was medusa a symbol of protection for women

I almost got a Medusa pendent myself but I just never ended up getting one. She argues that decapitation is not a symbol of castration anxiety, but rather a result of it. wildfirepunch / Instagram. When Athena discovers that Posidon has raped Medusa, she chooses to blame her rather than him. Medusa Tattoo Designs 1. The Greeks believed most snakes to be poisonous as well which represents the end of a life cycle. Medusa was protective of her chastity and rejected Poseidons advances when the God tried to seduce her. In it, a nude Perseus proudly presents the dead Gorgons head in one hand, grasping some of the hair that writhes with a few subtle serpents. Furthermore, she advocates for the respect of the feminine gender. The symbol offers protection from harm caused by the evil eye. The Hamsa is a talisman from the ancient Middle East. The story of Medusa continues to provoke renewed perspectives on its symbolism including through the lens of feminism and psychoanalysis. Her power is also associated with protection, as she was often depicted as a guardian of the temple. She has the divine ability to keep your mind sane as a female. The myth tells us that the only way to defeat Medusa is by looking at our reflections through a mirror and this tells us that we should reflect upon ourselves to defeat our darkest demons. In the myths, any mortal who set eyes upon it was immediately turned to stone. The curse was meant to punish medusa, but it eventually became leverage for other spiritual things. From a feminist perspective, Medusas story seems a cautionary tale of the symbolic decapitation of women and a loss of ones power. Crypto Thereby, to castrate a man is to severe his most vital organ; and to decapitate a woman is to take her most vital source of power. If we go back to Greek antiquity, Medusa was a mighty force endowed with the power to both kill and redeem. Snakes were often connected to deception as well which reflected on the trust men put in women back in those days. Her snakes are undoubtedly one of the better-known symbols in Greek mythology. During my free time, I love reading and researching history. Historically, the figure of Medusa has been used to ward off evil. She is an advocate of the exaltation of femininity. As weve mentioned, the myth of Medusa can be interpreted in various ways, but I think perhaps the most fascinating analysis is done through a feminist perspective because it unveils just how swift we are to circumvent female rage. However even in the face of tragedy and disgrace, the Medusa was portrayed as meaningful. Read the best quotes from Greek mythology about Medusa. Seems a little ironic that a monster like Medusa would be used as a way to keep family protected against the evils of the world. As a result, she symbolizes both death and rebirth. Medusas snakes were said to represent the cycle of life, rebirth, and death. Medusa slept with Poseidon in Athena's temple knowing the consequences, but did it anyways therefore Athena was right about punishing her. severed head, capable of transfixion even in death, is carted away to help him defeat the villain of his story. Throughout all of her work, Cixous decries phallocentric storytelling and histories in which men and the psychoanalytic lens of phallic imagery are centered in womens stories. However, seeing her in your dream changes the narrative. One day Neptune Found her and raped her, in Minervas temple, And the goddess turned away, and hid her eyes Behind her shield, and, punishing the outrage As it deserved, she changed her hair to serpents, And even now, to frighten evil doers, She carries on her breastplate metal vipers To serve as awful warning of her vengeance.. "Pegasus, poetry, was born of Medusa when her head was cut off." - Joseph Campbell. Business, Economics, and Finance. 7 Spiritual Meanings of Slugs in the House: Is it Good Luck? This week, a Black Southern quilt collection is donated to a Mississippi museum, the fascinating AI-generated ceramic glazes, a map of Italian Fascist monuments, and can clothing ever truly be recycled? Shes been found on houses, tombs, walls of cities, and temples (including the famous example, the Temple of Artemis in Corfu, which is what my paper circles around). The myth of Medusa lies at the nexus of conversations about symbolism, feminity, rage, and the ways women are symbols of generativity, desire, and power. Beauty, like monstrosity, enthralls, and female beauty in particular was perceived and, to a certain extent, is still perceived to be both enchanting and dangerous, or even fatal.. pic.twitter.com/u61VAuxhJ8. Oftentimes, this message comes with the message of wisdom and spiritual understanding because they are intertwined. (image: Public Domain/Medusa by Caravaggio). She is astute in the ways of protection and lends her guardianship to those who need her most. As this article from the Atlantic puts it: "In Western culture, strong women have historically been imagined as threats requiring male conquest and control. Finally, shes a triple goddess. 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. 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. It is said that everyone has a masculine and feminine self. Founded in 2009, Hyperallergic is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. Originally born in Weirton West Virginia she spent most of her life in Pittsburgh PA. However, she found a way to remain relevant. Instead of being seen as a monster, she is now depicted as a feminine Fatale. Hence, Medusa's tale has served as a metaphor for power and bravery, particularly for women who have experienced s*xual harassment. It is said that medusa was known for her innate wisdom, and many earlier scientists drew their great intellects and discoveries from her. The inclusion of Medusa in the center implies the protection of the goddess Athena, who wore the Gorgon's likeness on her aegis, as said above. The snake-like strands of hair also represent the cunning ability of snakes, which gives additional wisdom. She is both feminine and monstrous. Some believed that Medusa was the Libyan Goddess, Neith, who was the Goddess of Hunting and War. Her petrifying gaze turns men into stone but only towards those who look at her hideous appearance. He poses the idea that to decapitate = to castrate. Through this framework, Freud posits that the female head is akin to her genitalia keeping in mind that Medusa did in fact give birth to her child from her severed neck. Due to the apotropaic (protective) function of her image, the hydra Medusa motif has been widespread since the Hellenistic period. Beyond the stories we have heard about this goddess, there are things to learn from her, which can be applied to our daily living. 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. It means that medusa can encourage men to embrace their feminine selves. The fair fosters a welcoming environment for all those with an appreciation for art, regardless of background or technical know-how. She was no longer depicted as a monster like it was written in the stories about her. Her expression is one of surprised, but unblinking, sorrow. In the 1994 book, Female Rage: Unlocking Its Secrets, Claiming Its Power, the authors claimed that when they asked women what female rage looked like to them, it was always Medusawho came to mindIn one interview after another they were told that Medusa is the most horrific woman in the world. None of the women they interview could remember the details of the myth, and perhaps, had they been able to, they would have had a different perspective. The eye of Horus is an ancient symbol embued with magickal power and meaning. The story of Medusa shifted over time along with her visage. Romans were part of the Greek world, and yes a Gorgon head was an apotropaic symbol in the broader Greek world too. Now, the same generation has turned her into a feminist icon with a story too many can relate to; instead of being a symbol of fear, Medusa has become the symbol of justice for sexual assault victims. In some cases, Medusa was even considered to be a symbol of fertility. Open March 31 through April 2. 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. 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. According to some myths, this was the real head of Medusa. The masculine part is the rigid, convinced, and hard-hearted aspect of us, while the feminine side is the tender, emotional, loving, and caring part of us. You can keep medusas image with you to remind you of the danger of unfaithfulness. Whenever you see an image of medusa, or dream of her, it encourages you to embrace the feminine side of yourself. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She turned anyone unlucky enough to stare directly at her face into stone. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. Medusa - whose name probably comes from the Ancient Greek word for "guardian" - was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, and sisters of the Graeae, Echidna, and Ladon. link to 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa. Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. Athena brandished Medusa's head on her shield similarly to why Ancient Greek soldiers brandished Phobos's face on their shields: to insight fear. Venus was born from seafoam. The Gorgon's head (or the head of Medusa) is a symbol of terror, death and divine magical power, in Greek mythology. This is especially true with the character of Medusa, because while the feminist reclaimed version is the one many of us have come to know, it wasnt always the way Medusa was written. A writer of all things gender, culture, and travel. According to Ferenczi,1 the head of the Medusa is a terrible symbol of the female genital region displaced from below upwards. I know for a fact Romans wore this as an apotropaic symbol, to avert evil (sorry not as knowledgable about Greek practices yet) . On a 570 BCE terracotta stand, Medusa is comically hideous, and fully bearded, sticking out her tongue between two tusks. In this version of the story, it is said that Medusa was in the temple of Minvera and that one day Neptune, the god of the sea, found her and sexually assaulted her. The meaning of Medusa is powerful. Medusa can be given to you as a sign and message. As she became more and more attractive, Medusa's allure became a symbol of her power in the world, a might that was often distinctly feminine. Freuds analysis of the Medusa myth is that she was decapitated because she represents castration anxiety through phallic symbolism. Sculptors and painters would use the Medusa head as an apotropaic symbol to ward. She also aided Perseus in later killing Medusa once and for all. She is the symbol of what female power looks like in the face of threatened male authority. She was cold, calculated, and terrifying. Just like movies like clash of the titans, she is a powerful spiritual entity that exists in ancient greek mythology. Be careful of this. In order to unpack the feminist implication of the mythology, lets begin with the narrative of her story. AirplaneMode - BONES. Cixous disagrees with this analysis. Even into the 19th century, as the romanticization continued, her eyes did not close. It was believed this would protect them on the journey into the next life. What are your opinions on Medusa as a symbol of protection? Many in Greek culture also link snakes to a womans menstruation cycle which relates to the cycle of life and death as well. What does the Medusa symbolize? The Greeks loved to romanticize their culture in the form of Greek mythology and every character in it represented something about their culture. Unfortunately, the Goddess Athena didnt see it that way and punished her because she couldnt punish the God for his defilement. You will see this in movies like clash of the titans. Venus had many lovers both mortal and immortal. I write about my spiritual experiences to help all those who go through the same. She is also known to ward off evil spirits from peoples environments. 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. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! Protection Symbol #9 The Eye of Horus. It is said that medusa protects people from suffering what she suffered at the hands of Athena. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three monstrous sisters comprised of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale.

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