What is the moral lesson of the story of Medusa and Athena?
The Moral of Medusa
She does nothing wrong, and she is punished by the gods anyways. This myth is actually a warning to mortals. Don’t believe yourself to be equal to the gods.
What does the myth of Medusa teach us?
The story of Perseus and Medusa is a story of perseverance, bravery, and dignity. Perseus personifies the length one would go to in order to save the ones you love. Perseus shows the authenticity of his character when he rescues the helpless Andromeda from the Cetus and the attachment to the rock.
What moral was learned from a story associated with Athena from mythology?
Athena’s moral and military superiority to Ares derives in part from the fact that she represents the intellectual and civilized side of war and the virtues of justice and skill, whereas Ares represents mere blood lust.
What is the relationship between Medusa and Athena?
Legend states that Medusa was once a beautiful, avowed priestess of Athena who was cursed for breaking her vow of celibacy. She is not considered a goddess or Olympian, but some variations on her legend say she consorted with one. When Medusa had an affair with the sea god Poseidon, Athena punished her.
Did Athena punish or bless Medusa?
So, Athena protected Medusa at all costs. Instead of punishing Medusa with a head of snakes that could turn men to stone, Athena protected her. Athena blessed Medusa with the ability to defend herself, and her daughters, from men. So she would never be hurt again.
How did Medusa betray Athena?
She was lovely, according to the poem—until she was raped in Athena’s temple by Poseidon. Athena then punished her for this violation, by turning her into the monstrous, stony-glanced creature that we know. Yes: punished for being raped.
How does Medusa influence the world today?
In modern culture, Medusa is seen as a powerful symbol of female intelligence and wisdom, related to the goddess Metis, who was a wife of Zeus. The snake-like head is a symbol of her cunning, a perversion of the matrifocal ancient goddess who the Greeks must destroy.
What does Medusa symbolize feminism?
The story of Medusa continues to provoke renewed perspectives on its symbolism — including through the lens of feminism and psychoanalysis. From a feminist perspective, Medusa’s story seems a cautionary tale of the symbolic decapitation of women and a loss of one’s power.
How did Athena get pregnant?
Hephaistos had a strong desire for Athena, but as a virgin goddess she ran away from him. He was not able to catch her – but he ejaculated and the seed fell on her leg. She wiped it away with a piece of wool and the seed fell on Gaia, the Earth, making her pregnant.
What does Athena symbolize?
Athena is a Greek goddess known as both Pallas and Athene. In ancient Greek mythology, they often associated her with both warfare and wisdom as well as handicraft, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, and skill.
What does Medusa symbolize?
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. She represents a dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil.
What made Athena angry to Medusa?
According to Apollodorus’ version of the myth, Athena was angry with Medusa because she had claimed to be more beautiful than the goddess. In both cases, however, the result was the same. In the end, Athena turned Medusa into a figure of horror, a Gorgon with venomous snakes instead of hair.
Was Athena actually protecting Medusa?
Athena could not punish Poseidon for what he did to Medusa. As a result, the goddess did the only thing she could do, which was to protect her former priestess. Giving Medusa the ability to turn people to stone then becomes a mechanism of self-defense than it does anything else.
Why was Athena jealous of Medusa?
What caught his attention most were the gorgeous, golden locks of hair Medusa had. Because Poseidon took such a liking to Medusa, he charmed her and swayed her off her feet. The two were caught having a love affair in Athena’s temple. Once Athena found out about this affair, her jealousy raged and she became furious!
Why did Athena not help Medusa?
Proponents. “Instead of punishing Poseidon, Athena turns her rage against Medusa, on the one hand because she is not able to punish the powerful Poseidon, and on the other hand because she is envious of Medusa´s beauty.”
What does Medusa symbolize spiritually?
Is Medusa a symbol of feminism?
The myth of Medusa is arguably one of the most well-known stories, becoming a common sight in popular culture as well as a key symbol for Western feminist movements. Head of Medusa by Rubens. As it often happens with mythology, there are many possible versions of one single myth and Medusa’s is no different.
What does Medusa represent today?
According to The Met Museum, Medusa is portrayed in most Greek art as an “apotropaic symbol used to protect and ward off the negative,” representing a “dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil.” In modern tales of Gorgon though, she is a symbol of female rage.
Who did Athena fall in love with?
In Greek mythology, the goddess Athena is immune to romantic love, so there is no particular lover for her. The goddess of love, Aphrodite, has power over all the goddesses and can lead them all to romantic love, though she has no power over Athena, Artemis, and Hestia, who are all virgin goddesses.
Why was Athena a virgin?
Althought Athena is a virgin goddess, she mothered the god Erichthonios by Hephaestus. According to myth, she went to Hephaestus wanting some weapons forged. When Hephaestus tried to rape her, she protected her virginity and he ejaculated on her leg.
How does Athena influence the world today?
In modern times, Athena’s presences are still here with us. She was used in important symbolism throughout our world. People used her status as intelligence, logic, wisdom, reasoning, and creativity to help pursue a higher meaning of being human (The Goddess Path and The Goddess Gift).
What are 3 facts about Medusa?
The Ancient Gorgon Medusa: 9 Terrifying Facts
- Gorgon Medusa Was Raped by Poseidon.
- Athena Turned Her Into a Beast.
- She Was One of the Three Gorgons.
- Medusa’s Appearance Changed Throughout the Centuries.
- Athena Hated Her.
- Perseus Took Medusa’s Head.
- She Gave Birth to Pegasus.
- Perseus Used Medusa’s Head to Neutralize His Enemies.
Did Athena give Medusa a gift?
Medusa was not cursed, she was actually helped by Athena. Her patron goddess gifted her with an ability that would never let Medusa feel powerless again.
Did Athena slept with Zeus?
Zeus not only has sexual relations with a number of female divinities and female mortals, but in at least two instances—those of Dionysos and of Athena—he actually gives birth!
What can you learn from Athena?
Athena taught the men many ways of life. She watched over the men while they farmed.
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Taught them easier ways of farming.
- Taught them to tame their horses, which were an important part in their culture.
- Taught them to use numbers and how to count.
- She taught them victory without the bloodshed.