Thank you!! My friend said hera is good, but she sent snakes after a BABY like they did nothing. Medusa did nothing it was posiden its always the gods and goddesses in the wrong, never the "villian"
you have to understand - her father was zeus; his brother is poseidon and the fact that the Moirai (the fates) and Themis (justice) favored zeus. Athena, in her wisdom and anger at the injustice, had no choice but to bless Medusa into becoming a gorgon. This allowed Medusa to fulfill her name "protector" and that she would never be harmed by men ever again. But again, this is another variant of the myth of medusa. EDIT: please stop messaging me regarding this one, its been a long time since i've read my fair share of greek mythos but this a fake variant of the story. my apologies.
Different version says that Athena did believe her but couldn’t do anything against Poseidon, so, she transformed Medusa so that no man could ever harm her again
That also makes sense as to why the Gorgons exist as there were two others besides Medusa of course they didn't get the ability to turn people into stone but they were pretty immortal
The farthest traced version of Medusa actually says she's a born gorgan -Ugly and vile female creatures with snakes for hair and eyes that turn anyone to stone- with two sisters Stheno and Euryale . Poseidon was said to have an "odd" taste in women, hence his romance with Medusa. Later a Roman poet named Ovid wrote a version of the story in which Medusa was a beautiful priestess who worshipped Athena and was raped, in the temple, by Poseidon and then punished by the humiliated and jealous Athena. This version wildly grew in popularity, overshadowing the original. The version of Medusa's curse actually being a blessing is a modern take on the situation, to my knowledge. Created because many can't understand why Athena would punish a rape victim.
@@JordanWahl lol, I'm upset at myself because that's common knowledge. I just wanted to drive the point that she would beat him in battle. She is powerful on her own and Zeus’ favourite child so she could've done something.
@@swordinthestone313 some other versions are that Medusa ran into Athena’s temple in order to evade Poseidon, but he still came after her and raped her. Medusa prayed to Athena and Athena felt empathy for her turned Medusa into the “snake haired monster” so that no man would ever dare defile her again and if he tried he would be turned to stone
@veiledpets1270 Yes, hundreds of people are saying this but never have a source. I'm almost 100% sure it's made up. If you want to twist the myth to come up with a new version I think that's fine but lying about it existing in older previous versions is just stupid and makes people not listen to you since you're lying. I've asked so many people and yet no one has an answer. I just don't know why people have to lie instead of just say that they like a new version of the myth that we've created today Lol
What "oldest version?" The version with Poseidon/Neptune being involved _at all_ came from a Roman poet. In the older mythos, she was born a monster and not cursed by Athena/Minerva at all
The original story is that Medusa was born a gorgon, along with her sisters, and the version where Athena turned her from human to gorgon was actually a different version made by the Roman poet Ovid, to showcase the cruelty of the gods.
Medusa was a symbol of protection against men her likeness was all over the place Athena didn't curse her she gave her strength and power against men women weren't allowed in the temple to keep then safe from Medusa's stone stare
Well yes, but also no. Medusa became a feminine symbol only much later, in our modern times. We don't know if Athena cursed her or actually tried to protect her, neither of the versions are fully confirmed.
@@emackenzie Exactly. Most versions i've read have Athene punishing Medusa for disturbing her temple, not gifting her with protection. The "Athene protects Medusa" thing didn't even come up during My research before tiktok blew it up.
The farthest traced version of Medusa actually says she's a born gorgan with two sisters Stheno and Euryale. Poseidon was said to have an "odd" taste in women, hence his romance with Medusa. Later a Roman poet named Ovid wrote a version of the story in which Medusa was a beautiful priestess who worshipped Athena and was raped, in the temple, by Poseidon and then punished by the humiliated and jealous Athena. This version wildly grew in popularity, overshadowing the original. The version of Medusa's curse actually being a blessing is a modern take on the situation, to my knowledge. Created because many can't understand why Athena would punish a rape victim.
Let's do this. For reference; I am a classicist. That means studying, researching, and knowing about Greek and Roman mythology is my job. I have a degree in this. In the original myth; Athena is not mentioned. Our oldest source for Medusa comes from Hesiod. He speaks only of how Medusa was born a gorgon like her sisters. Only unlike her sisters, Medusa was mortal. Medusa did have a relationship with Poseidon, but it was consensual. They did not sleep together in Athena's temple, but in a meadow. That is it. That is all. There is no curse, there is no punishment. Poseidon and Medusa were lovers. The idea that Medusa was beautiful came around 300 BC, and we start to see it in the art around that time; as well as Pindar describing Medusa as "fair cheeked". Which means beautiful. It is not until 1 AD that Ovid enters the scene. He is a Roman poet, so his mythology is Roman mythology. Not Greek. Ovid basically stole from Virgil, and completely changed the story and made it into SA, and involved Minerva cursing Medusa into a monster. The idea that Athena cursed Medusa to protect her has absolutely no basis in the myths. It is a theory that popped up in the 80s and 90s. It is not true in any aspect. And no, Medusa was never seen as a protector of women. Nor was she a symbol for women's shelters in Ancient Greece. Somebody made that up on tumblr.
No one stole it. They adapt it and tell their own story. Its roman fanfic. I like the 'Athena protected her story' and all we have to do to make it so is to share it that way
@@jezpin3638 So let me just get this clear: You prefer the story that strips away Medusa's autonomy and denies her choice? You prefer the version that takes away her consent and makes her into a victim she never was?
@@veronicaelders4823 SHE never was. I am not advocating for anyone to actually be raped. I advocate for STORIES that don't pretend that doesn't happen. Stories touch reality. The story of Athena saving Medusa by removing her beauty and giving her power to stop men ever looking at her again is very representative in a post #metoo narrative. Athena tried to take away the men's need to have her, but then they wanted her head. Its LITERALLY addressing the moral 'she was asking for it' What a ridiculous question you asked. You say you study classics and you act just the basic puritan, like adaptation is an offence.
@@jezpin3638 Your problem is that you see these as stories. Like it's just something that was made up for bedtime stories. In reality, this is a religion. This isn't some fairytale; this is a series of set beliefs that were worshipped and even shaped civilizations. Yes, it is stupid to look at religious texts and decide, 'Mmm, I don't like that. So I'm going to change that around and completely revamp the meaning of it to suit my own personal interests'. You should really reevaluate yourself if you think someone pointing out that it's absurdly messed up is at all 'puritan' behavior. Do you often change passages of the Bible to suit the narrative you prefer? Or passages of the Torah? Qur'an?
It's fairly sad how little the og greel myth is known, that's a piece of history that's being forgotten just because there was a roman who wrote fanfic ig ?
It’s an old tale of rape victim sadly showing that people in higher authority are selfish and only care about their reputation, sad to say this but it’s the same thing happening in current times nothing is changed back then nothing has changed now
Except Ares, he wasn't afraid to kill Poseidons son when he raped Ares daughter and probably would have killed Poseidon himself if he had to. Ares was the protector of women, not Athena.
Before Ovids Roman retelling, The 8th-century BCE poet Hesiod describes how Poseidon had sex with Medusa in a soft spring meadow. Therefore she was not raped in the original version of the story where she has relations with Poseidon. Ovid turned it into a rape story 700 years later because he hated Greek gods and for some reason really hated Athena.
@@iainwhite8617 he was also one of the only gods never to rape women. I agree that he is a protective father, but he also used that rape to kill not only the one who raped her, but wage a war and kill everyone she ever knew…. So… food for thought.
the whole poseidon and athena part of the myth was made up in ovidius' "metamorphosis" around 40 bc, the actual myth and legend of medusa (found in the theogony and earlier) says she was born a monster, one of the three gorgon sisters.
i genuinely do not understand how this video doesn't have millions of views. it has more quality than some other videos, but that's not why - it's incredibly captivating. the voice, the miniature facial expressions, the makeup. why aren't people drawn to this?
I don't think alot of people know but this is Ovid's version of the myth, going shame both Poseidon and Athena (Ovid is a Roman writer). The original greek writing is that Medusa born a gorgan.
I’m not normally one to go with the idea that all villains have a tragic backstory and are understandable, but Medusa’s story I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH AND BELIEVE.
@@marshallhutzler5940 It is true that most of the earlier Greek versions of the myth don't feature rape at all, but some sort of sexual tryst that is unknown in whether it was consensual or not. Ovid is the one who includes the rape element.
Whether it was a punishment or a way of protection for medusa. Its still sad that she was seeked out by men for lust and than sought after to kill after. 😢
Theres actually another version to this story that says Athena did this out of protection, not envy. She didnt want any man to be able to touch her like that again.
The farthest traced version of Medusa actually says she's a born gorgan -Ugly and vile female creatures with snakes for hair and eyes that turn anyone to stone- with two sisters Stheno and Euryale . Poseidon was said to have an "odd" taste in women, hence his romance with Medusa. Later a Roman poet named Ovid wrote a version of the story in which Medusa was a beautiful priestess who worshipped Athena and was raped, in the temple, by Poseidon and then punished by the humiliated and jealous Athena. This version wildly grew in popularity, overshadowing the original. The version of Medusa's curse actually being a blessing is a modern take on the situation, to my knowledge. Created because many can't understand why Athena would punish a rape victim.
In the oldest myth that can be found, Medusa was a monster from Birth to Death. But there have been so many different versions of the myth since. Oh, and she has two sisters.
The one I read when I was a kid tell there were 3 gorgon sister , the 2 older sister had sharp claw and snakes for hair and power to turn people to stone, despire being their sister Medusa look like a beautiful lady, she seduce Poseidon and bring him to Athena temple to mess with Athena, and to prove that she were beautiful. So Athena turn her into a monster that even worse than her sisters so her look is equal to her soul, a monster. But there alot of version of mythology out there but I still like this one more because turning a victim of Poseidon into a monster is just kinda out of character for Athena consider how much she hate her uncle.
Before Ovids Roman retelling, The 8th-century BCE poet Hesiod describes how Poseidon had sex with Medusa in a soft spring meadow. Therefore she was not raped in the original version of the story where she has relations with Poseidon.
@@iainwhite8617 Either way she was raped right? Zues was also know to rape women. I believe Hades was the only one of the brothers who didn't sexually assault anyone.
Anything speculating a fictional characters’ motivations is an interpretation, especially when the original stories were never written in a copyrighted novel complete with characters internal monologues like we write fictional characters today
funnily enough this version came like so much later than when first medusa is mentioned. In the odyssey 8 centruy BCE, Medusa is mentioned but no backstory and later in Hesiod’s Theogony and a backstory was given mentioning her and her sisters as children of a sea goddess and the backstory mentioned in the video first found in void’s metamorphose’s 8th century CE, as a way to highlight that gods like to play with lives of people and not really focusing on previous sources. It is the most popular version of the myth but not the oldest
Medusa is a legend I'll always have a special place in my heart for. She didn't deserve what she was given, just proving how cruel the gods truly were toward mortals.
If it can make you feel better, she originally wasn’t raped. And she was born a gorgon. This is just a "modern" retelling by Ovid, a Roman Poet. When Ovid wrote Metamorphoses, he was going through political/social exile. So he was kinda making a social commentary on authority and political leadership, by using the gods as analogies for the ruling class. So he made the gods more cruel than usual and was using them to get a his anti-authority message across. ( edit: not that this version isn’t valid or isn’t Greek mythology. But there’s a difference between stories that were actual part of some spiritual or cultural traditions, and pieces of fiction written for the sake of making fiction. Both are Greek mythology, but it’s not exactly the same imo. That’s why many people say Ovid’s version of the myths isn’t the "true" version.)
Another version of the story is that Athena made her a 'monster' to make sure that no one could harm her ever again. And the reason it only affects men is because it was a man who hurt her
Yeah, Ovid hated authority figures, so all of his retellings had the gods be assholes. Just remember, it's a myth, there are a million different versions of the same story and sometimes it's impossible to find "the first one"
Nope. She didn't do that at all. Minerva struck Arachne 3 times for daring to compare herself to a goddess. Then, because Arachne was ashamed of herself and humiliated; Arachne decided to hang herself. Minerva saved her life, but turned her into a spider so that she would remember her lesson.
There’s actually many different tellings of Medusa’s story in mythology. In the story where she debuted, she was simply an obstacle for the hero Perseus to overcome (he did do by sneaking into her lair as she slept and cutting off her head, kinda anticlimactic tbh) in order to save his mother from King Polydectes. From all that was described of her, she was simply born as a monster along with her two gorgon sisters, she being the only mortal one of the three, she didn’t have much of a backstory to her, just that she killed a ton of people and had gained a horrific reputation. It wasn’t until later that another writer made a backstory for her, telling that she was assaulted by Poseidon in one of Athena’s temples and when she was found suffering Athena transformed her into a Gorgon so that she would never be assaulted by a man again. Then down the line another writer came along and took that fanfic and made their own version where she gets ravaged by Poseidon and Athena is so offended by the act being performed by one of her priestesses in one of her temples that she turns Medusa into a hideous monster as a punishment. Now, technically neither version of her backstory is correct according to the original tellings, HOWEVER… In my opinion, the first version definitely shows a more accurate portrayal of how the Gods were shown to interact with mortals in original myths. Athena in particular has no other myths supporting this cruelty in her character, so the more cannon version to me is the one where she aid’s a woman in being free from men forever (Athena herself was a virgin and swore off ever being with a man so this just makes more sense). I’m only saying all of this because I saw other people commenting stuff about the Medusa myth so I wanted to help set the record straight. This makeup and cosplay are gorgeous and badass, keep up the good work girly💕☺️
Forgive me for this, i’m not a classicist of any variety, but surely the story of Arachne should qualify as at least a cold if not spiteful and jealous portrayal of Athena? Admittedly the earliest extant telling we have for this myth is via Ovis’ metamorphoses with few-to-no Greek artefacts undisputedly portraying it from before that but i think it’s still worth considering
@@cutemess6429 You do have a point. I think it’s somewhat of how you interpret her story though, at least for me it was petty but nowhere near the level of the rest of the gods. To me it read more as Arachne genuinely mocking the gods with her art, and so Athena destroyed it and told her how bad it was for her to do so. Then when Arachne decided she wanted to end her life in her sorrow, Athena stopped her from doing so by transforming her into a spider, giving her life new purpose and meaning. Almost as if telling her that she was born to weave and shouldn’t give it up, but should just find more purpose in it, more meaning than just making it to be pretty or to insult the gods. But it probably was the pettiest thing Athena ever did, I’ll agree on that.🤭
@@RedAngelXVthere was also the whole Trojan War thing. There were several gods involved in that, though. I tend to view almost all of the Greek gods as petty, insecure, and spiteful. Stories are open to interpretation, of course.
My favorite version of the medusa story is that her curse WAS a gift. Athena knew there was only one way to stop a man, and she gave Medusa the ability to protect herself.
@taynara7385 different versions tell different stories. Not all of them go the same way. But the answer can also be as simple as this: the gods are fickle. Maybe Athena regretted giving a power that intense to a hurt, angry woman. Who knows
I've heard three different versions of this story. This one, the one where Athena turned Medusa for her own protection, and one where Medusa and her sisters were so full of themselves the goddess got jealous and turned them all out of spite.
In the oldest versions, Medusa was always a monster. She even had two sisters who were also gorgons. The other versions of her story came later, but are no less important.
It was said the two gorgons were immortal, having been formed from the blood of an immortal alongside chrysaor. Medusa was originally human, thus mortal.
I heard a story where Athena didnt know until after when Medusa told her. So Athena turned her into what you know now so that she will never have to experience that pain again.
Another version I’ve heard is Athena felt horrible for doing nothing about Poseidon’s behavior so she made her able to turn anyone to atone so that no man would ever hurt her again.
Medusa seems like a sweetheart, it's honestly such a pity Athena did that to her. None of the other gods would've done it just by looks, it's not the right thing to do after all.
Medusa did not tempt poseidon he wanted her because she was beautiful. She was a priestess of Athena's temple and all of the priestesses had to save themselves, to stay pure and to never be intimate with anyone. Poseidon took medusa on the steps of athena's temple as she cried for athena's help. Because Medusa was no longer pure Athena punished her believing poseidon, and his version of her tempting him. 2 of Athena's other priestesses believed Medusa and stood up for her. That's where you get the gorgon sisters because they were transformed as well.
Y'all in this comment section really fell for modern retellings...This version of the myth is from Ovid, a Roman poet who infamously was very anti-Athena(or more accurately, her roman counterpart Minerva), in the oldest versions of this myth Medusa was born a gorgon to two Primordial sea Gods who birthed many other monsters, including Medusa's two Gorgon sisters who were immortal, over time Medusa went from a hideous beast to becoming more humanoid, but the original myths are nothing like this, and Athena in no version of the myth did this as protection, the ancient greeks and roman simply didn't take their mythology as literally as we tend to today
@@iainwhite8617 that's why I didn't clarify, they are so incredibly different it's a bit obvious just by sound quality. A person could also just look up the quote and find that out as well! 😺
I really think that Athena was protecting Medusa, she was pressured by the male dominated world of gods to punish her and made it seem like a punishment. Medusa literally means ‘protectress’, so I think Athena was protecting her and making sure her and her daughters were safe. Athena is totally a girls girl. Edit: damn really didn’t mean to start a war ✋💀
@@maikago6899 I’m sure any rape victim would take that “curse” in order to protect themselves and their children from men like the ones who defiled them. There’s deeper psychology behind it all, it’s not just that simple. Watch a video, read an article, just do some research before assuming the cons outweigh the pros, sweetie.
Sweetie it’s not just men she can’t even talk to others imagine being a rape victim and soon after you could never talk or interact with anyone doesn't sound like a good protection to me 💀 @@BabyMuncher6
@@maikago6899It's only a curse if Medusa saw it that way. She could have been happy with the ability to utterly destroy anyone who would hurt her again.
No offense, but you really should do some proper research on Greek mythology. Athena wasn't a girls girl, she was a daddy's girl and her daddy was Zeus. She was a tomboy who, by her own admission always favoured men over women. It was Ares that was known to protect women. Despite being the god of blood lust and war, he despized the act of rape, every single relationship he had was consensual. He actually killed Poseidons son after he raped Ares daughter. The Gods even held the first Trial in human history over the matter, where Ares was found justified and annointed protector of women. Even their respective cities reflected this. Athens was more traditional and patriarcle while Sparta respected strong women. Even the Spartan version of Aphrodite, Aphrodite Areia was more badass, similar to Ishtar, Astarte or Freya. Ares was even the progenitor of the Amazons, a whole race of badass warrior women. DO YOUR RESEARCH.
Some believe Athena did it for protection. She gave Medusa a way to defend herself. Which also explains why she gave Medusa's sisters ungodly strength to rip people to shreds as well.
some versions say medusa led poseidon into the temple, some say the curse from athena was for protection. it depends on who you ask and how you interpret it.
It honestly doesn’t matter if Athena was trying to punish or help Medusa. She wasn’t there when she NEEDED her and that makes her just as awful as Poseidon. Medusa deserved better by all accounts
In the actually stories of Greek Mythology, Medusa is just a monster. She is a just the Queen of the Gorgons with the power to turn *anyone* she looks at to stone. Just a monster
I see the story of Athena doing this for Medusa's protection because she couldn't go against Poseidon herself. And honestly, I think it's still messed up. No matter how you spin it, Medusa was turned into a monster after being assaulted by Poseidon. In every version, Medusa still ends up stuck in a cave or a temple, never to look at another being again without them turning to stone. Many walk into her secluded home just to kill her for something she had no choice in becoming. Hated and feared by the world for something the gods did. And in the end, she's killed by Perseus in his "heroic tale", just another monster slain to add to his "glory". It is a cruel and tragic story. Athena did not protect Medusa, she forced her into a secluded life, branding her a monster, and all because she could not harm Poseidon. Who wouldn't be filled with rage by the end?
i believe in the version of the story where athena doesn’t curse medusa, it’s a blessing, a strength, that medusa would never need someone else to protect her, that no one could hurt her. she gave medusa the ability to save herself because athena knew medusa and knew she would need that protection but then again im a glass half full type of person so idk but im open to learning other versions!!
There’s actually two different versions for anyone wondering one version Athena did it to “punish” Medusa and the other to help Medusa as a form of protection
Most of the villain in Greek mythology are the victim
this retelling is Ovid, its roman
@@gamerofedge8111THANK YOUUUUUU GREEK MEDUSA WAS NOT A RAPE VICTIM
@@D3c4yingb0n3sit's still a version of greek mythology by a roman.
Thank you!! My friend said hera is good, but she sent snakes after a BABY like they did nothing. Medusa did nothing it was posiden its always the gods and goddesses in the wrong, never the "villian"
And most of the gods were horrible and the men rapists
Medusa got such a rotten deal. Athena, WHYYY 😣?? Shoulda listened to your girl and punished HIM!!
you have to understand - her father was zeus; his brother is poseidon and the fact that the Moirai (the fates) and Themis (justice) favored zeus. Athena, in her wisdom and anger at the injustice, had no choice but to bless Medusa into becoming a gorgon. This allowed Medusa to fulfill her name "protector" and that she would never be harmed by men ever again.
But again, this is another variant of the myth of medusa.
EDIT: please stop messaging me regarding this one, its been a long time since i've read my fair share of greek mythos but this a fake variant of the story. my apologies.
@@daeity1
I prefer this side because honestly.
The one you describe-
@@daeity1 but in that same variant she sends persious to cut her head off so....
@@sindelscat9336 untrue. in some myths, medusa cuts off perseus' head.
@@daeity1Which variant?
Medusa was still beautiful as a monster
agreed
True
Agree
She was never a monster. Her rapist was.
1000 like 4 you
Different version says that Athena did believe her but couldn’t do anything against Poseidon, so, she transformed Medusa so that no man could ever harm her again
That also makes sense as to why the Gorgons exist as there were two others besides Medusa of course they didn't get the ability to turn people into stone but they were pretty immortal
The farthest traced version of Medusa actually says she's a born gorgan -Ugly and vile female creatures with snakes for hair and eyes that turn anyone to stone- with two sisters Stheno and Euryale . Poseidon was said to have an "odd" taste in women, hence his romance with Medusa. Later a Roman poet named Ovid wrote a version of the story in which Medusa was a beautiful priestess who worshipped Athena and was raped, in the temple, by Poseidon and then punished by the humiliated and jealous Athena. This version wildly grew in popularity, overshadowing the original. The version of Medusa's curse actually being a blessing is a modern take on the situation, to my knowledge. Created because many can't understand why Athena would punish a rape victim.
Athena could've easily killed Poseidon. But she didn't even bother punishing him. A victim blamer.
@@marie-zb5bh Poseidon is an immortal god on par with the Athena's father Zeus
@@JordanWahl lol, I'm upset at myself because that's common knowledge. I just wanted to drive the point that she would beat him in battle. She is powerful on her own and Zeus’ favourite child so she could've done something.
In the oldest versions of the myth it says that Athena actually turned her into this for protection
Protection went as hard as a broken condom
Absolutely useless💀🤝🏻
What are these oldest versions?
@@swordinthestone313 some other versions are that Medusa ran into Athena’s temple in order to evade Poseidon, but he still came after her and raped her. Medusa prayed to Athena and Athena felt empathy for her turned Medusa into the “snake haired monster” so that no man would ever dare defile her again and if he tried he would be turned to stone
@veiledpets1270 Yes, hundreds of people are saying this but never have a source. I'm almost 100% sure it's made up. If you want to twist the myth to come up with a new version I think that's fine but lying about it existing in older previous versions is just stupid and makes people not listen to you since you're lying. I've asked so many people and yet no one has an answer. I just don't know why people have to lie instead of just say that they like a new version of the myth that we've created today Lol
What "oldest version?" The version with Poseidon/Neptune being involved _at all_ came from a Roman poet. In the older mythos, she was born a monster and not cursed by Athena/Minerva at all
The original story is that Medusa was born a gorgon, along with her sisters, and the version where Athena turned her from human to gorgon was actually a different version made by the Roman poet Ovid, to showcase the cruelty of the gods.
THANK YOU, Finally, someone said it! ❤
@@blue_bandana_brod3230yeah like i love Ovid’s version, but nobody pays attention to the original
Yes, my girls Stheno and Euryale always getting overlooked!
*FINALLY* everyone is arguing about is Athena bad or good, but she didn't even play a part in her birth😭
Medusa was a symbol of protection against men her likeness was all over the place Athena didn't curse her she gave her strength and power against men women weren't allowed in the temple to keep then safe from Medusa's stone stare
Well yes, but also no. Medusa became a feminine symbol only much later, in our modern times.
We don't know if Athena cursed her or actually tried to protect her, neither of the versions are fully confirmed.
Explains the head of medusa on the statue of Athena from the parthenon
@@elis2506 Unrelated- Perseus gave Athena Medusa's head after he killed her with Athena's help. Doesn't sound like someone who wanted to protect her
@@emackenzie Exactly. Most versions i've read have Athene punishing Medusa for disturbing her temple, not gifting her with protection.
The "Athene protects Medusa" thing didn't even come up during My research before tiktok blew it up.
The farthest traced version of Medusa actually says she's a born gorgan with two sisters Stheno and Euryale. Poseidon was said to have an "odd" taste in women, hence his romance with Medusa. Later a Roman poet named Ovid wrote a version of the story in which Medusa was a beautiful priestess who worshipped Athena and was raped, in the temple, by Poseidon and then punished by the humiliated and jealous Athena. This version wildly grew in popularity, overshadowing the original. The version of Medusa's curse actually being a blessing is a modern take on the situation, to my knowledge. Created because many can't understand why Athena would punish a rape victim.
Let's do this. For reference; I am a classicist. That means studying, researching, and knowing about Greek and Roman mythology is my job. I have a degree in this.
In the original myth; Athena is not mentioned. Our oldest source for Medusa comes from Hesiod. He speaks only of how Medusa was born a gorgon like her sisters. Only unlike her sisters, Medusa was mortal.
Medusa did have a relationship with Poseidon, but it was consensual. They did not sleep together in Athena's temple, but in a meadow. That is it. That is all.
There is no curse, there is no punishment. Poseidon and Medusa were lovers.
The idea that Medusa was beautiful came around 300 BC, and we start to see it in the art around that time; as well as Pindar describing Medusa as "fair cheeked". Which means beautiful.
It is not until 1 AD that Ovid enters the scene. He is a Roman poet, so his mythology is Roman mythology. Not Greek.
Ovid basically stole from Virgil, and completely changed the story and made it into SA, and involved Minerva cursing Medusa into a monster.
The idea that Athena cursed Medusa to protect her has absolutely no basis in the myths. It is a theory that popped up in the 80s and 90s. It is not true in any aspect.
And no, Medusa was never seen as a protector of women. Nor was she a symbol for women's shelters in Ancient Greece. Somebody made that up on tumblr.
No one stole it. They adapt it and tell their own story. Its roman fanfic. I like the 'Athena protected her story' and all we have to do to make it so is to share it that way
Very interesting to hear about hesiod
@@jezpin3638 So let me just get this clear:
You prefer the story that strips away Medusa's autonomy and denies her choice? You prefer the version that takes away her consent and makes her into a victim she never was?
@@veronicaelders4823 SHE never was. I am not advocating for anyone to actually be raped. I advocate for STORIES that don't pretend that doesn't happen. Stories touch reality.
The story of Athena saving Medusa by removing her beauty and giving her power to stop men ever looking at her again is very representative in a post #metoo narrative. Athena tried to take away the men's need to have her, but then they wanted her head. Its LITERALLY addressing the moral 'she was asking for it'
What a ridiculous question you asked. You say you study classics and you act just the basic puritan, like adaptation is an offence.
@@jezpin3638 Your problem is that you see these as stories. Like it's just something that was made up for bedtime stories.
In reality, this is a religion. This isn't some fairytale; this is a series of set beliefs that were worshipped and even shaped civilizations.
Yes, it is stupid to look at religious texts and decide, 'Mmm, I don't like that. So I'm going to change that around and completely revamp the meaning of it to suit my own personal interests'.
You should really reevaluate yourself if you think someone pointing out that it's absurdly messed up is at all 'puritan' behavior.
Do you often change passages of the Bible to suit the narrative you prefer? Or passages of the Torah? Qur'an?
I swear this one guys version of this story will never fucking die
For real Ovid is such an ass
It's fairly sad how little the og greel myth is known, that's a piece of history that's being forgotten just because there was a roman who wrote fanfic ig ?
@@StrayKisswHobyStrayKidsi believe its roman
@@Silksperit is indeed from an anti Greco Roman who slandered their gods. Most of the worst myths can be dated back to him.
It’s a little older than Jesus Christ himself. And he sure is popular. Why not this one?
It’s an old tale of rape victim sadly showing that people in higher authority are selfish and only care about their reputation, sad to say this but it’s the same thing happening in current times nothing is changed back then nothing has changed now
Except Ares, he wasn't afraid to kill Poseidons son when he raped Ares daughter and probably would have killed Poseidon himself if he had to. Ares was the protector of women, not Athena.
Before Ovids Roman retelling, The 8th-century BCE poet Hesiod describes how Poseidon had sex with Medusa in a soft spring meadow. Therefore she was not raped in the original version of the story where she has relations with Poseidon.
Ovid turned it into a rape story 700 years later because he hated Greek gods and for some reason really hated Athena.
@@iainwhite8617 he was also one of the only gods never to rape women. I agree that he is a protective father, but he also used that rape to kill not only the one who raped her, but wage a war and kill everyone she ever knew…. So… food for thought.
Yes, the Romans’ provided a lot of commentary on this matter.
But... the in the original myth it wasn't SA
the whole poseidon and athena part of the myth was made up in ovidius' "metamorphosis" around 40 bc, the actual myth and legend of medusa (found in the theogony and earlier) says she was born a monster, one of the three gorgon sisters.
Poseidon and Medusa does appear in some late greek texts, but the rape doesn't appear until Ovid.
i genuinely do not understand how this video doesn't have millions of views. it has more quality than some other videos, but that's not why - it's incredibly captivating. the voice, the miniature facial expressions, the makeup. why aren't people drawn to this?
Because she's not half naked, horny, or acts like an idiot 🙄
I mean it's great makeup, don't get me wrong, but it's the same thing everyone else does. Take a movie quote, do some cool makeup over it
I don't think alot of people know but this is Ovid's version of the myth, going shame both Poseidon and Athena (Ovid is a Roman writer). The original greek writing is that Medusa born a gorgan.
Gemma Arterton has one of the most mesmerizing voices and the makeup and video compliment it so well.
I’m not normally one to go with the idea that all villains have a tragic backstory and are understandable, but Medusa’s story I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH AND BELIEVE.
This isn't the original myth tho....
@@marshallhutzler5940 It is true that most of the earlier Greek versions of the myth don't feature rape at all, but some sort of sexual tryst that is unknown in whether it was consensual or not. Ovid is the one who includes the rape element.
Whether it was a punishment or a way of protection for medusa. Its still sad that she was seeked out by men for lust and than sought after to kill after. 😢
Percy: *delivers her head to the gods* your welcome
Theres actually another version to this story that says Athena did this out of protection, not envy. She didnt want any man to be able to touch her like that again.
But she sends someone to kill her, so in what way was that protection?
Which version?
The farthest traced version of Medusa actually says she's a born gorgan -Ugly and vile female creatures with snakes for hair and eyes that turn anyone to stone- with two sisters Stheno and Euryale . Poseidon was said to have an "odd" taste in women, hence his romance with Medusa. Later a Roman poet named Ovid wrote a version of the story in which Medusa was a beautiful priestess who worshipped Athena and was raped, in the temple, by Poseidon and then punished by the humiliated and jealous Athena. This version wildly grew in popularity, overshadowing the original. The version of Medusa's curse actually being a blessing is a modern take on the situation, to my knowledge. Created because many can't understand why Athena would punish a rape victim.
Yes this is my personal favorite version
That's a modern retelling
This voice is perfect for you!
I love hear this her voice while telling the story was the best part
Medusas story is such a sad one, and she deserved better
In the oldest myth that can be found, Medusa was a monster from Birth to Death. But there have been so many different versions of the myth since. Oh, and she has two sisters.
The one I read when I was a kid tell there were 3 gorgon sister , the 2 older sister had sharp claw and snakes for hair and power to turn people to stone, despire being their sister Medusa look like a beautiful lady, she seduce Poseidon and bring him to Athena temple to mess with Athena, and to prove that she were beautiful. So Athena turn her into a monster that even worse than her sisters so her look is equal to her soul, a monster. But there alot of version of mythology out there but I still like this one more because turning a victim of Poseidon into a monster is just kinda out of character for Athena consider how much she hate her uncle.
Medusa was a victim. Posiedon was the real monster.
Before Ovids Roman retelling, The 8th-century BCE poet Hesiod describes how Poseidon had sex with Medusa in a soft spring meadow. Therefore she was not raped in the original version of the story where she has relations with Poseidon.
Athena has always been better with the men in the stories. She treated and helped them much more.
Ironically, it was the super macho god of blood lust and war Ares that was known for defending women.
She was just as meddlesome/petty as the other gods, just smarter about it. Just look at Arachne.
Its truly wild the difference in interpretation from men vs women.
No, it's wild the differences in which version from which time period. It's not a men vs woman thing, it's original myth vs revisionist retelling.
@@iainwhite8617 Either way she was raped right? Zues was also know to rape women. I believe Hades was the only one of the brothers who didn't sexually assault anyone.
Anything speculating a fictional characters’ motivations is an interpretation, especially when the original stories were never written in a copyrighted novel complete with characters internal monologues like we write fictional characters today
Hi, woman here, I generally choose to believe the original texts instead of the stories made up to fit a narrative.
funnily enough this version came like so much later than when first medusa is mentioned. In the odyssey 8 centruy BCE, Medusa is mentioned but no backstory and later in Hesiod’s Theogony and a backstory was given mentioning her and her sisters as children of a sea goddess and the backstory mentioned in the video first found in void’s metamorphose’s 8th century CE, as a way to highlight that gods like to play with lives of people and not really focusing on previous sources. It is the most popular version of the myth but not the oldest
Medusa is a legend I'll always have a special place in my heart for. She didn't deserve what she was given, just proving how cruel the gods truly were toward mortals.
If it can make you feel better, she originally wasn’t raped. And she was born a gorgon. This is just a "modern" retelling by Ovid, a Roman Poet.
When Ovid wrote Metamorphoses, he was going through political/social exile. So he was kinda making a social commentary on authority and political leadership, by using the gods as analogies for the ruling class. So he made the gods more cruel than usual and was using them to get a his anti-authority message across.
( edit: not that this version isn’t valid or isn’t Greek mythology. But there’s a difference between stories that were actual part of some spiritual or cultural traditions, and pieces of fiction written for the sake of making fiction. Both are Greek mythology, but it’s not exactly the same imo. That’s why many people say Ovid’s version of the myths isn’t the "true" version.)
This deserves way more likes!
Another version of the story is that Athena made her a 'monster' to make sure that no one could harm her ever again. And the reason it only affects men is because it was a man who hurt her
Source l: Trust me Bro!
Oh trust, this is right in line with Athena- she also cursed Arachne for daring to speak ill of the male gods deeds.
Yeah, Ovid hated authority figures, so all of his retellings had the gods be assholes. Just remember, it's a myth, there are a million different versions of the same story and sometimes it's impossible to find "the first one"
She cursed Arachne for hubris 💀
Nope. She didn't do that at all.
Minerva struck Arachne 3 times for daring to compare herself to a goddess. Then, because Arachne was ashamed of herself and humiliated; Arachne decided to hang herself.
Minerva saved her life, but turned her into a spider so that she would remember her lesson.
@@veronicaelders4823 who is Minerva?
Actually some stories are that athena did it to protect medusa, so that would never happen to her again
Source: trust me, bro!
There’s actually many different tellings of Medusa’s story in mythology. In the story where she debuted, she was simply an obstacle for the hero Perseus to overcome (he did do by sneaking into her lair as she slept and cutting off her head, kinda anticlimactic tbh) in order to save his mother from King Polydectes. From all that was described of her, she was simply born as a monster along with her two gorgon sisters, she being the only mortal one of the three, she didn’t have much of a backstory to her, just that she killed a ton of people and had gained a horrific reputation. It wasn’t until later that another writer made a backstory for her, telling that she was assaulted by Poseidon in one of Athena’s temples and when she was found suffering Athena transformed her into a Gorgon so that she would never be assaulted by a man again. Then down the line another writer came along and took that fanfic and made their own version where she gets ravaged by Poseidon and Athena is so offended by the act being performed by one of her priestesses in one of her temples that she turns Medusa into a hideous monster as a punishment. Now, technically neither version of her backstory is correct according to the original tellings, HOWEVER… In my opinion, the first version definitely shows a more accurate portrayal of how the Gods were shown to interact with mortals in original myths. Athena in particular has no other myths supporting this cruelty in her character, so the more cannon version to me is the one where she aid’s a woman in being free from men forever (Athena herself was a virgin and swore off ever being with a man so this just makes more sense).
I’m only saying all of this because I saw other people commenting stuff about the Medusa myth so I wanted to help set the record straight. This makeup and cosplay are gorgeous and badass, keep up the good work girly💕☺️
Forgive me for this, i’m not a classicist of any variety, but surely the story of Arachne should qualify as at least a cold if not spiteful and jealous portrayal of Athena? Admittedly the earliest extant telling we have for this myth is via Ovis’ metamorphoses with few-to-no Greek artefacts undisputedly portraying it from before that but i think it’s still worth considering
@@cutemess6429 You do have a point. I think it’s somewhat of how you interpret her story though, at least for me it was petty but nowhere near the level of the rest of the gods. To me it read more as Arachne genuinely mocking the gods with her art, and so Athena destroyed it and told her how bad it was for her to do so. Then when Arachne decided she wanted to end her life in her sorrow, Athena stopped her from doing so by transforming her into a spider, giving her life new purpose and meaning. Almost as if telling her that she was born to weave and shouldn’t give it up, but should just find more purpose in it, more meaning than just making it to be pretty or to insult the gods. But it probably was the pettiest thing Athena ever did, I’ll agree on that.🤭
@@RedAngelXVthere was also the whole Trojan War thing. There were several gods involved in that, though. I tend to view almost all of the Greek gods as petty, insecure, and spiteful. Stories are open to interpretation, of course.
My favorite version of the medusa story is that her curse WAS a gift. Athena knew there was only one way to stop a man, and she gave Medusa the ability to protect herself.
But why would Athena help Hercules (if I'm not wrong) to kill her later? In many versions, Athena help the "hero" to kill her.
@taynara7385 different versions tell different stories. Not all of them go the same way. But the answer can also be as simple as this: the gods are fickle. Maybe Athena regretted giving a power that intense to a hurt, angry woman. Who knows
I've heard three different versions of this story. This one, the one where Athena turned Medusa for her own protection, and one where Medusa and her sisters were so full of themselves the goddess got jealous and turned them all out of spite.
I love Medusa and Athena did her dirty…10 out of 10 and I need more stories like this
I heard one that was Athena made a deal with her to protect her
In the oldest versions, Medusa was always a monster. She even had two sisters who were also gorgons. The other versions of her story came later, but are no less important.
It was said the two gorgons were immortal, having been formed from the blood of an immortal alongside chrysaor. Medusa was originally human, thus mortal.
@@woomeebly not human, they were referred to as the three Gorgon sisters, her being 'mortal' just means killable.
is it weird that no matter which version they are both my favorites of mythology
when i hear this story i cry it gives me chills
I heard a story where Athena didnt know until after when Medusa told her. So Athena turned her into what you know now so that she will never have to experience that pain again.
Wow! You're so good at makeup! You deserve way more likes! ❤️
Another version I’ve heard is Athena felt horrible for doing nothing about Poseidon’s behavior so she made her able to turn anyone to atone so that no man would ever hurt her again.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS A MOVIE TRAILER AT FIRST- IT IS SO GOOD
I love how ancient greeks made their mythology like a freaking drama tv show most of the time 😂
you're so talented and beautiful❤❤❤
Athena did her dirty, Medusa deserved none of it. I’ll always love u Medusa 🫶
Medusa seems like a sweetheart, it's honestly such a pity Athena did that to her. None of the other gods would've done it just by looks, it's not the right thing to do after all.
Potentially your best ❤
This is so underrated 10/10!!!
Medusa did not tempt poseidon he wanted her because she was beautiful. She was a priestess of Athena's temple and all of the priestesses had to save themselves, to stay pure and to never be intimate with anyone. Poseidon took medusa on the steps of athena's temple as she cried for athena's help. Because Medusa was no longer pure Athena punished her believing poseidon, and his version of her tempting him. 2 of Athena's other priestesses believed Medusa and stood up for her. That's where you get the gorgon sisters because they were transformed as well.
1000000/10 fr i love this its rlly good xD
this make up is 10/10 it’s so good ❤❤
Y'all in this comment section really fell for modern retellings...This version of the myth is from Ovid, a Roman poet who infamously was very anti-Athena(or more accurately, her roman counterpart Minerva), in the oldest versions of this myth Medusa was born a gorgon to two Primordial sea Gods who birthed many other monsters, including Medusa's two Gorgon sisters who were immortal, over time Medusa went from a hideous beast to becoming more humanoid, but the original myths are nothing like this, and Athena in no version of the myth did this as protection, the ancient greeks and roman simply didn't take their mythology as literally as we tend to today
Where is the Audio from? Did you make it?
Clash of the Titans
Percy Jackson, i think.
@@thefckigaveflewawaywithu6904 I already mentioned this but it's actually from clash of the titans.
@@fioregiallo You may wish to clarify which version. I know it's the remake because that actress has a very distinctive voice.
@@iainwhite8617 that's why I didn't clarify, they are so incredibly different it's a bit obvious just by sound quality. A person could also just look up the quote and find that out as well! 😺
Your artwork is amazing. Your skills is amazing . The way you made the image of Medusa Look strong and beautiful With your artwork.💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯❣️❣️
this is the best makeup look/acting i’ve ever seen
I really think that Athena was protecting Medusa, she was pressured by the male dominated world of gods to punish her and made it seem like a punishment. Medusa literally means ‘protectress’, so I think Athena was protecting her and making sure her and her daughters were safe. Athena is totally a girls girl.
Edit: damn really didn’t mean to start a war ✋💀
What 😃
Sweetie you don’t protect someone by giving them a curse like that 💀💀
@@maikago6899 I’m sure any rape victim would take that “curse” in order to protect themselves and their children from men like the ones who defiled them. There’s deeper psychology behind it all, it’s not just that simple. Watch a video, read an article, just do some research before assuming the cons outweigh the pros, sweetie.
Sweetie it’s not just men she can’t even talk to others imagine being a rape victim and soon after you could never talk or interact with anyone doesn't sound like a good protection to me 💀
@@BabyMuncher6
@@maikago6899It's only a curse if Medusa saw it that way. She could have been happy with the ability to utterly destroy anyone who would hurt her again.
No offense, but you really should do some proper research on Greek mythology. Athena wasn't a girls girl, she was a daddy's girl and her daddy was Zeus. She was a tomboy who, by her own admission always favoured men over women. It was Ares that was known to protect women. Despite being the god of blood lust and war, he despized the act of rape, every single relationship he had was consensual. He actually killed Poseidons son after he raped Ares daughter. The Gods even held the first Trial in human history over the matter, where Ares was found justified and annointed protector of women. Even their respective cities reflected this. Athens was more traditional and patriarcle while Sparta respected strong women. Even the Spartan version of Aphrodite, Aphrodite Areia was more badass, similar to Ishtar, Astarte or Freya. Ares was even the progenitor of the Amazons, a whole race of badass warrior women.
DO YOUR RESEARCH.
Some believe Athena did it for protection. She gave Medusa a way to defend herself. Which also explains why she gave Medusa's sisters ungodly strength to rip people to shreds as well.
It's funny though. Medusa still cares for her goddesses temple.
some versions say medusa led poseidon into the temple, some say the curse from athena was for protection. it depends on who you ask and how you interpret it.
Pin? Btw where is the M after the likes number
It honestly doesn’t matter if Athena was trying to punish or help Medusa. She wasn’t there when she NEEDED her and that makes her just as awful as Poseidon. Medusa deserved better by all accounts
It’s kind of giving Harry Potter vibes. I’d totally see Voldemort turn into a snake like this.
In the actually stories of Greek Mythology, Medusa is just a monster. She is a just the Queen of the Gorgons with the power to turn *anyone* she looks at to stone. Just a monster
Ha in Percy Jackson her and Poseidon did the uh... thing... in Athena's temple with full understanding of what they were doing 😂
Yes definitely believe a bloody Hollywood film and not actual history
@1sakura0girl1 Well, it's actually a very good book series even tho it's middle grade... So first read it or watch it and then hate
I see the story of Athena doing this for Medusa's protection because she couldn't go against Poseidon herself. And honestly, I think it's still messed up. No matter how you spin it, Medusa was turned into a monster after being assaulted by Poseidon. In every version, Medusa still ends up stuck in a cave or a temple, never to look at another being again without them turning to stone. Many walk into her secluded home just to kill her for something she had no choice in becoming. Hated and feared by the world for something the gods did. And in the end, she's killed by Perseus in his "heroic tale", just another monster slain to add to his "glory". It is a cruel and tragic story. Athena did not protect Medusa, she forced her into a secluded life, branding her a monster, and all because she could not harm Poseidon. Who wouldn't be filled with rage by the end?
I’m in love with your eyes ❤️🩹
Medusa was born the way she was.
Cassandra of Troy in the Illiad gets a similarly raw deal tho.
i believe in the version of the story where athena doesn’t curse medusa, it’s a blessing, a strength, that medusa would never need someone else to protect her, that no one could hurt her. she gave medusa the ability to save herself because athena knew medusa and knew she would need that protection but then again im a glass half full type of person so idk but im open to learning other versions!!
WOAH! PERFECT! ❤
Wow!! This is gorgeous
You so beautiful it a 10 out of 10
30/10!! So good ❤️❤️
Girl that cosplay of Medusa is just VERY perfect,beautiful, and pretty!!!
Omg yassss girl you ate that left no crums ❤
10s across the board Hunni 🙌🏾🙌🏾❤️
This makeup was amazing! The story of Medusa is indeed a tragic one
Absolutely beautiful 10 out of 10
100/10 it was astonishing💚✨
This is the dopest make up look. I love add mythology with makeup 💄
“When she came for her”
My dirty mind: AYOOOOOO
OMG! This is incredible work! Such an awesome way to portray it too! ❤
There’s actually two different versions for anyone wondering one version Athena did it to “punish” Medusa and the other to help Medusa as a form of protection
Thats such beautiful editing❤ you're very talented make up artist but also a good storytelling
Poor Athena...i grew up listening to this story as a child
This reminds me of Medusa In the new Percy Jackson show.
that is GORGEOUS 10/10
10 for sure
1 trillion out of 1 trillion! I love this look and the story
Medusa is one of my favs
This makeup is so beautiful ❤ you are so talented
You deserve a solid 8 for your makeup and a perfect 10 for your story narration alongwith. What an outstanding transformation ❤
10/10 I loved how this how this turned out with all the lighting and everything
Outstanding makeup job!
the look is so pretty 😭
10/10 you slayed this
1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000% it's so pretty❤❤❤❤❤
She has such a beautiful green eyes. Its unreal
Bro those snakes are actually a good tatoo idea
i'm getting medusa tattoed on my chest. i can relate to her a lot.