows, quietly controls our behavior and destiny, guiding us, and sometimes leading us. From the point of view of the family scenario, we will talk about how Medusa’s lifestyle can manifest itself in the family. Moreover, by family we mean not only a group of people related to each other by family ties, but also larger social
groups united by a single whole, such as a nation, population of a country, people.
We will divide the analysis itself into three parts in accordance with the understanding of how the myth described above can be interpreted and analyzed. We will also supplement the interpretation of the myth with a description through its symbolism of the behavior of the crowd, or society. In each of the interpretations of the myth, we will conditionally highlight three parts that consistently reveal what provokes the “activation” of the archetype, the features of its course and how to “defeat” this “image” in the soul.
Psychodynamic model. The myth says that initially Medusa was an ordinary, albeit incredibly beautiful girl. From the point of view of the psychodynamic model, this is not so interesting to us. What matters to us is the “transformation” itself, or rather, the moment when the trigger is pulled, when the trigger goes off, launching the entire behavior model. To do this, we must pay attention to the moment preceding the transformation itself. What happened to Medusa? According to the myth, she was attacked and raped by Poseidon, a figure of divine origin. To reveal the essence of this image, let’s ask the question: “Who is Poseidon? What is he like? Firstly, this is a man, and a man who is strong both physically and spiritually, with great power and power. Translating this image into scenario matrices, it must be said that much more important than gender is the social status of this person, his position. He occupies a higher status than the person whose scenario matrix is being considered - litamen (from the Latin Litamen - victim).
What did Poseidon do? Committed violence. He essentially used his strength and power to possess Medusa. From the point of view of the psychodynamic model, violence may not necessarily be physical. In this case, rather, we are talking about some kind of demonstration of one’s status, strength, power and using them in an aggressive form in relation to the litaman. At the same time, li-tamen cannot resist, or rather, he cannot give a full-fledged rebuff
to the aggressor. For example, the following scenario can be given: a boss (aggressor) scolds or shouts at a subordinate (litaman). The subordinate tries to object to something, but the boss puts pressure on him with his authority and/or power and does not allow excuses or even uses them against the subordinate. The subordinate feels anger and anger towards the boss, swearing at him to himself or talking about injustice to his loved ones or colleagues, but this does not reduce the primary anger, since he cannot express anything to the boss in the form in which he wants. The moment when a boss yells at his subordinate is the trigger for the activation of the psychodynamic model. The moment of accumulation of anger is, from our point of view, a “transformation”.
Let us now consider the period after the transformation, or reincarnation, when Medusa becomes a monster and begins to destroy all life around her. From the point of view of the psychodynamic model, after the transformation, the litaman himself begins to show aggression. But due to the lack of the opportunity to directly take revenge on the offender, anger spreads to anyone who happens to be nearby, just as people became statues from just one glance of the Gorgon. The author himself has more than once observed the following scene: a person receives a phone call, he silently listens to everything and hangs up phone, and when someone contacts him - acquaintances, children, loved ones or even strangers - the person actually breaks into a scream, swearing or answering in such a way that it seems that he is ready to “kill”. At the same time, from the outside it seemed that the litaman’s hair stood on end, reminiscent of the snakes on the head of Medusa the Gorgon.
It should be noted that there is a difference between the purposeful release of emotions and the release of emotions on people who have come to the attention of the litaman. We do not consider the first case, since this model, as a rule, is of a conscious or conditionally (partially) conscious nature. For us, it is the second case that is more interesting, when emotions are directed
"following" attention. What does it take to attract the attention of a litam? It is enough to address him, push him or even touch him. The moment of release of emotion is a symbolic removal of the “curse”. There may be a "transmission of the curse", but, as a rule, this transmission is not the task or purpose of the litamen. But the “removal” or “transfer” of the image of Medusa is not just a temporary measure. And here we are forced to turn to the personality of the bearer of the psychodynamic model. If we say that this model is a fairly common way of behavior, practically at the level of character, then we can talk about contradictions, dissonance of the archetypes of the Self and the Person. It is this dissonance that is the “battery” for the psychodynamic model. Obviously, the only way to "cut off Medusa's head" is to resolve the conflict between the two archetypes or find ways to redirect the energy. But we must note that the latter option can provoke repression of the conflict and subsequently activate other defense mechanisms.
Individual story. From the point of view of individual history, the life of Medusa is seen as a certain path that a person overcomes, moving from one point to another. We will call these points significant life events (hereinafter referred to as SLI), which are personal in nature, in other words, the importance of these events is of a purely subjective nature, and the experience has a relatively objective form. The forms of experience can be different. In this context, not only the starting point is important, but also what preceded it. To do this, let's turn to the myth. It is said about Medusa that she was a beautiful girl; for us this is an indicator not only of beauty, but of a certain success of the litaman both in his personal life and, perhaps, in matters of a slightly different kind. The desire to compete in beauty is also a certain characteristic of a litaman as a proud person, with high self-esteem, and perhaps even a narcissistic personality type. Starting point
What will be the moment during the presentation of the myth when Poseidon became interested in Medusa and desired her. For us, this is the moment of intersection with some person or group of people. And we must say that at this moment history becomes not only the history of the litaman, but also of other people. Some of them will then take the side of the “Aggressor” or have already taken the side, but have not demonstrated this, while others will take the position of the “Judge”, who is initially opposed to the litaman, but interaction with him is of a close nature. In the myth, the role of “Judge” was played by Athena, in whose temple Medusa served, which speaks of a certain closeness between the “Judge” and the litamen, and this closeness can be not only spiritual in nature. For a litaman, certain interactions with relevant people are important. At the same time, it is necessary to make a reservation that although the litamen perceives them as equals, in reality there is a difference between the litamen and the future “Aggressor”. The starting point for transformation is the moment when the “Aggressor” shows some kind of purposeful action against the litaman; this could be violence, similar to how Poseidon took Medusa by force in the myth. The end of the transformation will be the assessment of the litaman’s actions by the “Court”. As mentioned earlier, the “Court” is initially opposed to the litaman, and the negative attitude may not be open in nature or, moreover, be of an unconscious nature. Athena cursed Medusa, blaming her for all the troubles and taking away from her the most valuable thing she possessed - her appearance. The “judge” evaluates the actions of the litaman not in his favor, thereby provoking an intensification and certain consolidation of the negative feelings left behind by the activities of the “Aggressor”. And the litaman’s further path goes through anger, pain and malice. In life, the aggressor can be the one who takes away the most precious or extremely important thing for the litaman. Thus, there may be an attack on a person’s honor or failure to obtain the desired result (for example, appointment to a position). And after this transformation, the litamen begins to perceive everyone as “enemies”, becomes isolated and dusty.
trying to avoid unnecessary meetings. In the myth, Medusa found refuge with her sisters. However, we must note that her sisters were also monsters. The curse was placed in an environment where, at best, it remains unchanged, and at worst, it is strengthened and consolidated, “stewed in its own juice.”
One of the possible life-threatening situations was described above, namely, withdrawing into oneself and returning to one’s family. But this LLC is not mandatory. Medusa, after being cursed, began to kill anyone she looked at, and the myths do not speak of any other deeds she did during this period of her life. Let's take a closer look at why everyone becomes potential enemies of the litaman. There are two models here. Due to the impossibility of taking revenge directly on the “Aggressor,” according to the psychodynamic model, the litaman is looking for a replacement for him. And during replacement, a generalization based on some attribute may occur. Especially if the behavior of the object of substitution exhibits the same features that are characteristic of the “Aggressor” and on the basis of which the generalization will occur. A similar process can take place with repeated repetition of “aggression” towards the litaman on the part of different people.
Another option for the development of generalization occurs due to such a defense mechanism as intellectualization. Litaman searches for and finds a subjective-rational pattern in what happened. Such a pattern may be falsely rational due to the peculiarities of the litamen’s mental state after “aggression” or due to an incorrect interpretation of any life episode. However, we also admit that the litaman can find some objective reason for what happened and will not overestimate this reason. In this case, we assume that the litaman will not perceive himself as a victim and will not become a litaman as such. But it is important that awareness of this occurs at all levels. If emotional tension “transforms” into a generalizable factor, a symbolic substitution will occur. We have admitted
We mean that as a result of intellectualization, emotional stress will be relieved, and this process will occur unconsciously due to the “switching on” of such a defense mechanism as repression. In this case, both emotions and the very fact of “aggression” can be repressed.
A third option is also possible, in which revenge is taken on the “Aggressor”, and at this moment a generalization occurs similar to the first model, however, this option cannot be called canonical, it has slightly different features than those exhibited by Medusa.
The next LJS is revenge. After finding a “victim” based on a generalized characteristic, revenge will be carried out. Typically, revenge is the repetition of an “aggressive” action or some equivalent. But, as stated above, an “aggressive” action is subjective, and accordingly, the assessment of significance is also subjective. The myth says that Medusa, due to the loss of face, literally and figuratively began to take lives from people. As we see, values are in different categories, but in Medusa’s value system they are equivalent. Like Medusa, Litaman may strive for more meaningful "aggression". After taking revenge directly, the litaman feels some relief, but the burden of the past forces him to repeat this episode of life again and again. In this case, revenge can be considered as an overvalued idea that clouds the mind, and it is because of this that a person is not able to get out of his state, so to speak, remove the fixation. Therefore, to one degree or another, revenge will be repeated for a long time until the emotional tension subsides or the goal set in the process of generalization is achieved. As a rule, in the latter case, the target is the “Aggressor” himself, but then the third generalization model can work, even if one of the first two has already worked. However, the litaman is able to cope with revenge or symbolically complete it and continue his story, having already overcome the urge for revenge.
Ancestral values. To begin the analysis of generic values, let us remember who Medusa’s parents were. These are Forka and Keto. The father is a king, ruler, bearer of symbols of power and might, wealth and permission. Mother is a monster, a monster, omnipotent and invulnerable, ferocious and merciless. Both of these images, as a reflection of the family, as a reflection of Anima and Animus, do not contribute to the development of a healthy self. If we say that a monster is madness, aggression, everything that the world looks at with horror and disgust, then this can be interpreted as something already inherent in the blood, as evidenced by the deformity of the Gorgon sisters. But she, as stated in the myth, had a human appearance. This is a manifestation of the father's side, since according to the myth he was the man. But it was precisely this human nature of Medusa that provoked Poseidon, the image of power and permissiveness, to violence against her and the curse of her by Athena, whose image here can be interpreted as giving an assessment of what is happening. This could be the image of an important relative, or even one of the parents taking an evaluative position. But now let's look at what is happening from a slightly different angle: what, in this case, makes Medusa return to her sisters and become a monster, ruthless and full of aggression? Why does this happen: because of the violence of Poseidon? or because of Athena's curse? or due to the true nature of Medusa? In our opinion, unlike previous situations, where the triad “violence - non-acceptance - pain” were the triggers, here the most important thing is the “heritage”, what was taken in childhood or even at the prenatal level. Although the same triad is the trigger, the basis of this image is already laid at the level of a person’s culture and family.
As mentioned above, it is the image of the “monster” that is transmitted at the family level. And then the personality traits that are not accepted by society are secondary, a consequence of the internal “monster”. Deep down, the conflict between the “ruthless mother” and the “overbearing father” comes to the fore. Both of these images interfere with the development and normal existence of the litaman. "Overbearing father"
who could not protect from “violence”, with his “human face” changes to a “ruthless mother”, so that one can no longer just live, but fight and destroy everyone: enemies and friends, guilty and innocent.
But the irrationality, even the destructiveness of such a position is demonstrated in the death of Medusa. Those values and traits that she replaced, displacing others, led to the murder of Medusa, which can manifest itself in the destruction and division of the Self. Such dissociation is a direct consequence of the conflict described above. The way to prevent repression and dissociation of the Self is to integrate the parts and recognize the power of the “father,” but not his omnipotence, and the power of the “mother,” but not her “normality.” Perhaps, as a result of this, or perhaps as a separate way of defeating internal demons, this is precisely a certain form of dissociation, but not of parts of the Self, but the separation of one’s Self from the parent, which can precisely symbolize the cutting off of the head.
In conclusion, we will analyze the last episode of interest to us in the myth, which, in our opinion, is universal for all three analyses. This is the murder of Medusa. Let's start with the end of the myth, which talks about the children of Medusa. They were two creatures, one of which is Pegasus, considered a symbol of freedom. In our case - freedom from the dominance of the Medusa archetype. To kill Medusa, Perseus used the shield as a mirror. In practice, it is necessary to show the litaman his behavior, as if in a mirror. As a rule, this is already enough to make the litaman think. However, the deeper this archetype is from the surface of consciousness, the less effective this technique will be at first, and the more difficult it will be to get into the abode of Medusa. For this purpose, Perseus turned to the sisters of Medusa. Likewise, when working with a litaman, you can turn to his experience, for example, as a family member.
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The Myth of Scylla and Charybdis
The myth of Scylla and Charybdis was extremely popular in the ancient world. It was these monsters that the legendary Odysseus had to face. As it turned out, the ancients did not exaggerate the mortal danger of approaching the place where monsters lay in wait for sailors.
Scylla and Charybdis, who lived on both sides of a narrow strait, destroyed the ships that sailed between them.
Homer's Odyssey gives a description of these monsters.
“...The ship sailed calmly further and further, but suddenly I heard a terrible noise in the distance and saw smoke. I knew it was Charybdis. My comrades got scared, let go of the oars, and the ship stopped. I walked around my companions and began to encourage them.
- Friends! We have experienced many troubles, we have avoided many dangers, - so I said, - the danger that we have to overcome is no worse than the one we experienced in the cave of Polyphemus. Don’t lose courage, lean harder on the oars! Zeus will help us avoid death. Direct the ship further away from the place where smoke is visible and a terrible noise is heard. Drive closer to the cliff!
I encouraged my companions. They leaned on the oars with all their might. He didn’t tell them anything about Scylla. I knew that Scylla would snatch six of my companions from me, and in Charybdis we would all die. I myself grabbed a spear and began to wait for Scylla’s attack.
The ship sailed quickly along the narrow strait. We saw how Charybdis absorbed sea water; waves bubbled around her mouth, and in her deep belly, as if in a cauldron, sea water, mud and earth boiled. When she spewed out water, it bubbled around with a terrible roar, and salty spray flew up to the very top of the cliff. Pale with horror, I looked at Charybdis. At this time, the terrible Scylla stretched out all her six necks and grabbed six of my companions with her six huge mouths with three rows of teeth. I only saw how their arms and legs flashed in the air, and heard how they called for my help. At the entrance to her cave, Scylla devoured them; in vain the unfortunates stretched out their hands to me in prayer. With great difficulty we passed Charybdis and Scylla and sailed to the island of the god Helios - Trinacria..."
Now we know that we were talking about a narrow strait between Sicily and the mainland, today called Messina.
The myth of Scylla and Charybdis has haunted sailors for centuries, who accepted it as truth. And how could one not accept it if the ancient Roman poet Virgil Maro proved the reality of the existence of these monsters: “It is better to spend several days going around this damned place, just not to see the terrible Scylla and her black dogs in a gloomy cave, from whose howling the rocks are crumbling... »
But in those days there were also attempts to really explain the difficulties of sailing through the Strait of Messina. Pompilius Mela noted that the Strait of Sicily is very narrow and the strong current in it is directed alternately to the Etruscan Sea (today the Tyrrhenian Sea) and then to the Ionian Sea, which creates a particular danger. Scylla is a rocky cape, next to which is the village of Scylla.
It’s true, the Strait of Messina is quite narrow: in the northern part its width barely reaches 3500 m. It has strong tidal currents, the speed of which reaches 10 km/h. Huge whirlpools often form here. All this gave rise to the myth of Scylla and Charybdis.
But what about the columns of smoke and the terrifying roar? The Apennine Peninsula (especially its southern part), as well as Sicily, is a zone of increased seismic activity. During the 17th-19th centuries alone, more than 20 destructive earthquakes occurred in the area of the Strait of Messina. There is no more dangerous place in this regard in the entire Mediterranean basin. For example, on February 5, 1763, the earthquake lasted only 2 minutes, but this was enough to level most villages in Calabria and northeastern Sicily.
At the same time, large sections of the coast slid into the sea, water was seething in the sea whirlpools, mixed with earth, vegetation, and mud (just like in the story of Odysseus). In Messina alone, 30 thousand people died. An earthquake, seaquake, and tsunami swelled the waters of the strait so much that the bottom was exposed. In total, over 100 thousand people died on that terrible day (according to other sources - 160 thousand). Similar catastrophes occurred here in ancient times, as Homer probably heard about when he described the atrocities of Scylla and Charybdis.
)))))Lazy)))Well, how can you not give up the temptation?
Homer mentions only one rut, but Hesiod speaks of three - sisters Steno, Euryale and Medusa. Stheno and Euryale are immortal, and only mortal.
One of the later myths about the origin of the Gorgons says the following.
In ancient times, the sisters Stheno, Euryale and Medusa were red sea maidens. One day the lord of the seas, Poseidon, saw the gorgon Medusa and fell in love with her. The Olympians did not like this - Medusa was too beautiful and proud, and rivalry with the gods is unforgivable for mere mortals. Medusa's carelessness and happy laughter aroused anger in the soul of the warrior goddess Athena. Athena cruelly punished Medusa and her sisters, turning them into winged monsters.
The gorgon sisters took refuge on a remote island, lost in the ocean. And people told each other terrible stories about cruel and bloodthirsty gorgons. Everyone quickly forgot about the former beauty of the gorgons and waited impatiently for the hero to appear who would rid the world of the disgusting Medusa, under whose gaze all living things turn to stone. For such was the will of Athena.
It fell to the hero Perseus, the son of Zeus, to defeat Medusa. The gods helped Perseus by equipping him for the journey with winged sandals, an invisibility helmet and a bag that took on the size and shape of the object that was placed in it. Athena presented the hero with a shiny round shield.
Swiftly, like a bird, Perseus flew over the ocean. And here in front of him is a rocky island, washed by leaden waters. The sisters sleep peacefully, unaware of the danger. They dream that they are again splashing in the gentle waves as free sea maidens. Gorgons smile in their sleep. Their golden feathers and scales sparkle in the sun. Snakes move on their heads.
Circling over Perseus Island. How can he defeat Medusa if he cannot meet her gaze?
And suddenly the hero’s gaze fell on a shiny shield - a gift from Athena. Like a mirror, the shield reflected both the sea and the rocks. Perseus rejoiced. Now he can fight the gorgons. The young man rushed down. The sword flashed, and Medusa's head was in the hands of Perseus. A stream of scarlet blood gushed from the neck of the headless Medusa, and from it - lo and behold! - the winged, dazzling white horse Pegasus appeared and after him - Chrysaor (Golden Bow). They soared into the blue and disappeared from sight. The hero threw Medusa's head into his bag and flew away. The gorgons Stheno and Euryale woke up. They saw the headless body of their younger sister and realized that the harsh Athena had completed her revenge. With a cry of horror, the gorgons soared over the island. They wanted to take revenge on the killer, to tear him to pieces with steel claws. But it's too late.
Perseus, invisible in his magic cap, flew away from the island, carrying the battle trophy in his bag. Soon the warrior Athena herself attached the head of Medusa to her shield (Aegis).
Ancient Greek mythology was reflected in culture: ancient painters depicted gods, monsters and titans with oil paints on canvas, and sculptors carved heroes from marble. Modern creators continue to admire the culture of the inhabitants of the southeastern state. And, of course, the terrifying Gorgon Medusa still continues to inspire artists and directors to new feats.
History of appearance
Medusa is one of the Gorgon sisters, monsters who had poisonous snakes instead of hair. In the later version of the myth, which was conveyed in a work called “Metamorphoses,” the reason for the appearance of mystical creatures was.
The fact is that the angry goddess of organized war turned Medusa and her sisters into monsters after the ruler of the sea waves, who turned into a bird, took possession of Medusa in the temple of the goddess - there Medusa was hiding from persecution. Before her “reincarnation,” Medusa was an attractive girl with beautiful hair.
However, there is another variation of the legend, according to which the sisters of the unfortunate snake-haired girl - Euryale and Stheno - themselves wanted to become monsters out of compassion for their relative. They were immortal, while Medusa died from the sword of her son -. According to another version, the gorgons were the children of Typhon and Echidna.
In addition, some researchers have presented their own hypotheses about monsters. Scientists believe that gorgons are spirits of storms and cold winters, which periodically visit Boreas, located in the north of Ancient Greece.
However, this is not surprising, because from the gaze of Medusa and her sisters, even the water is covered with thin ice, and the Gorgons themselves fly through the air faster than the wind. The otherworldly nature of the relatives is indicated by the fact that they were given birth to by Forkis and Keto, that is, the foremother of sea monsters and the personification of the stormy sea. This means that Gorgons are chthonic monsters - creatures that originally personified the natural power of the earth, the embodiment of the hostile elements of water and air.
Others find a certain “dragon-like” appearance in the appearance of the Gorgons. The sisters' entire body was covered with scales as strong as steel, which only a sword could cut; their mouth was decorated with sharp fangs, and their fingers were long claws. The person who encountered these monsters on the way was unlucky: they tore the unfortunate man’s flesh and drank his blood. Some believed that gorgons only killed men. Scientists point to Medusa's resemblance to characters such as the old snake, which appeared in Slavic myths.
Russian and Soviet philosopher Yakov Golosovker believed that the Gorgons, along with the Grays and other mystical creatures, are the remnants of the pre-Olympic pantheon, but in the minds of the Greeks they gradually turned into monsters, which was facilitated by the influence of the “Olympians”. The ancients believed that the gorgons embodied the danger emanating from the distant West.
Medusa Gorgon in myths
Of the three sisters, only Medusa the Gorgon could turn all living things into stone. She literally enchanted with her own gaze. Perhaps the heroine of ancient Greek myths would have lived a quiet life in the far West near the banks of the Ocean River and fed on people, but Perseus killed the mortal Gorgon.
The son of Zeus was unlucky from birth. His grandfather King Acrisius received a prediction from the oracle that he was destined to fall at the hands of his own grandson. Therefore, initially he did not allow potential suitors near his daughter Danae, and when the girl had a son from the cunning Zeus, the owner of the crown imprisoned his daughter and grandson in a box and threw it into the sea.
The wooden box sailed to the island of Seriphos, which was ruled by Polydectes. The king fell in love with the beautiful Danaya, who did not reciprocate his feelings. Then the ruler wanted with all his might to gain the woman’s attention, and in her young son Perseus the king saw an obstacle preventing him from accomplishing his plan. One day, Polydectes allegedly doubted the divine origin of a young man, so he asked him to perform a similar feat and bring the head of Medusa. Perseus, wanting to prove to the ruler his blood connection with the thunderer Zeus, set off on a journey.
The ancient Greek hero could not have dealt with the monsters alone, so Athena and Hermes contributed to his heroic feat. The goddess of war gave Perseus a polished copper shield, in which everything was reflected as if in a mirror, and the young man received a curved sword from the patron of trade.
On the advice of his allies, Perseus went to the prophetic old women Graia (sisters of the Gorgons), who between them had one tooth and one eye. By cunning, the young man stole their secret things and then exchanged the loot for an invisibility cap, winged sandals and a magic bag. Among other things, the old women showed him the way to the Gorgons.
Having walked through terrible and dense forests, Perseus found the refuge of Medusa and her sisters. Using his enchanted attributes, he cut off Medusa's head, put it in a bag and ran away from the angry Gorgons. Since Perseus looked at the monster with the help of a shield, he did not turn to stone.
It is worth noting that Medusa’s abilities survived even after her death: everyone who looked at her severed head turned into a lifeless block of marble. Perseus took advantage of this, saving Andromeda and destroying the kingdom of Polydectes.
According to legend, during the duel with Perseus, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon. Therefore, when she was beheaded, her children came out with a stream of blood - the winged horse Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor. The hero hid the Gorgon's head in a bag, and while traveling through Libya, the blood seeped through the fabric and turned into poisonous snakes that destroyed all life in this hot place. And from the flow of blood that fell into the waters, corals appeared - this is what the local legend says.
The god of medicine and healing, Asclepius, used the blood of Medusa. According to legend, the one that flowed from the left side of the head was poisonous and killed everyone alive in the blink of an eye, while the other, flowing from the right hemisphere, saved people’s lives.
Film adaptations
Famous directors also admire the myths of Ancient Greece, which migrated from the works of writers to the big screen. Let's consider popular cinematic works with the participation of Medusa the Gorgon.
Director Chris Columbus, whose track record includes films about, brought the writer’s book to the screens in the film “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief” (2010). The plot tells the story of a demigod, the son of Poseidon, who lives in modern America. When the boy learned of his divine origin, he faced a series of troubles.
The antagonist Medusa Gorgon was played by a favorite
They are very entertaining and interesting. The most powerful civilization at one time described the interaction of the gods of Olympus and ordinary people. Tales about various heroes played an important role in the myths of the ancient Greeks. One of such famous characters is Perseus (Greece). He is credited with defeating the deadly monster Medusa the Gorgon. The ancient Greek legend about Perseus will be briefly told in the article.
Birth of a Hero
In ancient times, the sayings of oracles were of great importance to the ancient Greeks. The ruler of Argos, Acrisius, tried to avoid the predicted fate by imprisoning his own daughter Danae, who was famous for her unearthly beauty. According to the prediction, the king was supposed to die at the hands of his grandson. However, the measures taken by Acrisius did not become a difficult obstacle for the great Zeus, who penetrated into the hard-to-reach place where Danae was kept, under the guise of golden rain. The son born from the thunder god was named Perseus. The news of the birth of Perseus greatly frightened the king of Argos. He ordered Danae and the baby to be put in a box, after which they were beaten tightly and thrown into the sea.
Serif
The myths of Ancient Greece about Perseus tell that it was not easy for the little future hero and his mother. After long wanderings across the endless expanses of the sea, the boarded up box, thanks to the roaring waves, finally landed on the shore of the island of Serif. At that time, the fisherman Dictis was throwing his fishing nets into the water. It was he who became the savior of Danae and Perseus. After opening the box, the fisherman’s surprise knew no bounds, because he clearly did not expect to see a beautiful woman and a cute baby. Subsequently, Dictys decided to show them to his brother Polydectes, who ruled Serif.
Danaë and Polydectes
The king of the island, Polydectes, welcomed Danae and her son. He left them to live in his luxurious palace. Thus, Perseus spent his childhood and youth under the tutelage of King Polydectes on Serif.
Over time, the young man became strong and slender. Perseus was noticeably different from his peers in his divine beauty, strength, dexterity and courage. Not a single guy on the island could compare with him in anything.
Polydectes could not resist the unearthly beauty of Danae. That is why the king wanted to take her as his wife. However, Perseus was categorically against such a marriage, making every effort to prevent it from taking place. Because of this, Polydectes disliked him and decided to get rid of the only obstacle on the way to his cherished goal. Perseus was tasked with going to a distant land to behead the Gorgon Medusa. No mortal has yet managed to survive an encounter with a terrible monster. Therefore, King Polydectes prepared a one-way mission for Perseus.
Medusa Gorgon and her sisters
According to the myths of Ancient Greece, the sea deity Phorcys and his sister Keto had three daughters who looked like snake-haired monsters. Euryale and Stheno were immortal from birth, and only their younger sister Medusa remained vulnerable.
According to legend, Medusa the Gorgon was a pretty girl with beautiful hair. Trying to find protection from Poseidon's advances, she hid in the temple of Athena. However, God still managed to penetrate the girl’s shelter in the form of a bird and take possession of her. The angry goddess took out her anger on Medusa, turning her into a terrible monster with snake-like hair.
Medusa Gorgon, unlike her sisters, although she was not immortal, could fascinate people with her gaze. Her amazing gift served as a deadly weapon. It was enough for a person to see the direct gaze of the Gorgon Medusa, as he instantly turned into a stone statue.
Perseus fees
According to the myths about Perseus, the various gods of Olympus provided the hero with great help. Among his patrons, it is worth noting Athena, who was known for her hatred of Medusa the Gorgon. The god Hermes, his half-brother, also played an important role in equipping the hero. Thus, before the journey, Perseus became the owner of very valuable artifacts.
The hero received a metal shield from Athena. It was so smooth that it was practically indistinguishable from a mirror. Hermes handed him a sharp weapon. Perseus's sword, like soft wax, cut even the hardest steel.
Journey of Perseus
The young hero needed to get to the western edge of the earth, because that’s where the Gorgons lived. Perseus had to go through many countries and see various peoples on the way to a dark place.
To find out the exact location of Medusa, the hero had to outwit the three Gray sisters, who shared one tooth and one eye. Perseus waited in ambush for an opportune moment while one gray-haired old woman was handing over the only eye to another, and with a quick movement he intercepted it. The sisters had no choice but to tell Persia the location of the Gorgons.
Before the battle with Medusa the Gorgon, Perseus visited the inhabitants of the legendary northern country of Hyperborea. They made a solemn sacrifice for the god Apollo, and also presented Perseus with a Hades cap made of dog skin. It made it possible to make its owner completely invisible. In ancient Greek mythology, the hat was of great importance, because it was often used by the gods themselves. Perseus was also given magic sandals, with which he could quickly soar above the ground. The donated bag had the magical ability to change in size depending on the volume of things placed inside. Having put the sandals and hat of Hades into it, Perseus went to the decisive battle.
Battle with Medusa the Gorgon
Thanks to the magic sandals, Perseus managed to cross the sea and get to the island where the snake-haired monsters lived. When the hero managed to find the Gorgons, they were all asleep, to his happiness. The mirror-polished shield served Perseus as eyes. With its help, he was able to clearly see the sleeping sisters with steel scales and golden wings. Only the snakes on the Gorgons' heads moved a little.
The myth of Perseus and Medusa the Gorgon says that the hero’s task was complicated by the fact that the deadly sisters were like two peas in a pod. The slightest mistake could cost lives, because only one of them did not have immortality. However, even here the gods of Olympus came to his aid. Quick Hermes told Perseus the exact location of Medusa. Using the mirror shield donated by Athena, the hero cut off the Gorgon's head with one blow with his sharp sword.
Perseus's path home
The myths of Ancient Greece about Perseus contain information that, having thrown Medusa’s head into a magic bag, the hero hastened to quickly get away from the ominous island. However, the body of his victim fell from a cliff into the sea, thereby awakening the two Gorgons. Thanks to Hades' hat, the hero managed to avoid death from winged monsters and leave the island unhindered.
Perseus's way home lay through Libya. Drops of blood flowed from the severed head of Medusa to the ground, which turned into poisonous snakes. Subsequently, Libya turned into a desert country.
The next place on the way home was the refuge of Atlas, who, like the apple of his eye, protected a tree with golden branches, leaves and apples. The giant was predicted by the goddess Themis that his fruits would be stolen by the son of Zeus. Tired Perseus asked Atlas to take a break. However, the giant, because of the prophecy, ordered him to leave. After this, the angry hero pulled Medusa's head out of his bag and turned Atlas into a huge stone statue, which began to constantly support the entire vault of heaven.
Rescue Andromeda
In Ethiopia, the hero decided to take a break after a difficult flight. Just then the lovely girl Andromeda had to atone for the guilt of her stupid and arrogant mother. Queen Cassiopeia was proud of her beauty, declaring to everyone that she was the most beautiful. The nymphs begged Poseidon to punish the ruler of Ethiopia and her entire country. The sea god, as his punishment, sent a gigantic monster that rose from the depths and devastated everything in its path.
According to the statement of the oracle of Zeus, only the sacrifice of Andromeda could put an end to Poseidon's punishment. However, before the death of the beautiful girl, pale with horror, Perseus arrived in time. At the sight of Andromeda, a strong feeling of love burned in the hero’s heart. Perseus invited her parents to marry their daughter, promising to save her. Having received an approving response, the hero entered into a stubborn confrontation with the sea monster, striking him one blow with his sword after another. After the end of the terrible battle, all the inhabitants of Ethiopia glorified Perseus.
Perseus' wedding
On the eve of the wedding ceremony, the hero made rich sacrifices to his patrons from Olympus. A luxurious feast took place in the royal palace, which was covered with greenery and flowers in honor of the newlyweds. All the people also feasted with the rulers of Ethiopia. During the feast, Perseus told the guests about his exploits. However, the wedding feast was ruined after Andromeda's first groom appeared with a large army. Phineus in the palace began to accuse the hero of stealing his bride, after which a desperate battle began. Perseus bravely fought against superior enemy forces, but was able to win only with the help of the head of Medusa. Thus, the statue of Phineus with an expression of fear and slavish prayer in his eyes remained forever in the palace.
Return to Serif and revenge on Polydectes
Perseus did not stay long in Ethiopia after the bloody battle. Together with his beautiful wife, he hurried to return to his native island. Perseus's mother was in despair at this time, because she had to constantly hide in the temple of Zeus from Polydectes. The angry Perseus decided to get even with the king of Serif. Entering the palace, Perseus found him at a luxurious feast. Polydectes' surprise knew no bounds, because the king could not even doubt the victory of the Gorgons. The hero told those present that he had brought the head of Medusa. The ruler of Serif did not believe Perseus and began to accuse him of lying. When the hero’s cup of patience was overflowing due to the bullying of Polydectes and his friends, he took his head out of the bag and showed everyone irrefutable proof. After this, the king and all those who feasted instantly turned into stone statues.
A prediction that came true
Danae and Perseus wanted to meet with Acrisius, who continued to rule Argos. However, he, fearing the oracle’s prediction, did not allow his daughter and grandson into his house. Many years later, at the Olympic Games, Perseus accidentally launched a disk to the audience. A heavy projectile instantly killed Acrisius, thereby fulfilling the oracle's prophecy.
The myth of Perseus in cinema
The famous feat of the famous hero was successfully transferred to the cinema. In 1981, the feature adventure film “Clash of the Titans” was shot in the USA. The film was directed by Desmond Davis. And although the American film was somewhat different from the ancient Greek myths, the film adaptation of the feat of Perseus was a tremendous success. The sea monster in Clash of the Titans was called the Kraken, which was borrowed from Norse mythology. If in the myth snakes appeared from the blood of Medusa, then in the film - scorpions. In any case, the audience really liked the film, and the special effects, for 1981, were simply excellent.
In 2010, the American film industry decided to update the film adaptation of the myth about the feat of Perseus. The remake of the 1981 film was also called Clash of the Titans. Louis Leterrier was appointed director, and Sam Worthington played the main role. In addition to the traditional version, the film was also shown in 3D format. While the 1981 film adaptation cost $15 million, the remake's budget was $125 million. The 2010 film was overall successful, grossing $493 million.
The creators of the remake also made changes to ancient Greek myths. The god Hades was presented in the film as a negative character who hated people and opposed himself to Zeus. However, Perseus, thanks to the head of Medusa, managed to cope with the Kraken and send Hades back to the underworld. Instead of ruling Argos or moving to Olympus, the brave hero wanted to enjoy an ordinary human life.
Thus, thanks to the myth of Perseus, you can learn about the legendary feat of the greatest hero of Ancient Greece. American film adaptations will allow everyone to plunge into the exciting atmosphere of adventure and battles with various monsters.
