was medusa a symbol of protection for women

59 Likes, TikTok video from Sasha Melendez (@sashamelendez15): ""Medusa and her story have been reclaimed as a symbol of strength and power, with her image also being used as a mark of protection against evils." #viral #medusa #saawareness #9thgenaccord". She is an advocate of the exaltation of femininity. She was also a powerful representation of facing ones inner demons and how self-reflection can make you into a better person. To make this obvious, add a medusa pendant to your necklace. She was killed by Zeusbefore he fought his father and the Titans for power. Another reminder that Minerva/Athena is not your feminist queen. Athena holds her head and Hades her soul. From ancient greek mythology, medusa is a goddess of art. People often come to secure their lives with some supernatural rituals and symbols when they do not feel secure with physical protection. Medusa | Myth & Story | Britannica Medusa has become an ubiquitous symbol of female empowerment and for good reason. Protection Symbol #9 The Eye of Horus. The Greeks believed most snakes to be poisonous as well which represents the end of a life cycle. Top 24 Ancient Protection Symbols and Their Meanings - Give Me History By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 9 Powerful Protection Symbols Explained - Welcome To Wicca Now AirplaneMode - BONES. My name is Marlin Davis and I am passionate about history of all sorts. Medusa Legendary Snake Haired Gorgon of Greek Mythology It was said that she protected those who were at war and during the hunt. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgoneion. Her face looked like a monster, and venomous snakes made up her hair. these associations, Medusa is a purely sexual symbol that pertains to the sexual anxieties of women. One such symbolisation is the famous Perseus myth. 22. What Depictions of Medusa Say about the Way Society Views Powerful Women The symbol appeared on ships and pharaohs entombed in the pyramids wore an Eye of Horus amulet around their neck. Greek Symbols The Goddess Medusa: Myths, Symbols, & How To Work - Tea & Rosemary This began with the greeks and later flowed down to every other culture. Though there is much to say about the tragedy of Medusa's story, she became a formidable foe. Some believed that Medusa was the Libyan Goddess, Neith, who was the Goddess of Hunting and War. In her 2017 book Women & Power: A Manifesto, classicist Mary Beard explores how the image of Medusa is used to skewer women in contemporary politics, from Angela Merkel to Hillary Clinton (with Trump as Perseus in a popular manifestation). The rebooted TV series Charmed just did an episode touching on this, and it was really powerful because of all the work done to reclaim the character by pop culture. Including floral details in the tattoo gives it a softer, more feminine finish. Best Greek Mythology Tattoos And Their Meanings. 200+ Medusa Tattoos: Decode the Power of The Ancient Symbol She is the goddess of philosophy and blesses people with this wisdom. Her expression is one of surprised, but unblinking, sorrow. The complexity lies in how to represent her hair by art. According to The Met Museum, Medusa is portrayed in most Greek art as an "apotropaic symbol used to protect and ward off the negative," representing a "dangerous threat meant to deter other. A writer of all things gender, culture, and travel. In ancient Egyptian society, the Eye of Horus (Wadjet) was widely used as a symbol of protection, restoration, and royal power. For more often than not, shes depicted just as a severed head a visual that even has its own name,the Gorgoneion sculpted, painted, or carved being held aloft by her slayer Perseus. PDF One With Her Sheild - University of Hawaii at Hilo and rebirth and can be inked as a symbol of protection, warding off evil and keeping the wearer safe from harm. 9 Meanings, 9 Vertigo Spiritual Meanings: Random Dizziness. The Hamsa is a talisman from the ancient Middle East. Now, many are claiming that Medusa is not an evil figure, but a strong person who had to overcome enormous pain and trauma. Thankfully, we have collectively realized that the person who deserves to have his head cut off is Neptune, and hopefully one day that revenge fiction will be brought to the big screen. (image: Public Domain/Medusa by Caravaggio). Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. However, the spiritual world can communicate different messages to you. The Medusa Myth Through Time: Monster to Feminist Symbol From her severed neck, her child Pegasus is born. In Medusas story, the Gorgon was born a beautiful mortal among her hideous immortal siblings which people saw as a blessing for her. So basically, Im wondering which is the most accurate? To ensure that you are protected from evil, try wearing medusa as a pendant or amulet. Her image was used in Byzantine Greece to protect pregnant women and newborns. Because Medusa refuses a fate of silence and subjectivity, Perseus is left with no option but to decapitate Medusa for wielding her power. Simi is a sophomore at American University and the events director for HerCampusAu. Your email address will not be published. What does Medusa Symbolize? 11 Spiritual Meanings - Angelical Balance You can keep medusas image with you to remind you of the danger of unfaithfulness. If it's something you want, I don't see a problem with it. Fortunately, the times have changed and people have started to realize the flaw in their reasoning. Female Symbols - Ancient Symbols The 11 spiritual messages of the medusa goddess can help you understand more about your life and the virtues you carry. Among them, the most prominent was the horse, a symbol of valor and beauty since he himself fathered many horses, the best-known being the winged horse Pegasus by the Gorgon Medusa. She was also a ward of sorts for the Greeks to protect themselves against the negativity in life. No doubt to be the most commonly linked symbol of Medusa, the snake is a symbol of the Gorgon that represented many things. Medusa is the perfect symbol of this". The gorgons have some interesting lore, well beyond what you see in pop culture. But she forsook her vows to consummate the reciprocated love of Poseidon - God of the Sea. Whether you see her as a monster or more of that, the fact is that Medusa slithering her way into being more than meets the eye. I aim to share everything I know about history on this blog, hope you enjoy reading too! feelings originating in powerful oral impulses, and, for women, a means for resolving in fantasy the resentment arising from the lack of a penis. Can Brain Science Explain Why We Like Certain Artworks? More by Allison Meier. She has a stern stare that prevents evil people from glancing at you with their jealous stare. Protection Symbol #9 The Eye of Horus. Venus had many lovers both mortal and immortal. All content found on Angelical Balance is for informational purposes only.Made with lots of love, hard work, and energy! The evil eye is similar to the Egyptian wedjat, also known as the udjat eye or the Eye of Horus , which is a symbol of protection and good health. In ancient Greek society, which was a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women. Medusa is, in other words, the ultimate femme fatale. Her symbols were a shield that frequently appeared above her head in ancient hieroglyphics which was why she was killed with a reflective shield in Greek mythology. She is an advocate of the exaltation of femininity. However, seeing her in your dream changes the narrative. An. Medusa's visage has since been adopted by many women as a symbol of female rage; one of the first publications to express this idea was a feminist journal called Women: . Medusa, A Character In Greek Mythology: What Does it Symbolize? Often times, this has allowed us to garner some sort of fable-like lesson from the stories of the Illiad or Metamorphoses. She went against her vow and married him. Different regions and cultures . Finally, shes a triple goddess. Well, let me tell you a secret. Answered, One Piece Won a Different Award at the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Than I Expected, and Im Delighted, Randall Parks Upcoming Film is Everything Ive Ever Wanted. There have been all kinds of well-known feminist attempts over the last fifty years or more to reclaim Medusa for female power (Laugh with Medusa, as the title of one recent collection of essays almost put it) not to mention the use of her as the Versace logo but its made not a blind bit of difference to the way she has been used in attacks on female politicians, writes Beard. Just like movies like clash of the titans, she is a powerful spiritual entity that exists in ancient greek mythology. In Greece, Medusa was often seen as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evils and negativity as well. Still no matter her form or decapitation her gaze is never averted, looking directly at the viewer as an assertion of her horrifying power that cannot be completely subverted by beauty. While the wild red locks of Edvard Munchs 1902 lithograph The Sin (Woman with Red Hair and Green Eyes), or Dante Gabriel Rossettis Lady Lilith (1867) with the Pre-Raphaelite subject brushing her long hair, are more of a stretch in the narrative, they reinforce the ongoing artistic portrayal of women as dangerous through their looks or power. The labrys was formerly a symbol of Greek fascism. Medusa Jewelry That Had the Power to Petrify | DailyArt Magazine The Gorgon as a symbol of protection TW: Mention of r*pe. However even in the face of tragedy and disgrace, the Medusa was portrayed as meaningful. As a result, women with Medusa Tattoos can show their fierce determination and may also reflect their unpredictable and impulsive nature. She has been used as an image of great learning and wisdom for years. The clinical material cited in the above papers refers to male patients, except one case cited by Flugel. If women venture to claim control over their heads, then they become a threat to the phallic, male-dominated structure. She is then cast out and cursed by her own sister. Early accounts placed the Gorgons in a faraway place on the edge of night. Some people tend to connect Medusas story with self-reflection and link Medusa to the darkest parts of ones soul. Medusa's Head - Wikipedia Seventeen contemporary artists of the African Diaspora explore how movement and migration shape their artistic practices and lives. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. severed head, capable of transfixion even in death, is carted away to help him defeat the villain of his story. The Classical period of Greek art from 480 to 323 BCE further associated beauty with danger when Medusa, the sirens, sphinxes, and Scylla all got a little hotter, losing some scales and wings as their bodies were more and more humanized. Throughout the essay she encourages women to come closer in relation to her sexuality, to her womanly being, giving her access to her native strength. She goes on to say that in doing so she will get back her goods, her pleasure, her organs, her immense bodily territories. Cixous continues on, saying that for too long women's bodies have been occupied and deemed guilty guilty of everything, guilty at every turn: for having desire, for not having any; for being frigid, for being too hot; for not being both at once, perhaps even from being both woman and angry. Dangerous Beauty: Medusa in Classical Art, in a 2017 essay on Medusa in Ancient Greek Art, which you can also hear on the Mets site, From Ancient Egypt to Teotihuacn, Centuries-Old Palettes Illuminate the Role of the Painter, Tucked Away in LA For Decades, 2,000-Year-Old Roman Mosaic Returns to Italy, Manhattan DA to Seize Looted Hindu Artifact From Met Museum, Roe v. Wade Case Documents Fetch Over $600K at Auction, At the Outsider Art Fair, Passion Trumps Prestige, The Photography Show Presented by AIPAD Arrives in New York. Jeenah Moon for The New York Times. A soundscape in the exhibition composed by Austin Fisher (which you can also hear on the Mets site) is alternately serene and cacophonous, reflecting how Medusa is pulled back and forth between these seemingly opposed forms. We dont have proof of this, but it was said that medusa was one of the 5 goddesses that advocated for feminine equality. Lotus Flower (Asia) Red lotus flower. In recent years, Medusa has been reformed into a tragic figure who was slut-shamed and victim blamed, simply because punishing a male god (Neptune/Poseidon) would have been considered unthinkable. The word means "protect, rule over" with Medusa meaning "guardian" or "protectress." Perseverance Some will get tattoos of Medusa's severed head, or Perseus holding it, as a representation of perseverance. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three monstrous sisters comprised of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. Some stories say that there was one more unnamed Gorgon who was older than the others. Because I want to look into pendants that I can wear as protective talismans, and I think a Medusa one would be a good fit, but Im worried about drawing the attention of a vengeful monster. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. Medusa's beautyand, in particular, her femininityremains as dangerous as her original monstrosity. If she had not sworn an oath of celibacy, She might not suffer the grave consequences that befell her after Poseidon slept with her. The story of Medusa shifted over time along with her visage. Ancient Greek artists originally portrayed Medusa as an almost comically hideous figure, with a lolling tongue, full beard, and bulging eyes. This image of Medusa began to shift when mustache stubble was replaced by smooth cheeks, and fangs concealed by shapely lips, as Classical artists began to feminize her once again. The fair fosters a welcoming environment for all those with an appreciation for art, regardless of background or technical know-how. She was likened to the modern evil eye and people believed that they needed an image of evil to ward off other evils that could affect them. as an almost comically hideous figure, with a lolling tongue, full beard, and bulging eyes. Medusa embodies menstruation's protective powers. Her existence reflected on the behavior of men during ancient times in Greece and shows how much have we advanced since then. Her power is also associated with protection, as she was often depicted as a guardian of the temple. It has the divine power to protect you from harm. mustache stubble was replaced by smooth cheeks, and fangs concealed by shapely lips, a male-centered society, the feminization of monsters served to demonize women, represents a conflicting view of femininity, one that is seemingly alluring but with a threatening or sinister underside. . The most common interpretation of Medusa suggests she is an apotropaic symbol used to protect from and ward off the negative, much like the modern evil eye. She was also originally a goddess, and I can try to send you all my research on that if you want (though some may be hidden by a paywall, Im not sure). An early 1800s plaster cast from the studio of Antonio Canova showspreparation for the marble statue that now presides over the Mets European Sculpture Court. How Medusa Became a Feminist Icon - Her Campus Her petrifying gaze turns men into stone but only towards those who look at her hideous appearance. Medusa, who was once thought of as a boastful mortal who deserved to be turned into a monster, is now seen in a more sympathetic view by modern standards. Hellenism (Greek: Ellinisms, Latin: Hellenismus), also less frequently called Olympianism (Greek: Olympianisms, Latin: Olympianismus) or Dodekatheism (Greek: Dodekathesms, Latin: Duodecimdeismus), is the traditional polytheistic and animistic orthopraxic religion, lifestyle, aesthetics, and ethos of the ancient Graeco-Roman world, and is the indigenous religion of the common Greek and Latin cultural sphere. Athena brandished Medusa's head on her shield similarly to why Ancient Greek soldiers brandished Phobos's face on their shields: to insight fear. She calls women to write and express themselves fully. Medusa, who is often evil herself in these tellings, is used as a figure to repel other evil forces. In 1950 his uncompleted essay, Medusas Head, was posthumously published. Meaning of Medusa Tattoo: All of Medusa's siblings were monsters by birth and, even though she was not, she had the misfortune of being turned . She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. The incomplete essay becomes far more phallocentric as it continues explaining how the sight of female genitalia instills fear of castration, how Medusas snake-like hair is (of course) a phallic symbol, and finally that Medusas ability to cause onlookers to become stiff, is a representation of an erection and therefore a confirmation of their manhood and of still having a penis it is in essence, their final confirmation of manhood. The ability to be confident and proud of your gender stems from medusa. About US | Privacy Policy | Contact Information | Pinterest | Web Stories. Across the internet, this sculpture has become a symbol of feminine rage for women fighting back against male oppression and, in a way, Medusa is the perfect face for the feminist movement: a woman who had her bodily autonomy taken from her, was cursed, forced to live a life she did not choose, but yet was still immensely powerful. This extends to even monsters like Medusa which really showed us how the ancient Greeks viewed the things around them. By the fifth century BCE, that figure from Greek myth began to morph into an alluring seductress, shaped by the idealization of the body in Greek art. I almost got a Medusa pendent myself but I just never ended up getting one. 33 Medusa Quotes About The Greek Mythological Figure | Kidadl Which Hand to Wear Evil Eye Bracelet & Ring for Good Luck? I do remember exactly, but as far as I remember, it was explained as she was born mortal, then died, and gave birth through this (the rebirth portion). Medusa was one of three daughters born with extraordinary beauty and stunning hair. Medusa slept with Poseidon in Athena's temple knowing the consequences, but did it anyways therefore Athena was right about punishing her. Yes, Medusa is a protection symbol. While not the best source, Wikipedia seems to support your claim - it has images of her head used in gorgoneions. In myth Medusa was the granddaughter of the earth (Gaia) and the ocean (Oceanus), a beautiful mortal Gorgon maiden sworn to celibacy to fulfill her duties as an attendant to Athena. The symbol of her snakes is closely related to life itself as well as the cycle of rebirth. . Whenever you see yourself drawing medusa in a dream, it means that the universe has blessed you with creativity. Medusa Tattoo Meaning: Symbolism for Sexual Assault Survivors - Parade Protection symbols are the specific signs that people use to safeguard against evil and negative energies, especially to have a strong spiritual and ritual impression in mind. Allison C. Meier is a former staff writer for Hyperallergic. This message is meant to keep you alert at all times. On a 570 BCE terracotta stand, Medusa is comically hideous, and fully bearded, sticking out her tongue between two tusks. Keeping an image of medusa in front of your door wards off evil spirits. She is astute in the ways of protection and lends her guardianship to those who need her most. In fact, her name means Queen, and her sisters have similar positive names, whereas Perseus means to destroy and if that doesnt mean something, I dont know what does. People with great academic achievements are believed to be possessed with medusa. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Even into the 19th century, as the romanticization continued, her eyes did not close. Emailus. Ideally, Medusa's face is so repulsive and terrifying that it will repel evil entities. Her snakes are undoubtedly one of the better-known symbols in Greek mythology. image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness. . It was really interesting and I hadnt heard that she was a triple goddess before, so Im glad I was able to learn something new. 21. The Medusa symbol might have a vary Snakes were often connected to deception as well which reflected on the trust men put in women back in those days. link to 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. The first depiction of Medusa can be dated back from a poem by Homer as being part of the three gorgon sisters, Stheno and Euryale.