Mythical Gorgon Medusa
We've been working on Medusa necklaces this week.
In Greek mythology Medusa was a Gorgon, a winged female creature,
and she had living venomous snakes in place of hair.
Medusa in German Historical Museum in Berlin, Germany.
Medusa was once a beautiful woman, but she offended Athena (goddess of Wisdom),
who changed her hair into snakes and made her face so hideous
that all who looked at her were turned to stone.
who changed her hair into snakes and made her face so hideous
that all who looked at her were turned to stone.
Medusa by painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1618, now in a museum in Vienna, Austria.
Medusa had two Gorgon sisters, and they there both immortal but not Medusa.
She was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who used Medusa's head as a weapon.
This bronze sculpture of Perseus with Medusa's head was made by Cellini in 1554, and it's in Florence, Italy.
Perseus was a great Greek hero and slayer of monsters.
Hermes lent Perseus winged sandals to fly, and Athena gave him a polished shield.
Perseus then proceeded to the Gorgons' cave. In the cave he came upon the sleeping Medusa.
By viewing Medusa's reflection in his polished shield, he safely approached and cut off her head.
Medusa's powers to turn onlookers to stone continued even after she was beheaded.
After Perseus victories, he gave the Medusa head to Athena.
Golden statue of Perseus with Medusa's head - in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Athena (goddess of wisdom and war), placed Medusa's head on her war shield
as protection and as a guardian against evil.
It is from these mythical tales, the notion started;
to use of Medusa's head as a powerful symbol for protection, to ward off evil.
Here we have the Medusa head on an old wood door in Paris, France ~ to keep the evil and bad luck out.
Medusa comes from the ancient greek word “μεδώ” and means the Protectress.
After Perseus victories, he gave the Medusa head to Athena.
Golden statue of Perseus with Medusa's head - in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Athena (goddess of wisdom and war), placed Medusa's head on her war shield
as protection and as a guardian against evil.
It is from these mythical tales, the notion started;
to use of Medusa's head as a powerful symbol for protection, to ward off evil.
Here we have the Medusa head on an old wood door in Paris, France ~ to keep the evil and bad luck out.
Medusa comes from the ancient greek word “μεδώ” and means the Protectress.
Using her head on a shield as means of protective powers has been common over the ages.
You can find her head on doors and gates and jewelry, just about anything that needs to be protected.
Here is a Medusa shield in the Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy.
Gorgoneions (a representation of a Gorgon's head) was also used for jewelry.
A special apotropaic amulet was worn as a protective pendant.
It was supposedly having the magic power to avert evil influences or bad luck.
We like to think it still does...
This Medusa engraving is part of a design book for seals and gem engravers ~ the book dates to 1828.
We hope our Gorgoneion Medusa head holds some magical powers.
We've worked with her head all week without turning to stone,
so, in truth, she is our Protectress.
If you want to purchase the Gorgoneion, we hope she'll be your symbol for protection,
your special powerful amulet to guard against evil and bad luck.
You can find her head on doors and gates and jewelry, just about anything that needs to be protected.
Here is a Medusa shield in the Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy.
Gorgoneions (a representation of a Gorgon's head) was also used for jewelry.
A special apotropaic amulet was worn as a protective pendant.
It was supposedly having the magic power to avert evil influences or bad luck.
We like to think it still does...
This Medusa engraving is part of a design book for seals and gem engravers ~ the book dates to 1828.
We hope our Gorgoneion Medusa head holds some magical powers.
We've worked with her head all week without turning to stone,
so, in truth, she is our Protectress.
If you want to purchase the Gorgoneion, we hope she'll be your symbol for protection,
your special powerful amulet to guard against evil and bad luck.