In the context of Greek mythology, a gorgon is a being from the underworld in the shape of a woman. This creature is described with a striking appearance: snakes instead of hair, teeth in the shape of large fangs, golden wings that allow them to fly and copper claws.
In the mythological tradition they are understood as monsters that stalk men and that if they look them in the eye they end up petrified by the magical effect of their gaze. These creatures possess extraordinary physical and mental powers and have the gift of healing. In this sense, the blood that comes from his right side is healing, but the one that comes from the left side is a lethal poison.
Medusa is the best known
Esteno, Euríale and Medusa are the three legendary figures. They are daughters of two sea gods Forcis and Keto and only one of their daughters is mortal, Medusa. In the stories of Hesiod it is said that originally Medusa was a being of great beauty that lived in the temple of Athena. Her attractiveness aroused the interest of the god Poseidon, who ended up raping her.
The goddess Athena was irritated with Medusa for having sullied her temple and for this reason she turned her into a monstrous being with snakes instead of hair and with a penetrating gaze with which it was possible to petrify anyone who dared to look at her.
Medusa was exiled to a distant land known as Hyperborea and when the goddess Athena learned that she was pregnant with Poseidon she was so enraged that she sent Perseus to end her life. Perseus obeyed the orders and cut off Medusa's head while she slept. From his bloody neck two creatures were born: the horse Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor.
The myth of Medusa is part of the history of art and, at the same time, it is an icon of the feminist movement.
Other strange creatures
In addition to gods, nymphs and heroes, all kinds of fantastic beings appear in Greek mythology. Among them we can highlight the following creatures: centaurs, mermaids, cyclops, hecatonchires, mermen or harpies.
Centaurs have the torso of a human and the rest of the body of a horse. Mermaids are a hybrid of a woman and a fish. Cyclops are giants with only one eye on their foreheads. Hecatonchires are giants with many arms and heads. Mermen are the male version of mermaids. Finally, there are women with wings and sharp claws that are known as harpies.
Photos: Fotolia - Matiasdelcarmine / Gina Sanders
