Medusa: The Hideous Gorgon

Appearance

Body of a woman with wings, claws, tusks and serpents for hair.

Special Powers

Her appearance could turn someone to stone.

Weakness

Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal.

Myth

Perseus, a son of Zeus and a mortal woman, was given a quest to kill Medusa. He used gifts from the gods, a cap of invisibility and winged sandals, to sneak into Medusa’s cave. He heard the Gorgon sleeping, but Perseus knew that he would be turned to stone if he looked at her hideous face. Fortunately for him (not so much for Medusa), Athena appeared and gave him a bronze shield. Perseus used the reflection from the shield so he could see Medusa, and then he cut off her head. Medusa’s children, Pegasus and Chrysaor were born from her neck. Perseus escaped the Gorgon sisters with his cap of invisibility and winged sandals. Medusa’s story doesn’t end there though. Perseus used Medusa’s severed head to turn his enemies to stone before giving the head to Athena.