In Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, generally described as a winged human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone. Most sources describe her as the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, though the author Hyginus makes her the daughter of Gorgon and Ceto. According to Hesiod and Aeschylus, she lived and died on an island named Sarpedon, somewhere near Cisthene.
Medusa was once a beautiful woman, but was turned into a monster by Athena. According to legend, Poseidon had been seeing Medusa behind Athena’s back for many years before they were caught together in Athena’s temple where they were supposed to be worshipping her instead of doing other things.
Perseus killed Medusa with the help of Athena and Hermes. He traveled to her lair on Mount Atlas where he found her asleep. He used his shield as his mirror so he could look at her reflection without being turned to stone by her gaze, then cut off her head with his sword as she slept.
He then took her head back to Athens where he presented it to Athena’s temple as a gift. She placed it on display inside her temple along with the other trophies Perseus had brought back from his adventures.
Perseus later used Medusa’s head as a weapon, turning his enemies to stone when they looked at him while he held it aloft in triumph.
