Medusa

The Medusa was an ugly creature. Let's have a look at how she came into existance, for she wasn't always that ugly... Again, the Gods played their role.

The Medusa was the daughter of Phorkys and Keto, the children of Gaia (Earth) and Okeanos (Ocean). She was one of the three sisters known as the Gorgons. The other two sisters were Sthenno and Euryale. Medusa was the only mortal out of the three. She was once very beautiful and lived far in the north were the sun didn't visit. Being very curious, she wanted to see the sun, and asked the Goddess Athena for permission to visit the south. Athena refused to allow her to visit. The medusa got angry and dared to say that Athena hadn't given her permission because she was jealous of her beauty. That was it; Athena was angered and punished her by turning her hair into snakes and cursing her by making her so ugly that whoever looks her in the eyes would turn into stone.

OR

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. Athena was outraged at her sacred temple being violated, and punished Medusa by turning her beautiful tresses into snakes and giving her the destructive power to turn anyone who looked directly at her into stone.

OR

During the time of Ancient Greece; there was a priestess named Medusa. Medusa was so ravishing that she was wanted by every man in Greece. She couldn’t get married because she was a priestess of Athena (Goddess of war); known as the Virgin goddess. She is so beautiful she is beyond the reach of any male desire. Servants were virgins and were devoted to the Goddess’ service. Medusa started as a symbol of purity. Poseidon, (God of sea) in a fit of raw lust, ravages the virgin priestess. She runs to the temple of Athena looking for help but there Poseidon takes her virginity and in turn desecrates the sacredness of the temple. She was no longer eligible for ordinary mirage or service to the Goddess. Athena curses her; angry about Medusa having sex on the floor of her temple. Now her curse prevents her from having anymore contact with the outside world. She kills people with a mere look. Medusa was then banished to a secluded island.