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Published on 09-01-2014 06:46 AM
With her serpentine hair and her deadly gaze, the Medusa has become a legend and a symbol for many generations. Born from Ancient Greek Mythology, the Medusa has been represented in art, literature, on stage and screen. She has made notable appearances in many of the most popular video game series, including Final Fantasy, Castlevania and as a hero in DotA2. Her story is both tragic and empowering.
Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, three of the daughters of the primordial sea god Phorcys and his sister/wife Ceto (oh, those ancients and their incest!). The early Greeks portrayed her and her sisters Stheno and Euryale of being monsters born with snakes for hair, grotesque features and wings of gold. To look upon them would turn one into stone. Of the three, only Medusa was mortal.
The classical Roman poet Ovid was portrayed her as an astounding beauty in Temple of Athena. She attracted the attention of the sea god Poseidon, who taking after the tradition began by he and his brother Zeus, raped Medusa. Athena, beginning the tradition of blaming the victim, transformed Medusa into a hideous monster, with snakes for hair, bronze claws and enraged eyes that could
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