Medusa is an infamous mythological creature said to be cursed by Athena after being raped by Poseiden in Athena’s temple. Athena was one of the three virgin goddesses, and antagonistic towards Posiedon so this act was a great sacrilege to her in her temple. This myth has haunted me, even as a child it never seemed fair to punish the victem and applaud her killer (the hero Perseus, who invaded her home and chopped off her head because he was asked to as a trick). It is often brought up in feminism as an example of a powerful female figure, but also an example of the double cruelty often done to women who have become victims of male aggression and then punished again because of it. Although tragic as well as demonized, She is also a powerful figure with the ability to turn men to stone with her gaze. I’ve often wondered about this, thinking of Lot’s wife and Kali sects who believe that meditating on the hideous face of Kali she will become beautiful and one can reach enlightenment (please correct me if I am wrong, I remember this from a course I took over 15 years ago). The serent symbolism is fascinating as well, another symbol of primal power, protection, and resurrection (often tied to original sin in the Old Testament). I imagine her powers in a sense like Stephan King’s Carrie, brought forth from inner rage and trauma. I imagine She just wanted to be left alone, didn’t want the ‘male gaze’ so turned them to stone. Maybe lets try and have compassion and understanding for our monsters, often we are the ones responsible for creating them.
There has also been recent uproar about the new public statue made in NY featuring a nude medusa holding the head of Perseus in an inversion attempting to reverse the common male deminated scenario where Perseus cuts off her head. To say the least it was a problematic and controversial portrayal, not because of the concept so much as the execution. It is a perfect example of the male gaze, a conventionally sexually attractive nude image of a woman made by male artist. (Which Is not so much the problem in and of itself, moreso in combination with the specific kind of morality supposed to be conveyed in the message of feminism and female empowerment)
https://www.google.com/.../medusa-metoo-sculpture.../amp/
