In Greek mythology, the Gorgons were monstrous creatures with snakes for hair and the power to turn anyone who looked into their eyes into stone. The most famous of the Gorgons was Medusa, who was the only mortal among them. Medusa’s gaze was said to be so terrifying that even a glimpse of her face could petrify a person.
According to some sources, the Gorgons were daughters of the sea god Phorcys and his sister-wife Ceto. They were initially described as beautiful maidens with long, golden hair until they were cursed by the goddess Athena for desecrating her temple. As punishment, Athena transformed them into hideous creatures with wings, sharp fangs, and the deadly ability to turn living beings into stone.
The Gorgons were ultimately slain by the hero Perseus, who was sent on a quest to retrieve Medusa’s head by King Polydectes. With the help of Athena and other gods, Perseus was able to defeat the Gorgons by using a reflective shield to avoid looking directly at them and cutting off Medusa’s head while she slept. The head was later used as a weapon against his enemies, and its power to petrify continued even after her death.
Image by Ai Junkie
