In this work, Ovid describes Medusa as originally being a beautiful maiden. Athena was so mad she changed Medusa's beautiful hair into hissing serpents and made her into a horrible looking gorgon. © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. Born to the sea god Phorcys and Ceto (Phorcys’ wife and sister), Medusa (queen or ruler) was one … The story of Medusa as a world renowned beauty says she offended Athena, the beautiful goddess. 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Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal Not long after this, Perseus (Zeus' son) tried to rescue his mother Danae from King Polydectes by bringing back Medusa's head. Athena then took the head from Perseus and threw it into her shield where it remained. It is hard to say though. One day, Poseidon, the god of the Sea and rival to Athena, saw Medusa and decided to humiliate Athena by raping the priestess on the steps of Athena's temple. Fortnite. To make a long story short, Athena and Hermes helped him out by providing him with magic winged sandals, a curved sword to slice off her head and a shield. Being turned into a monster made Medusa very angry. Kids Encyclopedia Facts. She lived in a place called Athens in Greece. 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Test Your Knowledge on Christmas Sho... Quiz! Her sisters were immortal, so they could not die, but Medusa wasn't. One day, while she was in Athena's temple, she fooled around with Poseidon (Neptune,) which of course angered Athena. by James Baldwin. "Medusa has since haunted Western imagination, materializing whenever male authority feels threatened by female agency," writes Johnston. FREE (10) Swite Interactive Base 10 board. The story starts as Perseus' mother is imprisoned and re tells the events through to the death of his grandfather in Argos. PJ Masks. The more common version is by the Roman poet Ovid. Quiz! {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons Mini Myths: Brush Your Hair, Medusa! Medusa is a character in Greek mythology. The Latin poet Ovid writes in Book IV of his Metamorphoses that Poseidon had abused Medusa in the temple of Athena. One of the best stories to begin with is the story of Medusa. Services. This charm was based on Medusa, a character from several myths that the Greeks knew well. - The Myths Team) Many years ago there was a beautiful women called Medusa. He cut off her head to kill her. The Three Grey Sisters only have one eye between them - which they use in turn - and Perseus is able to turn this to his advantage to discover the location of Medusa. Medusa … They were monsters that were impossible to kill. Once upon a time, a long time ago there lived a beautiful maiden named Medusa. Perseus then wisely prayed to Athena to help him know what to do. 1 0 obj LW_9 "| ! Storyboard Text . They called upon a young man named Perseus to try to kill her. She had the face of a hideous woman, but had poisonous snakes on her head, instead of hair. There was a king of Argos who had but one child, and that child was a girl. Perseus was a famous Greek hero. The story of how Medusa was killed by Perseus is one of the most thrilling stories in Greek mythology. Ovid especially praises the glory of her hair, “most wonderful of all her charms.”. You and your child can easily retell this story using our full sized Mythical Realms® Medusa replica. The story of Medusa and the Greek goddess Athena A myth submitted to the site by Shainuja Many years ago there was a beautiful women called Medusa. The Quest of Medusa’s Head on Stories for Kids | I. When her head was taken from her body, it is said that her two children Chrysaor and Pegasus came to life and were born. The Story of Perseus. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} Perseus's grandfather - Akrisios - goes to the Oracle to ask how long he has to live. Anyone who looked at Medusa would now die. He was the son of Poseidon, the Lord of the Sea. You can find out more about this here. It was said that men who gazed upon her eyes would turn to stone instantly. There are a few different versions of this story (with different reasons why Perseus beheaded Medusa,) but the players all stay the same. Medusa – the only mortal among the Gorgon sisters – was also distinguished from them by the fact that she alone was born with a beautiful face. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. There were pretty girls there, and Medusa was one of them. Part of: Mini Myths (8 Books) | by Joan Holub and Leslie Patricelli | Mar 24, 2015 4.5 out of 5 stars 55 Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. Why would it be advantageous for jellies to have it? The Latin poet Ovid writes in Book IV of his Metamorphoses that Poseidon had abused Medusa in the temple of Athena. The Quest of Medusa’s Head I. Perseus plops Medusa's head in the kibisis and starts make his getaway. Medusa and her sisters were called the Gorgons. doc, 29 KB. From her head sprang the winged-horse Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor. She is killed by the hero Perseus, who cuts off her head.To the Greeks, Medusa is the leader of an ancient, older matriarchal religion that had to be obliterated; in modern culture, she represents vital sensuality and a power that is threatening to males. The first to emerge is Pegasus – one of the most famous creatures in all of mythology. credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. “Once Upon a Time” tells the story of a new world, one in which fairy-tale legends and modern life collide. Military-friendly Schools in South Florida, Graduate Degrees in Technical Writing in Texas, Civics & Government for Elementary School, Early United States History for Elementary School, Native American History for Elementary School, Ancient Civilizations for Elementary School, 20th Century World History for Elementary School, The Revolutionary War for Elementary School, 20th Century American History for Elementary School, Countries of the World for Elementary School, Famous World Landmarks for Elementary School, Civil Rights Activists for Elementary School, Praxis World & U.S. History - Content Knowledge (5941): Practice & Study Guide, Assessing Contributions of Important Figures in Early Western Civilization: Essay Prompts, Analyzing Empires & Societies in Early Western Civilization: Essay Prompts. It wasn’t always like that. In Greek mythology, a gorgon is a female monster (also known as a Gorgo.) When her head was taken from her body, it is said that her two children Chrysaor and Pegasus came to life and were born. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Medusa would kill whoever she looked at with her stare. The cruel king believed he would never see Perseus again. She asked permission of Athena to come south. succeed. She was so horrible that any living thing that looked upon her would turn to stone. Like Hercules, his father was the mighty Zeus, king of all the gods. For Adults. Fact 4: Legend says than Medusa spent some time wandering in Africa. The Medusa heads work sort of like a nightlight for a little kid who is scared of monsters. THE WOODEN CHEST. Medusa facts for kids. 'hope this would enlighten you. She lived in a place called Athens in Greece. Death did not stop Medusa from reproducing though. flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? Medusa was a Gorgon - one of three sisters with venomous snakes for hair and the ability to turn people to stone. Anyone who dared to look at her turned to stone. Athena instructed Perseus to use his shiny shield as a mirror. All rights reserved. Medusa is an ancient Greek mythological character known for her ability to turn one into stone if they looked at her (even by accident), and for her head of snakes (instead of hair) and winged human female form. Perseus Ancient Greek Gods for Kids. Medusa was a gods and goddesses'victim, just like every nymph and mortal female in the Greek mythology. Her story has been told and retold by ancient and modern storytellers, writers, and artists. Unfortunately, Medusa was very proud of her beauty and thought or spoke of little else. The Tale of Medusa. Do you know the story of medusa , the real story, her side? Test Your Knowledge on Mental Health. Perseus was born … Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. From immortal gods, goddesses, and heroes to unusual creatures and demigods, these Greek mythology for kids are filled with action, drama, and adventure. Medusa was the bad guy that everyone loved to hate. This may have been why the goddess of virginity was so upset. They all live their life looking at … Each day she boasted of how pretty she was and each day her boasts became more outrageous. Her story has been told and retold by ancient and modern storytellers, writers, and artists. Her story has been told and retold by ancient and modern storytellers, writers, and artists. She and Poseidon, the god of the ocean, fell in love at a temple of Athena. The Myth of Medusa. Occupational Therapy Graduate Programs in Tennessee. A colourful re telling of the story which is replicated in a set of differentiated comprehension sheets. Acrisius sent away Danaë and her son because he had heard a prediction that one day Perseus would kill him. The Latin poet Ovid writes in Book IV of his Metamorphoses that Poseidon attacked Medusa in the temple of Athena.The goddess became angry, and changed Medusa into a monster with snakes for hair. By contrast, a more comprehensive account of Perseus and Medusa can be found in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. In many stories, Medusa had two sisters. From the blood that spurted from her neck sprang Chrysaor and Pegasus, her two sons by … Death did not stop Medusa from reproducing though. A story of victim blaming, one that she says sounds all too familiar in a current American context. … Let's learn about an important bad guy in Greek mythology, Medusa. History / ancient civilisations ; 7-11 ; View more Athena told him: onto... 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