Bad Snake Day

[vovat]

I've already said a bit about Medusa, but after reading kevenn's review of the Clash of the Titans remake, I felt she was worth another look. Only not a DIRECT look, because I don't want to be turned to stone.


I actually remember when I first learned about the Gorgon. There was a Medusa pinball game at our local pizza place, and my dad explained about how she had snakes for hair and anyone who saw her turned to stone. What I didn't learn until long after that was just how many versions of the Medusa legend there were. Earlier takes on the myth made her one of the primitive chthonic monsters that were always being killed by heroes to pave the way for civilization. She was the daughter of the primordial sea deities Phorcys and Ceto, and was totally hideous. Later, the myths gave her two sisters, Stheno and Euryale, and the three were of course known collectively as the Gorgons. Later depictions and stories actually started making Medusa attractive apart from the snakes, and Ovid's version of the myth says that she was originally a drop-dead gorgeous priestess in the temple of Athena. When she and Poseidon had sex in the temple, Athena punished her by turning her into the serpent-tressed monster we all know and love. I'm not sure the story was entirely clear on whether this intercourse was willing or not. You'd think it would have to be, as there wouldn't be any sense in punishing her for something that was done TO her. Unfortunately, however, the idea of blaming rape victims has a long history, and is still practiced in some parts of the world. You probably remember the recent story of a Somali girl being stoned to death for that. Poseidon probably said Medusa was asking for it because she dressed too provocatively. The thing is, you'd think Athena would sympathize with the Gorgon, considering that not only is she female, but also supposed to be the wisest of the Olympians. As we learned in the story of Arachne, however, the goddess was not at all free from jealousy and wrath. Apparently the new Clash film uses the idea that Medusa was raped and then punished for it, and if what Kevenn said is correct, then this was never even frowned upon!


By the way, did Medusa have to feed the snakes, or were they parasitic creatures living off nutrients from her body? Inquiring minds want to know! {g}

This last picture was drawn by Becca, whose blog is definitely worth a look. Probably not at work, though, as there's occasional nudity.

Comments

[burningofroissy.livejournal.com]

the idea that Medusa was raped and then punished for it, and if what Kevenn said is correct, then this was never even frowned upon!

Hoo boy, yeah. Ever read Ovid's Metamorphoses? That thing has more rape in it than a whole shelf of hentai. Sometimes gods will protect women from something like that, sometimes...eh. Athena may have been the wisest deity in the Greek pantheon, but the writers of the myths She appeared in were still ancient Greeks, so it doesn't surprise me that the same people who wrote about a whole gang of rapist gods did not do a 180 and write Her as a feminist.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

True, but you'd kind of think a modern take on the story would have SOMETHING to say about that bit of misogyny.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh my gosh I never even thought about the idea of having to feed the snakes! Wow if that were the truth can you imagine how long that must have taken? And what do you feed head snakes? Don't want to think about it :)

So glad you liked the drawing! And thanks for your comment you kind of said exactly what was going through my head :)

[(Anonymous)]

By the way that last comment was from Becca :)

[vovat.livejournal.com]

What do you feed head snakes? Maybe head cheese? :P

[(Anonymous)]

A fun little etymological aside: It's believed that the name Medusa originally just meant "female ruler," and it got its negative connotation over time. It's a good example how the lesser of two choices --- male/female, right/left, light/dark --- usually becomes associated with something bad.

http://kidicarus222.blogspot.com/2006/11/snake-wig.html

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I wonder if she really was a ruler in the earliest versions of the myth, or the name isn't related to the monster beyond both being female.