was medusa a symbol of protection for women This message is meant to keep you alert at all times. She is a woman who represents a conflicting view of femininity, one that is seemingly alluring but with a threatening or sinister underside. The femme fatale archetype has found permanence in our storytelling, and confirms to us that: to be both beautiful and fearsome to be a woman who has bodily autonomy and anger is not at all normative and that those women must be cast aside or have power taken from them. Up to that point that was Medusa was known for a monster that had the ability to turn her victims into stone. Phoenix Tattoos. All of this points to one thing, which is Intellectual power. The gorgons have some interesting lore, well beyond what you see in pop culture. Beyond the stories we have heard about this goddess, there are things to learn from her, which can be applied to our daily living. Many people have heard about Medusa and her tragic tale but not much is known about the Gorgon herself. Nowadays Medusas can be seen as a symbol of revenge against the male gaze. Medusa - Wikipedia However even in the face of tragedy and disgrace, the Medusa was portrayed as meaningful. Medusa embodies menstruation's protective powers. Within this context, it seems as if both the male genitalia and female head are their respective centers of power. The Gorgon was also a representation of protection and had symbols. This is why she has been made into many ceramics, golden, bronze, and silver sculptures unlike other goddesses. So basically, Im wondering which is the most accurate? Men back in the day didnt have the same level of respect for women as they do today because each gender had a different role in society. In a later version, as told by the Roman poet Ovid, Medusa is a beautiful human woman, who is turned into a monster by Athena as punishment after she is raped by Poseidon (woe to mortal women in mythology). This will also encourage you to always keep to your words. However, the spiritual world can communicate different messages to you. Medusa as a symbol for women's empowerment - Kelly Erin Medusa is the only one who is mortal and that is why the hero Perseus is sent to slay her. Medusa Legendary Snake Haired Gorgon of Greek Mythology Therefore, seeing medusa might be telling you to embrace your inner beauty. Jeenah Moon for The New York Times. In the Artemis temple of Corfu, Medusa is depicted in archaic form as a symbol of fertility with a belt of intertwined snakes on her body. Medusa was protective of her chastity and rejected Poseidons advances when the God tried to seduce her. The image of her severed head remains a powerful protective amulet. The clinical material cited in the above papers refers to male patients, except one case cited by Flugel. Medusa can be given to you as a sign and message. The Mythology Of Medusa Explained - Grunge.com Thankfully, we have collectively realized that the person who deserves to have his head cut off is Neptune, and hopefully one day that revenge fiction will be brought to the big screen. Pastimes include playing with words, using my passport, and eating croissants. The closest alternative to the evil eye bracelet is the medusas bracelet. It appears on numerous objects of applied art, such as earrings, cameo rings, and medallion necklaces, etc. In fact, the name Medusa is derived from the Greek verb that means "to guard" or "to protect." And at the end of the story, Athena takes Medusa's severed head and uses it as her own protection in future battle (a symbol for these dual aspects of a woman becoming integrated.) Ancient Egyptians used the Eye of Horus to provide protection. This is a powerful combo to enjoy protection from the evil eye. Now, many are claiming that Medusa is not an evil figure, but a strong person who had to overcome enormous pain and trauma. Her beauty and wisdom were her confidence and she was respected in the greek world of gods. But she forsook her vows to consummate the reciprocated love of Poseidon - God of the Sea. Although other greek mythology claimed that she was a priestess and one of the 3 monstrous gorgons, which are known as 3 winged females. Seems a little ironic that a monster like Medusa would be used as a way to keep family protected against the evils of the world. Medusa's head as a symbol of horror was classically worn upon her dress by the virgin goddess Athena. She is astute in the ways of protection and lends her guardianship to those who need her most. Reading Carol Ann Duffy's The World's Wife has got me thinking about historic women, particularly Medusa. Therefore, anytime you see this image around (during a confusing situation), it is a sign that you should pay close attention to. Through these renditions of her visage, Medusa is painted into a half-human, half-animal monster. Studio of Antonio Canova, Head of Medusa (Rome, 1806-07), plaster cast with modern metal rod (courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fletcher Fund, 1967). The archive, belonging to lawyer Linda Coffee, contains nearly 150 documents and letters related to the historic case. Therefore, to enhance your intellectual power, try keeping an image of medusa around you. Throughout all of her work, Cixous decries phallocentric storytelling and histories in which men and the psychoanalytic lens of phallic imagery are centered in womens stories. If humans werent so tempting then maybe most of the male gods wouldnt be serial rapists. Emailus. visittuscany.com The Medusa head became a symbol of protection because it wards off invaders and turns anyone who gets top close into stone. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three monstrous sisters comprised of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. Cal Poly State University - San Luis Obispo, California State University - Los Angeles, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, California State University, Channel Islands, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Federal University Of Agriculture Abeokuta, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico San German campus, Keiser University - Latin American Campus, London School of Economics and Political Science, California State University of Sacramento, Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, University of North Carolina - Wilmington, University of South Florida - St. Petersburg, William Paterson University of New Jersey. Her gaze became an omen of protection, the snake on her hair became an omen of wisdom, and she is revered all over the world. Though there is much to say about the tragedy of Medusa's story, she became a formidable foe. link to 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. Mishandling the Myth of Medusa. A Feminist Perspective on Medusa | by Did the monstrous Gorgon bear any children that 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. While she may be known for her monstrosity, her beauty remains just as dangerous. Dangerous Beauty boldly mingles objects from across centuries in the compact exhibition. Medusa: The Ancient Greek Myth of the Snake-Haired Gorgon - ThoughtCo In a new show, Nicole Marroquins artworks are in dialogue with the documentary photographs of Mexican-born artist Diana Sols. The curse was meant to punish medusa, but it eventually became leverage for other spiritual things. Allison C. Meier is a former staff writer for Hyperallergic. This is exactly why the story of Medusa continues to captivate us because she is a character that demands to be reimagined, she pushes back against the story that places Perseus at its center, who claims him to be blameless and heroic. Medusa, who was once thought of as a boastful mortal who deserved to be turned into a monster, is now seen in a more sympathetic view by modern standards. About US | Privacy Policy | Contact Information | Pinterest | Web Stories. Love this, I decided half an hour before seeing this post to get or make one myself, as an apotropaic symbol. This experimental and multidisciplinary solo exhibition in New York City exploring the sweetness of doing nothing closes on March 12. Of course, one must never mention psychoanalysis and phallic imagery without then mentioning Sigmund Freud, who, during the 20th century, wrote prolifically about the intersection of sexuality and psychology. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. While the wild red locks of Edvard Munchs 1902 lithograph The Sin (Woman with Red Hair and Green Eyes), or Dante Gabriel Rossettis Lady Lilith (1867) with the Pre-Raphaelite subject brushing her long hair, are more of a stretch in the narrative, they reinforce the ongoing artistic portrayal of women as dangerous through their looks or power. It looks particularly sexy on the back or thigh area, where the tattoo will draw attention to feminine body parts. An early 1800s plaster cast from the studio of Antonio Canova showspreparation for the marble statue that now presides over the Mets European Sculpture Court. 11 Important Symbols of Female Strength With Meanings Lotus Flower (Asia) Red lotus flower. She is the goddess of philosophy and blesses people with this wisdom. Shoulder Medusa Tattoo Fabio Mauro Symbol Sage points out, "The beheading of Medusa can be seen as symbolic of silencing powerful women who voice their sentiments." Further to this ability to turn people into stone, depictions of Medusa were used as a type of protection against evil. According to The Met Museum, Medusa is portrayed in most Greek art as an "apotropaic symbol used to protect and ward off the negative," representing a "dangerous threat meant to deter other. Before she was cursed for sleeping the Poseidon, medusa was a beautiful goddess and queen. As an ancient protection symbol, the Medusa in this way also symbolizes aspects of the mother goddess, especially as a child of Gaia, the creator. The phallocentric understanding of Medusa that attempts to claim her as an erotic object denies her of her full power of speech, thought, and importance. Can you now see the reason for her plight? Seventeen contemporary artists of the African Diaspora explore how movement and migration shape their artistic practices and lives. The meaning of Medusa is powerful. Upon witnessing this act the goddess Minerva turned Medusa into the snake hair monster with the cold-stone stare that we all know her as. Additionally, the snakes in her hair can symbolize wisdom, healing, and . Medusa: The Definitive Guide to the Greek Myth (2022) - MythologySource Several stories fly around concerning medusa, but we will attempt to extract messages from those stories. This reminded me of how her story, despite it being one where she gets decapitated, has been reclaimed as of late by feminist scholars. From Freuds telling, the entire story takes place through the perspective of the man in the story, reducing Medusa to something sub-human. Overall, yes it is okay, and I think I wish to work with her, too. Victim in Stone Benvenuto Cellini , Perseus with the Head of Medusa, 1545-1554, Florence. Today Medusa, with her snake hair and stare that turns people to stone, endures as an allegorical figure of fatal beauty, or a ready image for superimposing the face of a detested woman in power. It has the divine power to protect you from harm. In the myths, any mortal who set eyes upon it was immediately turned to stone. In recent years, Medusa has been reformed into a tragic figure who was slut-shamed and victim blamed, simply because punishing a male god (Neptune/Poseidon) would have been considered unthinkable. . When she's not reading at one of D.C's many coffeeshops she can also be found taking pictures of the different monuments. He poses the idea that to decapitate = to castrate. Through this framework, Freud posits that the female head is akin to her genitalia keeping in mind that Medusa did in fact give birth to her child from her severed neck. The answer you seek might just be around the corner. Her face looked like a monster, and venomous snakes made up her hair. Just like movies like clash of the titans, she is a powerful spiritual entity that exists in ancient greek mythology. It should help us to remain true to our words. People often come to secure their lives with some supernatural rituals and symbols when they do not feel secure with physical protection. As Elizabeth Johnston claims in her 2016 Atlantic essay, Medusa may be the original Nasty Woman. In 2020, it might be easy to chastise the women in the 90s who called Medusa the most horrific woman, but perhaps we would be better suited to remind ourselves just how recently things have begun to change. Top 24 Ancient Protection Symbols and Their Meanings - Give Me History In 1950 his uncompleted essay, Medusas Head, was posthumously published. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! It means that medusa can encourage men to embrace their feminine selves. The earliest portrayals of Medusa show a grotesque part human, part animal creature with wings and boar-like tusks. Renee Gladmans drawings convey that idea in a more visceral, less cerebral way. On funerary urns or armor, she was a talisman of protection, those eyes symbolically warding off evil. However, what people dont know is that medusas bracelet carries the same power. Her snakes are undoubtedly one of the better-known symbols in Greek mythology. According to various sources, Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal, so she was able to be beheaded by the Greek hero, Perseus. A 450440 BCE red figure pelike container is among the earliest depictions of Medusa as an innocent maiden, with Perseus creeping up on the sleeping Gorgon. Because Medusa refuses a fate of silence and subjectivity, Perseus is left with no option but to decapitate Medusa for wielding her power. Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of Medusas story is that she was pregnant with Poseidons child when she was killed. Medusa, in effect, became the archetypal femme fatale: a conflation of femininity, erotic desire, violence, and death, writesKiki Karoglou, associate curator in the Mets Department of Greek and Roman Art and organizer of Dangerous Beauty, in an issue of theMets quarterly Bulletinon the show. She and Mars are Cupid's parents. She was also a powerful representation of facing ones inner demons and how self-reflection can make you into a better person.