Medusa is the daughter of Phorkys and Keto. She is the only one of the three sisters known as Gorgons that was born a mortal. Medusa was once very beautiful but she was cursed by Athena. The godess Athena gave her snakes for hair ,and made her so ugly that anyone that stared at her turned to stone.
In later myths (mainly in Ovid) Medusa was the only Gorgon to possess snake locks, because they were a punishment from Athena. Accordingly, Ovid relates that the once beautiful mortal was punished by Athena with a hideous appearance and loathsome snakes for hair for having been raped in Athena's temple by Poseidon.Aug 20, 2013
From the Greek Μεδουσα (Medousa), which was derived from μεδω (medo) meaning "to protect, to rule over". In Greek myth this was the name of one of the three Gorgons, ugly women who had snakes for hair.
In biology, a medusa (plural: medusae) is a form of cnidarian in which the body is shaped like an umbrella. The other main body-form is the polyp. Medusae vary from bell-shaped to the shape of a thin disk, scarcely convex above and only slightly concave below.
Medusa in Greek Mythology. Medusa, originally a beautiful young woman whose crowning glory was her magnificent long hair, was desired and courted by many suitors. Yet before she could be betrothed to a husband, Poseidon (Neptune) found her worshipping in the temple of Athena (Minerva) and ravished her.
Medusa is the daughter of Phorkys and Keto. She is the only one of the three sisters known as Gorgons that was born a mortal. Medusa was once very beautiful but she was cursed by Athena. The godess Athena gave her snakes for hair ,and made her so ugly that anyone that stared at her turned to stone.
She was originally a golden-haired, fair maiden, who, as a priestess of Athena, was devoted to a life of celibacy; however, after being wooed by Poseidon and falling for him, she forgot her vows and married him.
Medusa was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who thereafter used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone, as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield. In classical antiquity the image of the head of Medusa appeared in the evil-averting device known as the Gorgoneion.