Musings on Medusa

One look and men would turn to stone, serpants for hair and a demeanor that was believed to be anything but feminine. This is the description of Medusa that I grew up with and that I'm sure you all may recall yourselves. One day though while reading a book on the unawknowledged female priestesses of ancient times, I came across a section dedicated to Medusa. Confused as to why she would be included in a text on priestesses I plunged into the work. To say I was surprised would be an understatement and lead me to begin to examine the framework in which I considered many of my previous thoughts on Black women, beauty, and the Eurocentric patriarchal hegemony in which I find myself.

Noted from Greek Mythology.com, Medusa was not always a hideous creature. She was the daughter of Phorkys and Keto who were themselves the children of the Great Mother Gaia and Okeanos or what we would call Earth and Ocean. This in itself provides insight into her divine heritage. Medusa was a Gorgon along with her two other sisters among which she was the only mortal and extremely beautiful. Now this is where things begin to conflict. One version of Medusa's story maintains that Medusa lived very far north where there was little sun exposure and because she wanted to see the sun she asked Athena for permission. Athena denies her and Medusa claims that it is because Athena is jealous of her beauty. To punish Medusa for that slight Athena made Medusa hideous where her gaze would turn men to stone and her hair was made of serpents. Another tale laments that Medusa and Poseidon coupled in a sacred temple for Athena and that this was reason that Athena took Medusa's beauty as well as had her slain by Theseus.

The most compelling though of Medusa legends are those that orginate in Africa. Medusa and Africa? I know, I know. I too was like, what does a Greek myth have to do with Africa? Well we shall cover that in tomorrows post.

Blessed Be,
Rose