She is also seen as a protective figure, and her head is often used as a symbol of strength and power. In addition to this, the medusa can help people regain their spiritual fervor and sensitivity. Ancient Greek artists originally portrayed Medusa as an almost comically hideous figure, with a lolling tongue, full beard, and bulging eyes. This image of Medusa began to shift when mustache stubble was replaced by smooth cheeks, and fangs concealed by shapely lips, as Classical artists began to feminize her once again. The name Medusa means 'sovereign female wisdom,' 'guardian / protrectress,' 'the one who knows' or 'the one who rules.' It derives from the same Indo-European root as the Sanskrit Medha and the Greek Metis, meaning 'wisdom' and 'intelligence.' (1) Metis, 'the clever one', is Athena's mother. "In a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women," she said. It has the divine power to protect you from harm. Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art, in a 2017 essay on Medusa in Ancient Greek Art, which you can also hear on the Mets site, From Ancient Egypt to Teotihuacn, Centuries-Old Palettes Illuminate the Role of the Painter, Tucked Away in LA For Decades, 2,000-Year-Old Roman Mosaic Returns to Italy, Manhattan DA to Seize Looted Hindu Artifact From Met Museum, Roe v. Wade Case Documents Fetch Over $600K at Auction, At the Outsider Art Fair, Passion Trumps Prestige, The Photography Show Presented by AIPAD Arrives in New York. In the original tale, Poseidon . Seventeen contemporary artists of the African Diaspora explore how movement and migration shape their artistic practices and lives. 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. Studio of Antonio Canova, Head of Medusa (Rome, 1806-07), plaster cast with modern metal rod (courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fletcher Fund, 1967). Image Courtesy: pixabay.com. She is transformed from a seeing subject to merely seen object, a demeaned and faceless body. I heard somewhere (that is not a very reliable source I know) that the story of Medusa is actually a story ancient Greek women would look to for empowerment. They were described as being "winged With snakes for hair" and having a . This gorgeous black and gray tattoo is of Athena, the Greek Goddess. The beginning of the cycle represents an opportunity to bring in new life while the later parts represent the end of life. The evil eye bracelet is great for protecting people from evil stares. Listed below are the top 11 most important Symbols of Female Strength: Table of Contents [ show] 1. Yes, Medusa is a protection symbol. The Medusa tattoo features a snake-haired young woman, representing the might of women. 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. She is telling you that you will never have to suffer what she endured. Therefore, seeing medusa might be telling you to embrace your inner beauty. 9 Meanings, 9 Vertigo Spiritual Meanings: Random Dizziness. Thereby, to castrate a man is to severe his most vital organ; and to decapitate a woman is to take her most vital source of power. Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. However, the spiritual world can communicate different messages to you. Use this symbol to keep you safe on your travels as did ancient sailors who would paint it on the sides of their boats. The goddess's shield has a gorgon head in the center. The meaning of Medusa is powerful. Ive seen a lot of variations of her myths that paint her as a vengeful monster, a symbol of feminine rage, or a protective one. Protection symbols are the specific signs that people use to safeguard against evil and negative energies, especially to have a strong spiritual and ritual impression in mind. Zeus represented power, Hades represented fairness in death, but what did a mortal who turned into a monster, like Medusa, represent? Medusa was a beautiful woman who was raped, killed and beheaded by various gods. 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. She helps females to attain their primes and become who they choose to be. Passionate about spirituality, numerology and spiritual accounts. It was this sort of power dangerous, beautiful, and connected to women that both ancients and more modern people felt needed curtailing, oftentimes at the end of a sword. As weve mentioned, the myth of Medusa can be interpreted in various ways, but I think perhaps the most fascinating analysis is done through a feminist perspective because it unveils just how swift we are to circumvent female rage. The story of Medusa continues to provoke renewed perspectives on its symbolism including through the lens of feminism and psychoanalysis. She turned anyone unlucky enough to stare directly at her face into stone. Crypto Required fields are marked *. The Gorgon was also a representation of protection and had symbols. You can either pray to her or keep her image with you. You can keep medusas image with you to remind you of the danger of unfaithfulness. The first depiction of Medusa can be dated back from a poem by Homer as being part of the three gorgon sisters, Stheno and Euryale. Medusa is so alluring to us, because she is the image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness. She is seductive to us in her contemporary application and dimensionality. image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness. She was regarded as the patron and protector of various cities across Greece, especially Athens, from which she gets her name. To this moment, her beautiful face remains even with the snake on her head. She keeps evil far away from her. and rebirth and can be inked as a symbol of protection, warding off evil and keeping the wearer safe from harm. This week, a Black Southern quilt collection is donated to a Mississippi museum, the fascinating AI-generated ceramic glazes, a map of Italian Fascist monuments, and can clothing ever truly be recycled? For more often than not, shes depicted just as a severed head a visual that even has its own name,the Gorgoneion sculpted, painted, or carved being held aloft by her slayer Perseus. He then employs her head and its stony glare as a weapon, a tool he subsequently gives to the goddess Athena who wore it on her armor. The earliest portrayals of Medusa show a grotesque part human, part animal creature with wings and boar-like tusks. 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). Her symbols were a shield that frequently appeared above her head in ancient hieroglyphics which was why she was killed with a reflective shield in Greek mythology. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Hellenism (Greek: Ellinisms, Latin: Hellenismus), also less frequently called Olympianism (Greek: Olympianisms, Latin: Olympianismus) or Dodekatheism (Greek: Dodekathesms, Latin: Duodecimdeismus), is the traditional polytheistic and animistic orthopraxic religion, lifestyle, aesthetics, and ethos of the ancient Graeco-Roman world, and is the indigenous religion of the common Greek and Latin cultural sphere. Now, many are claiming that Medusa is not an evil figure, but a strong person who had to overcome enormous pain and trauma. The curse was meant to punish medusa, but it eventually became leverage for other spiritual things. In Medusas story, the Gorgon was born a beautiful mortal among her hideous immortal siblings which people saw as a blessing for her. In ancient Egyptian society, the Eye of Horus (Wadjet) was widely used as a symbol of protection, restoration, and royal power. I aim to share everything I know about history on this blog, hope you enjoy reading too! It is believed that she became a goddess after the curse was pronounced. Freud considered that as a result, she became the unapproachable woman who repels all sexual desire by carrying (symbolically) the genitals of the mother. Born of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, it is often forgotten that Medusa herself is a goddess of the sea. On view in NYC. This prompted the curse she sustains till this moment. 9 Spiritual Meanings, 11 Ankh Spiritual Meanings: Egyptian Cross Symbol, Triangle Spiritual Meaning: 11 Symbolisms (Its Good or Bad? Medusa can be a symbol of female strength and safety for women. The Hamsa is a talisman from the ancient Middle East. Statues of Medusa were used to guard Pagan Greek temples. Medusa represents feminine power. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgoneion. . Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art continues through January 6, 2019 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, Manhattan). It is only with help from all of the gods that Perseus is able to not only kill but fully decapitate her. According to Ferenczi,1 the head of the Medusa is a terrible symbol of the female genital region displaced from below upwards. One of the versions of Medusa has 3 different interpretations. It might come as a surprise but the name Medusa actually means to protect and this actually reflects in the mythology. By the fifth century BCE, that figure from Greek myth began to morph into an alluring seductress, shaped by the idealization of the body in Greek art. The stories of ancient Greek and Roman mythology have, over the years, been rediscovered, repurposed, and reinterpreted in more modern contexts. Medusa was one of three daughters born with extraordinary beauty and stunning hair. 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. The closest alternative to the evil eye bracelet is the medusas bracelet. Texas Zero Property Tax Bill Has Extreme, Discriminatory Catches, Eurovision 2023 Tickets Announced on Ticketmaster, Celebrating Womens History With Qiu Jin, Chinese Revolutionary, The Penguin Tells a Batverse Scarface Story. Her snakes have also made her one of the most popular characters from Greek mythology, with her modern depictions being widely used in modern media. This is a powerful combo to enjoy protection from the evil eye. Lotus Flower (Asia) Red lotus flower. What are your opinions on Medusa as a symbol of protection? The reason for this is that the origin of philosophy and science is traceable to her. The word means "protect, rule over" with Medusa meaning "guardian" or "protectress." Perseverance Some will get tattoos of Medusa's severed head, or Perseus holding it, as a representation of perseverance. Gaia Symbol of fertility, power, and creation. It takes a high level of creativity to achieve this feat. [5] Protection [ edit] She may also be accessed as a living goddess by those seeking menstrual, serpentine mysteries. Protection Symbol #9 The Eye of Horus. There is an alluring nature to Medusa, as she is both siren and saint she is the complicated woman we all understand and fear. Press J to jump to the feed. From a feminist perspective, Medusas story seems a cautionary tale of the symbolic decapitation of women and a loss of ones power. Modern women and pagans realize just how powerful Medusa's story is and what it means to women, trans women, the downtrodden and oppressed today. She swore an oath of commitment but did not stay true to it. The most common interpretation of Medusa suggests she is an apotropaic symbol used to protect from and ward off the negative, much like the modern evil eye. Oftentimes, this message comes with the message of wisdom and spiritual understanding because they are intertwined. Other shades of history claimed that Poseidon raped her because he could not resist her beauty. It means that medusa can encourage men to embrace their feminine selves. However, it also became a symbol of protection and safety. Before she was cursed for sleeping the Poseidon, medusa was a beautiful goddess and queen. She represents a dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil. Her luscious hair was her most defining feature and she wasnt shy of flaunting herself to others either. Medusa is both a symbolic and cultural figure for many, as she was cursed by Greek deities and later became a protectress and warden for them as a former worshipper of Athena. Different versions of a myth can grow in popularity, replacing others, and there ends up being no one singular original story. Keeping an image of medusa in front of your door wards off evil spirits. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. Up to that point that was Medusa was known for a monster that had the ability to turn her victims into stone. The Medusa head became a symbol of protection because it wards off invaders and turns anyone who gets top close into stone. Athena holds her head and Hades her soul. What does this mean? Other sacred animals to Poseidon were the . mustache stubble was replaced by smooth cheeks, and fangs concealed by shapely lips, a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women, represents a conflicting view of femininity, one that is seemingly alluring but with a threatening or sinister underside. The god of the sea and of earthquakes, Poseidon had also some animals sacred to him. Beauty, like monstrosity, enthralls, and female beauty in particular was perceived and, to a certain extent, is still perceived to be both enchanting and dangerous, or even fatal.. 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. This began with the greeks and later flowed down to every other culture. Have a tip or story idea? Silencing Powerful Women - The beheading of Medusa can be seen as symbolic of silencing powerful women who voice their sentiments. As Karoglou points out, the majority of hybrids (half-human, half-animal monsters like sirens or Gorgons) in ancient Greece were female. Now, the same generation has turned her into a feminist icon with a story too many can relate to; instead of being a symbol of fear, Medusa has become the symbol of justice for sexual assault victims. Ancient Egyptians used the Eye of Horus to provide protection. Like the evil eye, the Medusa is an apotropaic symbol that protects from evil. You only need to maintain a positive approach towards life and have a little faith. She is both feminine and monstrous. Finally, shes a triple goddess. 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. Save. Medusa slept with Poseidon in Athena's temple knowing the consequences, but did it anyways therefore Athena was right about punishing her. Athena did not only curse Medusa but also her sisters. Want more stories like this? Some people tend to connect Medusas story with self-reflection and link Medusa to the darkest parts of ones soul. However, the Greek evil eye talisman is believed to specifically protect against a malevolent glare - the "evil eye" - given to an unsuspecting person. If you also desire wisdom and deep understanding, keep a medusa bracelet with you and mediate on it constantly. All of this points to one thing, which is Intellectual power. The incomplete essay becomes far more phallocentric as it continues explaining how the sight of female genitalia instills fear of castration, how Medusas snake-like hair is (of course) a phallic symbol, and finally that Medusas ability to cause onlookers to become stiff, is a representation of an erection and therefore a confirmation of their manhood and of still having a penis it is in essence, their final confirmation of manhood. From ancient greek mythology, medusa is a goddess of art. Peruvian Man Found With Mummy He Called a Spiritual Girlfriend, Picker Art Gallery Presents the Works of William Earle Williams and Nona Faustine, Hito Steyerl to Deliver 2023 Wolgin Lecture at Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Preserving an Archive of Chicana and Lesbian History, Internet Goes Wild Over Outdoor Gym of Hindu Puppets, Museum Under Fire for Showing AI Version of Vermeer Masterpiece, The Society Photographer of NYCs Downtown Underground, Affordable Art Fair Returns to NYC With Contemporary Art Under $12,000, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. In 1976, Hlne Cixous, a noteworthy French feminist theorist, wrote an essay called The Laugh of the Medusa, in which she unpacks this myth. Medusa embodies menstruation's protective powers. In 1950 his uncompleted essay, Medusas Head, was posthumously published. The ability to understand science and ancient myths is also given by the goddess medusa. Her snakes are undoubtedly one of the better-known symbols in Greek mythology.

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