"In a world of gods and goddesses, men and monsters and vengeance and victories. Medusa was just a woman. A woman who never stood a chance.

I know the stories of old beg for her blood, tell us of her menace and her downfall. They tell us she had it coming. The Beastly gorgon who turned men and myths to stone with just her eyes. A fearsome creature with snakes for hair and fangs for teeth. But that’s not where her story started. She was just a girl once, a faithful devotee of Athena. She committed one terrible crime that led to her lonely curse – her beauty.

Medusa grew up near the sea and devoted herself to the Temple of Athena – but Athena wasn’t the only Olympian taking an interest. Lustful Poseidon had watched the young lady bloom into her womanhood, and he wanted her. Desperately.

In her devotion to the maiden goddess, fair Medusa rejected every advance of the amorous god of the sea, but the gods can only be denied so long. Poseidon pursued Medusa who in her desperation attempted to take refuge deep in the sanctuary of her goddess – but even that wasn’t enough. There, in the Temple of Athena, a shrine devoted to wisdom, war and maidenhood, Medusa was robbed by a god of the virtue she had promised in service to Athena.

Poseidon was fulfilled and so he left her there in Athena’s temple, never to look back. Medusa remained, feeling ashamed and broken and lost. It was there that Athena found her, full of rage and ready for retribution. You know how the story goes, Athena curses the pitiful Medusa for the audacity of having a face lovely enough to tempt her uncle to defile her temple, forgetting that he also defiled the girl. But what if that isn’t quite true?

Athena took Medusa by the hand and helped her up, she carried her to the safety of a spring over which Poseidon had no dominion. She waited silently while Medusa washed away the salt of the sea and her tears. With steadying breath, Medusa found her voice. “I couldn’t stop him, I tried” she managed eventually. The goddess took a moment to look over the still trembling woman. She looked at the long blonde hair that had first ignited Poseidon’s interest. She took in the lovely face and dark eyes that had already led to too many men to make comments that could easily incite the wrath of an Olympian goddess if she were having a bad enough day. Athena’s rage was bubbling and boiling over, but not with envy. This woman had been innocent and devout. She had been sweet, kind, humble and without guile. What weapons could she possibly have to protect herself? How could this little mortal stand against men and gods? How could any of them?

And that’s when Athena saw a solution. She presented it to Medusa who thought about it for only a moment. Medusa was gifted magical hair made up of venomous snakes, they could watch over her so that no one would ever be able to catch her off guard again. She was gifted magical eyes that could turn anyone who looked into them to stone before they could do her any harm. Finally, from the waist down, she was gifted the body of a snake so that she could never be hurt in the same monstrous way again.

Athena found Medusa a new home where occasionally maidens in need of protection would be sent to remain under her care. It was satisfying work for a long time but eventually Medusa became tired of the evil in the world around her. Some time ago she had reached some renown and now men and minor deities would seek her out in an attempt to kill her to build their own legacies. It was no longer safe for women to be sent to her for protection and so she became lonely and restless. She lost her purpose and felt again the sting of having her calling ripped from her by the greed of man. She called to Athena who answered her most faithful of servants and told her how she felt. Clever Athena had already started to prepare for this eventuality and told Medusa of her new plan; if Medusa was willing.

You see there was a new hero who had gained the favour of Athena. If Medusa was now ready for Hades, then perhaps the goddess could help both the young Perseus and her ever-faithful gorgon warrior. This time it took a little longer than a moment for Medusa to agree. Her life had already gone on much longer than any normal mortal thanks to Athena’s gifts and she knew she had done a lot of good. She knew that although many hated and feared her there were plenty in secret places who knew the truth of her existence and her intention. She was ready for her eternity; she did not fear death for she knew she would be safe from the dark places where the monsters roamed in the underworld thanks to her goddess’ favour and the promise that she would be returned to her mortal guise in death. She hesitated, because without her who would protect the helpless as she had been tasked to do for so long? But of course Athena had a plan for that too. She would immortalise her beloved servant in her own shield, and just as Medusa had guarded the innocent in life, she would continue to guard the righteous, the good and the favoured after her death.

It makes sense don’t you think? Why else would the head of Medusa still be a symbol to ward off evil if she had simply been another monster all along? As Athena had treasured her in life, she continued to treasure her when she had passed on from mortality.

And more than that… you see upon slaying Medusa, Perseus was sure he saw her smile, which was a shock. And as a further shock, from her blood sprang her two children, conceived at the dreadful moment of her desecration they had remained inside her where she could protect them from the evils of the world and from their father Poseidon. Athena took Pegasus, the winged horse of legend, with her to Olympus where she cared for him and made sure he was synonymous with the heroes of myth whom she blessed. To him, she gave the praise and fame that his mother had deserved. To the other son, Chrysaor, Athena granted a normal and comfortable life. He was a king, a husband and a father, gifted with the peace that was denied his mother. That there are so few myths about him is a testament to the life he was blessed with.

I know the stories you’ve been told. I know you’ve heard of the wicked vengeful gorgon sister; you may have even heard she was a brazen lover of Poseidon cursed by Athena (after all, Poseidon couldn’t have the real story polluting his own tales). You may have heard of the men and women she destroyed, or the havoc she wreaked or any other number of terrible things. But things aren’t always what they seem. Medusa rests now knowing her son’s fates were happy, that her goddess loved her and that she turned her terrible pain into something else. Something more. What defined her wasn’t what happened to her, it wasn’t a curse, it wasn’t even her death which solidified the path of a hero. No. It was her heart, her faithfulness and her purpose to protect and shield. 

Even if she were the only one who knew it."

Written by Arctis Design