Medusa

Also known as: Gorgon · Family: mythological · Role: Gorgon · First appears: Book 1 · Chapter 22

In Book 1, Perseus slew Medusa, and later is described carrying her head to Polydectes. In Book 2, she is said to be the daughter of Phorcus and to have been treacherously slain by Perseus at night; after her death, he cut off her head and brought it home. She had lived with Perieres from her youth, and after his death married Œbalus.

In Book 3, Perseus’ victory over Medusa is recorded. By Book 8, Athene had cut off one of Medusa’s locks and given it to Cepheus for the city’s protection; Book 1 also describes Medusa’s head worked in ivory on Athene’s breast. In Book 10, one account includes Medusa among the daughters of Priam.

Relationship record

Life events

• Perseus slew Medusa.(Book 1 · Chapter 23)
  • With: Perseus
  • “Perseus having slain Medusa by Myron.”
• Perseus slew Medusa and cut off her head.(Book 2 · Chapter 21)
  • With: Perseus
  • “but she was treacherously slain by night, and Perseus, marvelling at her beauty even after death, cut her head off and brought it home to display to the Greeks.”
• Medusa married Œbalus after her first husband, Perieres, died.(Book 2 · Chapter 21)
  • With: Œbalus Perieres
  • “They say she was the first woman who ever married a second husband, for she married one Œbalus, when her husband Perieres the son of Æolus was dead, with whom she had lived from her virginity.”
• Perseus defeats Medusa.(Book 3 · Chapter 18)
  • With: Perseus
  • “There too is Perseus’ victory over Medusa.”
• Athene cut off one of Medusa’s locks and gave it to Cepheus as protection.(Book 8 · Chapter 47 · 📍 Tegea)
  • With: Athene Cepheus
  • “the goddess cut off one of the locks of Medusa, and gave it him as a protection for the city.”

Book 1 · Chapter 22

• with Perseus (Perseus has obtained Medusa's head.) “There too is Perseus sailing to Seriphus, carrying to Polydectes the head of Medusa.”

Book 1 · Chapter 23

• with Perseus (interaction) “Perseus having slain Medusa by Myron”

Book 1 · Chapter 24

• with Athene (Medusa's head is depicted on Athene's breastplate.) “and on her breast is the head of Medusa worked in ivory”

Book 2 · Chapter 21

• parent: Phorcus “it has been recorded of her that she was the daughter of Phorcus”
• enemies with Perseus “Perseus, though picked men followed him from the Peloponnese, but she was treacherously slain by night”
• with Perseus (Perseus killed Medusa and removed her head.) “Perseus, marvelling at her beauty even after death, cut her head off and brought it home to display to the Greeks”
• married with Perieres “for she married one Œbalus, when her husband Perieres the son of Æolus was dead, with whom she had lived from her virginity”
• married with Œbalus “for she married one Œbalus, when her husband Perieres the son of Æolus was dead”

Book 2 · Chapter 27

• with Perseus (Perseus is depicted with Medusa's head.) “and Perseus with the head of Medusa.”

Book 3 · Chapter 18

• enemies with Perseus “There too is Perseus’ victory over Medusa.”
• with Perseus (interaction) “Perseus’ victory over Medusa.”

Book 8 · Chapter 47

• with Athene (Athene cut off one of Medusa's locks.) “they say that the goddess cut off one of the locks of Medusa”

Book 10 · Chapter 26

• parent: Priam “Whoever has read the Ode of Himeræus will include her among the daughters of Priam.”

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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.