Medusa: The origins of the Gorgon | Dark Mythologies
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:46 The myth of the Gorgon
4:27 Sponsor
5:56 The Myth of Medusa
12:58 Perseus and Medusa
15:51 The Graeae
17:55 The Head of Medusa
18:36 Medusa as an Amazon
21:29 Medusa after Antiquity
22:15 Medusa and Freud
24:41 Medusa’s Gaze
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References:
Dexter, Miriam Robbins. “The Ferocious and the Erotic: ‘Beautiful’ Medusa and the Neolithic Bird and Snake.” Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, vol. 26, no. 1, 2010, pp. 25-41. JSTOR, doi.org/10.2979/fsr.2010.26.1.25. Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.
Foster, Hal. “Medusa and the Real.” RES: Anthropology and Aesthetics, no. 44, 2003, pp. 181-90. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20167613. Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.
Howe, Thalia Phillies. “The Origin and Function of the Gorgon-Head.” American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 58, no. 3, 1954, pp. 209-21. JSTOR, doi.org/10.2307/500901. Accessed 9 Nov. 2022.
Miller, Arthur A. “An Interpretation of the Symbolism of Medusa.” American Imago, vol. 15, no. 4, 1958, pp. 389-99. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/26301656. Accessed 9 Nov. 2022.
Jesi, Furio. “The Gorgon.” East and West, vol. 10, no. 1/2, 1959, pp. 88-93. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/29754081. Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.
SCHLUTZ, ALEXANDER M. “Recovering the Beauty of Medusa.” Studies in Romanticism, vol. 54, no. 3, 2015, pp. 329-53. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/43973908. Accessed 2 Nov. 2022.
Susan R. Bowers. “Medusa and the Female Gaze.” NWSA Journal, vol. 2, no. 2, 1990, pp. 217-35. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4316018. Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.
Dave - There's no way Cinzia can top the Lilith video.
Cinzia - Hold my snake wig...
🤗
🤣
Ah yes, Medusa. I remember a lecture about her in anthropology class at university. The Professor’s interpretation was Medusa’s description and powers were based on a corpse. More specifically on the corpse of someone that died by drowning and had been left exposed for a few days. They claimed she wasn’t turning people to literal stone, but paralysing them with fear and revulsion at seeing a such a sight. Perseus’ murder of her is about conquering his fear of death. That’s just one interpretation though, but I thought I’d share it with you and the internet.
I personally would love to see Athena covered as a topic. The feminist perspective that she was arming Medusa against further attack and also assisting Arache with developing her craft (rather than just creating monsters out of anger) I think is fascinating.
Would medusa's defenses work against the gods tho? Maybe just the fact that she isn't beautiful anymore is enough to defend her.
Only there's 0 "feminist perspective" in this myth because Medusa was only violated in Ovid's version which is irrelevant,more so because Ovid hated authority and Athena(Minerva). Athena being jealous of Arachne is also a reinvention of that myth, which also makes that irrelevant
I second the idea of an Athena video.
@@kostasbiker9302 and Ovid was Roman, not Greek and Medusa’s story predates Ovid by a few centuries
@@zach415 Obviously and it's not like we have no sources before him.
There is another innocent monster whose head had apotropaic functions, which always reminded me of Medusa: Humbaba, the guardian of the Cedar Forest. He is slayed by the hero-king Gilgamesh and his wild companion Enkidu, when they try to cut wood from his domain. While his terrifying appearance has lead many scholars to call Humbaba "the first monster", given the old age of this story, it's important to note that a majority of the texts describe his death as a tragedy, focussing of the wild animals in his forest-kingdom who are now without protection, or on his grieving children who are left orphans.
The markings on his face also reconnect to yet another figure with apotropaic functions: the egyptian house-spirit Bes.
Thank you for this wonderful video on Medusa and yeah can always rely on Freud and Jungian psychology for some oddly "pointed" views.
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@CinziaDuBois What would you do if you had looked at Medusa?
Great episode. I was thinking while watching how interesting it would be for someone to make a movie depicting the life and hardships Medusa as a woman must have faced back in ancient times, without all the mythology and symbolism she is cursed with.
Yes!! I second this. Any Medusa story though!
I remember being a kid and watching Saint Seiya, The shield of Medusa. About the story itself, is an interesting trope in greek mythology how a curse causes someone "normal" to became a monster.
This is one of the last places I'd see Saint Seiya being referenced.
To me there is flaw in both Manga and Anime, Pegasus should immune to Medusa's petrification but the creator forgets that.
To me, the reasoning behind Perseus' actions is that he wants to protect his mother. Nothing more and nothing less, the king could have told him to kill anything and he would have done it. Shown in the fact that he only uses her head to protect his mother and Andromda from relationships that they don't want.
Unfortunately she only see's every through the lense of feminism as she ironically craps on other philosophers for doing something similar
@John Anderson one of the few things I hate in life is a hypocrite, if you don't like something don't do it yourself
@@JohnAnderson-ev3lp 🎻🎻🎻
Their is something nice about knowing I'm a regular when you say that I always smile 😁
Nice one.
So many good bits.
I especially liked the connections to Shamanism. The bronze mirror connection particularly.
Freud bashing was just bonus.
I have my peppermint hot chocolate ready and I'm just gonna cosy up in my bed and watch this! Thank you ❤️
I hope you enjoy!
That sounds much nicer that sitting in a dark car park waiting for my son to finish swimming. Still Cinzia can be enjoying anywhere!
@@emmajones8715 I hope you get home soon and safe! ❤️
I’ve been fascinated with Medusa since I first read of her, and always more sympathetic/empathetic to her, like saw her more of like an awesome woman and a victim rather than a villain or monster. Now say it with me “Medusa. Did. Nothing. Wrong.”
Anyway awesome and informative video I’m glad to know more about my favorite Gorgon!
Of course, I watched Clash of the Titans when I was young. My favorite part was Medusa, in her lair, how she came across and not only what it looked like where she lived, but the frightening stop motion of her. It scared me and fascinated me. This talk has been very enlightening! I've seen Medusa tattoos on someone, but if I were ever to get a tattoo of Medusa, I would choose a very beautiful face with her snake hair. I don't have any tattoos, but I'm just saying.
I’ve recently found your channel and LOVE IT ❤ I’ve been binging all of your dark mythology videos, and I would love love love to see you do a series on the origin stories of the Grimms fairytales and their lesser known tales.
I would also love to hear your take on popular folklore/mythology following on from sirens, and onto pixies, fairies, cryptids, etc.
Egyptian gods would be so interesting also.
Looking forward to your next video 🥂😊
What would you do if you looked at Medusa?
Really enjoyed this. I was familiar with the basics of the myth but had no idea it went so deep and was so representative of the female mythical being. We're so used to the male hero journey that we can be blind to the powerful female, especially when we've been told our whole lives that making eye contact with her will destroy us. I'd love to hear more!
We had to read the italian author Vittorio Imbriani in literature, and he loved the trope of "the petrifying woman". He often used it to associate female sexuality with the morbid (which was kind of his kink) and you can find it in his novel "Merope the iv" (Merope iv) or the short story "the petrifier" (L'Impietratrice). While our professor acknowledged Imbriani's great intelligence and importance to italian literature, it was absolutely hilarious to watch him roast the author for his chauvinism, elitism and general assholery!
I would love it if you did a deep dive into the characters of Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld. His deep and humorous takes on certain mythical characters.
I you are wondering about the constant focus shift it's your hand. Turn off auto focus and set the camera to focus on a specific length. This might cause the image to darken so increase ISO or add ambient lighting to compensate.
I agree that trying to switch off autofocus would be a good idea. Why should it cause the image to darken? Of course, unless you stop down to increase the depth of field?
The most interesting perspective to me about the Medusa myth was that Athena was giving her the ability to protect herself. Especially considering her other sisters were both immortal and already gorgons. It always seemed to me like a strange detail to make her the only mortal (and also a very beautiful) sister, if it wasn’t actually pertinent to the themes of the myth. I know this is slightly undercut (lol) by Perseus slaying her but that also always seemed like less heroic triumph and more of a limp attempt to lessen her strength as a figure, in her own right, at least to me.
Also, if you plan to do more Greek mythology, you should check out or even talk to the CZcamsr Alaikai, she is a reconstructionist Hellenic polytheist, and she does a lot of academic analysis on the Greek gods, myths, ancient practice, etc.
Medusa was never raped in myth, that's Ovid's version and it deliberately makes the gods look bad.
Medusa was a monster since birth in Greek Mythology
Maybe, if you already claim to know something about Mythology, don’t reference to the ROMAN text of Ovid?
I’m so glad you are talking about Medusa!!!! I love this story and the history behind her! It so interesting! I hope you are having a sublime day!
I think you should try turning off auto-focus and just set it for about the depth you normally sit at. You don't really lean forward or backward any, so you could get it pretty much set. it was super distracting watching it focus in and out and flash with light and dark etc etc.
Oh, Good! I'm three gummies deep and thought it was my brain going out of focus.
Agreed. Seeing the flashing dots was very distracting.
I literally can't watch the screen.
It causes me physical pain.
Yes. I couldn't watch it either. So I switched off my screen and listened to the audio ;-)
Another great vid! I really enjoy these myth breaks, they feel educational while still retaining that feeling of wonder from when I first learned about these myths as a kid.
Great vibes
Focusing on the original myth of Perseus and Medusa, the only times he uses the head is in the defense of women from their attackers or unwanted suiters. He doesn't use it to defend himself or to defeat his own enemies, only the predators prowling towards the women he cares about. Perhaps the head of Medusa is not only a tool but also a requirement of the hero to protect his loved ones, specifically and especially women attacked by men, as Medusa once was.
Not really, there's one myth where Perseus uses the head to turn Atlas into stone, no woman involved
I remember reading Homer and Ovid in high school in the '70s.
Left me very angry about the Athena punishing the victim in scenario for the Medusa.
Thank you for your excellent work.
Your diligence is definitely appreciated.
❤️🎉
Medusa wasn't a victim of anything, Ovid was a jackass that hated the gods and authority, so he made that retarded version.
Loved this video, I’d really like to know more about Medusa if you ever do add to this. I always loved her story but the perspectives you introduced were new to me and really made me love her more. Thank you for another great video, your videos have been really wonderful to binge and I look forward to more!
If the Gorgons' defining feature is their terrifying appearance (since that is apparently the etymology of the name and presumably the reason for their appearance on Athena's shield and their apotropaic use), then being turned to stone is easily read as a metaphor for being paralyzed by fear. And that suggests a further analysis. To succeed, Perseus has to look at the scary thing, but not directly, instead reflected in his shield. Then he can conquer it and even turn it into his own tool. Now what could that mean in practice, I wonder? When a fear is too powerful to defeat head on, how do we face it indirectly?
I also want to point out the placement of Medusa's backstory in Ovid's Metamorphoses, the one where she's turned into a monster by Minerva/Athena as punishment for being raped. Medusa's backstory is delivered while Perseus is riding high, having already killed her and the sea monster, rescued and married an Ethiopian princess and is now at the wedding feast. Someone asks "Hey, what was Medusa's deal anyway?" and he tells the story briefly and without apparent sympathy. And that's the end of Book IV. What a downer. I really think this is meant to subvert Perseus's big moment. It doesn't quite make him the bad guy (the whole "Medusa wasn't harming anyone" thing just isn't true, at least in Ovid's telling), but it does morally complicate the situation, for sure. Suddenly we can't just view Medusa as a one-dimensional monster knowing she only became a monster because she was turned into one by the very goddess who helps Perseus kill her. All part of Ovid's skepticism of divine justice and heroism and his focus on female victimization, not just by the men/gods who assault them but also by others in the aftermath. There's something sort of in the direction of feminism there, but the more complicated feminist interpretations of Medusa tend to lose me.
Medusa ("Ruling One") must have been a primordial neolithic Mother Goddess (or triple goddesses with her "sisters") of the Southern Mediterranean (associated with Poseidon, so a consort of the sea god?) with origins shrouded in mystery.
When I visited Sicily, her head is ALL over Sicily (symbol of protection), even reproduced as colourful busts for the tourist market. & nobody could tell me WHY her imagery was so popular (her fearsome gorgon's head is also featured on Sicily's flag, together with the Triskelion).
It's surely not JUST because of her association with Athena, Athens & Greece... The Ancient Greeks portably just co-opted this archaic female deity, turned her into a hideous monster (Gorgon "Terrifying/ Fierce"), beheaded her & attached her to their preeminent patron goddess Athena, just as early Christians associated Pan & his imagery (got horns, hooves) into "The Devil."
All modern feminist readings of her myth are just apologetics, fascinating but frustratingly so.
I have been on CZcams for 12 years and have been waiting for a channel like yours forever! Where have you been all my life. I love listening to your videos while working or studying.
Thanks for sharing these fascinating interpretations of Medusa. I remember going down fun rabbit holes studying gorgon and gorgoneion iconography back during my own master's research: lots of fun!
Discovered this channel yesterday and absolutely addicted already!!
Thank you!
Medusa is fascinating, loved this as always
Wonderfully interesting as always. I love the theory of Persus becoming Medusa. So many interesting takes on the story
I have such an affinity for medusa and this is definitely one of my favorite videos about her!!! You are so well spoken love it!!
i thought this video had come out a few days ago bc i just subscribed but i realise it just came out!!
thank you for this video and for linking your reads for the research
i have studied a bit of the frontal view of Medusa and our teacher added to that aspect with the representation of eyes in ancient greek pottery painting so i was pleasantly surprised to see u mention that point too even if its not the main point of your video
Loving this series of videos. Fascinating as ever. The sneaking suspicion that your analysis of the textual on historical interpretation of the back of a crisp packet would be no less compelling currently peers over my shoulder.
I have always loved Medusa. Thank you so much for making this video!!! It was excellent!!!
Expanding on the ægis relationship to Medusa as a protective force could be interesting.
This is everything. I'm so glad I stumbled onto your channel. Thank you. 🖤 🐍
Love this video, made me feel a lot of emotions and connections I did not know were fully in me
First time on your channel and I'm definitely staying here. You have my subscription, and my strong interest!
I enjoyed in this video very much! Personally live for mythology, but you made it so cool and real. Thank you for your content!
Really loved this one, I'd happily listen to more about Medusa!
I've only just found you through the lilith video and your channel is all ive been looking for. Also, I must say, I absolutely love your voice. It is not droning like some and it keeps me engaged while also being very pleasant, even mellifluous!
Fascinating-Medusa is one of my favourites. Interesting to hear the different versions of her myth.
Thanks for another video, glad I found your channel
Your video is so awesome!!!! Yeah I would love to hear you talk more about Medusa. ❤❤❤
When she said "the erotic is born of chaos" the first thing that poped into my mind was Slaanesh and the gods of chaos from Warhammer 40k, but i really enjoyed this video as a history enjoyer i love this kind of content, by the way i really like your voice.
Medusa came up for me today, and this was an amazing video for me to get to know her energy a little bit! Thanks you so much for sharing 🤍
I love your channel! Very informative, interesting , fun and educational . Mythology and Folklore are two big loves of mine.
I enjoy hearing your doggies playing , so cute. ❤🐶🐾
Thank you so much for your video. I've always loved the story of Medusa i enjoyed every bit of this ❤
This was incredible, thank you 🖤🐍🖤 a pt 2 would be deeply appreciated if you ever wanted to do more!🙏🏻 🖤👁️ 🖤
Omg so cool just found ur channel I love it! Yes please more about Medusa.
Yes! Absolutely, definitely and please to more information on Medusa! New sub here and love ❤ your content!! And you're spooky voice!
Can't wait to watch!
Reading Greek mythology, i use to love researching and reading about Medusa. Love these type of videos!!
I just found you and have been binge watching all your videos! Where have you been all my life?
Hiding from me, lol
I do love how you asked the dogs to be quiet in the most polite way possible,. I did have a dog that worked on but he was very smart,
Thanks for this super cool Medusa video!
Glad you liked it!
We found your video on krampus and started watching you. We LOVE your. Diction and pace. I’ll be looking into your other channel.
I liked this, actually really like this way of storytelling and narration 🖤
I prefer the origin where the Gorgons were born monster, either childs of Phorcys and Ceto, or of Typhon and Echidna. Having them cursed by Athena* makes the latter look quite cruel, especially considering Neptune is a rival of hers and should be the one taking the blame.
*Of course, it isn't really Athena as much as it is Minerva. Romans and Greeks' myths are quite similar, but Romans preferred Aries/Mars to Athena/Minerva, so Minerva is portrayed a lot more negatively than Athena, patron goddess of Athens, was by the Greeks.
Really enjoyed this video!
Fantastic commentary!
It's funny. One drop poisons, the second cures. Kinda like a snake's bite (one drop) poisons and it's venom (second drop) heals.
You always make fascinating videos on interesting subjects or people. Could you possibly look at hades and the underworld.😊
I love your videos.. I'm glad to find you 😌
Beautiful!! Thank you!!
Yes more on Medusa please!!!!!!!!
Hello there!
I’m really enjoying your anslses of the various Greek Myths. If not already, would you be able to do a video on the catabasis, or descent into the underworld?
Thankyou 😊
Excellent Video👍
Early on under Myth of the Gorgon, the creature on the vase has a face reminiscent of certain mythical creatures from India or Tibet or Far East.
I once saw a writer who claimed the myth of Medusa came from Libya. He (she?) speculated that the myth of the snakes on her head was because a Greek or Phoenician sailor saw a Black woman with what we would call 'dread locks.' That just sounded so plausible to me! Although, I bet Greek or Phoenician women had long hair they braided and wound about their head, held in place with hair pins.
I've seen the comments about the focusing problem with this video and the subsequent idea to go faceless for future videos and I have to say please don't go entirely faceless in your future videos because I feel as if I'm having an intellectual conversation with an intelligent friend when I watch your videos. Having said that, if you do go faceless I will continue to watch, do what is best for you.
Yes, I hope you do not go faceless. There must be a way to disable the autofocus. It has not been an issue in other videos. We/I enjoy seeing you.
The autofocus of your camera seems to be having an awesome time too 😂
Very well educational video. Like it! Btw cute dog. Would you think about making a video about Prometheus? =) Or Hydra and Kerberos?
Once again a great video. Could you make one on Melinoe? She’s such a cool goddess and I haven’t seen much content about her.
Yes please more Medusas!
Thank you for this video, the Medusa story in green mythology Is fascinating
Love the videos
AGAIN!!!!!BRILLIANT👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Love this video! I had to listen to this in the background because the constantly changing focus was giving me a headache.
Don’t worry, I’m going faceless from now on so this won’t be an issue
@@CinziaDuBois thank you for replying! Sad, because I hope thats only because of the camera issue and not any other weird or negative feedback :( maybe picture in picture?
@@jacobkamphaus5565 It's an amalgamation of a lot of negative feedback, but the camera issue just cemented it as a sign haha
@@CinziaDuBois Im terribly sorry to hear that, but delighted to know I can support you and your work while not agrrevating my the peculiar festures of my "disorder" that present me with sensory overload difficulties.
@@CinziaDuBois while it do be like dat, that sucks.
Thank you. The Gorgon myth is and mystique has always been fascinating to me.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much
I saw earlier that you are lamenting your camera, I must say that for me it is not a bother, I very much enjoy seeing you speaking. Thank you for your terrific content and analysis.
I've watched most Medusa videos on the net & many of them merely focus on modern feminist readings of her myth --- all just apologetics, fascinating but frustratingly so --- as well as Afrocentric views proclaiming that she's black, y'all.
But your profound analysis just KNOCKED this OUT of the PARK, ma'am, when you connected Medusa to Neolithic shamanic imagery of the divine feminine & her serpentine wisdom. I bow down to your lotus feet.
Medusa ("Ruling One") must have been a primordial Mother Goddess (or triple goddesses with her "sisters") of the Southern Mediterranean (associated with Poseidon, so a consort of the sea god?) with origins shrouded in mystery.
When I visited Sicily, her pretty head is ALL over Sicily, even reproduced as colourful busts for the tourist market. & nobody could tell me WHY her imagery was so popular ("for protection" is the usual answer). Her wrathful (i.e. fugly fearsome form) gorgon's face is also featured on Sicily's flag, together with the Triskelion).
It's surely not JUST because of her association with Athena, Athens & Greece... The Ancient Greeks portably just co-opted this archaic female deity, turned her into a hideous monster (Gorgon "Terrifying/ Fierce"), beheaded her & attached her to their preeminent patron goddess Athena, just as early Christians associated Pan & his imagery (got horns, hooves) into "The Devil."
Connecting her all the way to Indo-European imagery, Medusa could be a Mediterranean form of the now Shakti (Feminine Power) & all her forms --- Parvati ("mountain goddess")/ Durga ("Fierce") / Kali ("Darkness"), consort of Shiva, who also wields a trident & is associated with bulls (his archaic form also makes him Pashupati "Lord of the Beasts").
A little distracting with the auto brightness but I love this video!!
Wow, lovely introduction indeed!!! Fascinating seeing how her story has shifted and changed over the years.
Even today talking about her is controversial. Good or bad. Powerful but passive.
Is there something about her that draws you in? Do you have a favorite story about her?
Super informative! I love your videos! …why does the video keep randomly re-focusing though?
Loving the Dark Mythology series
Thank you so much
oh the graeae being sisters to medusa really surprised me! i still picture them as the 3 sisters from the animated Hercules 😂
i love this video so much! thanks
i have a medusa piercing and i always try to figure out why i’m so drawn to this myth ❤
A thousand thanks for this.
Thank you too!
@@CinziaDuBois I am especially interested in this subject because I have begun writing a play titled FOR LOVE OF MEDUSA putting my very own 'spin' on this lady's tale, entwining it with a few other Greek myths. Interestingly, I mentioned this to some actors in a production of Margaret ATwood's PENELOPIAD last night and their eyes lit up. One I swear was trying to manifest snakes out of her head!
Fantastic video
thank you 😊
@@CinziaDuBois of course! I wanted to comment more but it kept coming out fangirly rather than something I won't cringe on later in life, but your videos are so inspiring and we're lucky to have your content
I don’t mean to comment off topic but I love your necklace!
I wish you would not go faceless. I couldn't give less of a damn about the lights or the camera. You have a calming presence that reminds me of my happiest moments, which were mostly in libraries, book stores, and school (art history and literature). Please reconsider. I loved this video and I am so glad to have discovered your channel.
Artemis, please. I've always adored how strong she was and how she bucked the reigns of patriarchy. She is independent and wild, primal and virginal, ( a great metaphor for the wild lands she hunted). She was unforgiving when men tried to violate her autonomy, and she could be ruthless if you drew her ire.
The auto focus was really going balls to the wall in the middle there
Heyyyu this is the second time you’ve mentioned Scylla since your Lilith video!
You should make a video about Scylla 🥹🥺
I truly love your content and this video, it was a little hard to watch with the in and out focus due to the blinking bulb right behind your chair. Your camera didn't know what to focus on. You moving or your light blinking. Great synopsis of the Medusa legend and her origin.
Sorry about that. Don't worry, I'm going faceless from now on after feedback from this video, so it won't be an issue in the future
@@CinziaDuBois Nooo lol don't do that, it was just a lighting issue. Please we love seeing you narrating you videos. It's never been an issue before this video. I was just trying to point it out because I'd never seen that happen in your vids before.
@@CinziaDuBois please again don't go faceless. I'm sorry that mine or any other comment made you feel like you should do so. Again I love what you do please don't change your format.
@@CinziaDuBois Thank you for going to the effort of recording video and editing; it must be very frustrating with the auto-focus issues, and we do very much appreciate the output. Hope this doesn't sound sarcastic, it isn't meant to be at all.
Hi Cinzia! I was looking for all your amazing "no buy videos", they helped me a lot in the past. I can't find them anymore...have they been deleted? 😭😭😭 love from Italy
In Greek myths Medusa was born a Gorgon along with her sisters.
Most Excellent
Many many thanks
I'd love to have this Librarian come in and organize my books.
Very much enjoyed the discussion of the origins of the myth. As for later interpretations and analyses (especially in the last 100 years or so years), they say much more about the people proposing them than they do about the myth itself. Roman versions of Greek myths are especially problematic for understanding what lies behind the myth, although they say a lot about (some) Romans, just as current interpretations say a lot about those people. What is interesting to me is the presence of the gorgon in Homer on the aegis. Athena is not just a god of war but a god of psywar and IW; as such, the gorgon represents her ability to instill fear in her adversaries. Thousands of years later, Medusa (the gorgon) is still doing that: Freud (I don't like him either) seems to have been writing about what he feared and was neurotic about, projecting it on Medusa; current commentators appear to be doing the same thing -- projecting what they are afraid of onto the myth, and appropriating Medusa as a way to express those fears. So there's something to be said for Medusa instilling fear and "petrifying" people with their own fears. Those ancient Greeks (and I mean the really ancient Greeks of the time of Homer and before) were pretty smart.
PS: I wouldn't put a lot of stock in "Leather Arm's" tales (I think he's the one you're mentioning?). He seemed to be having a lot of fun writing fantasy fiction way back when. (It's actually not bad as fantasy fiction goes.)