Medusa

Medusa · Monster — Ancient creature with snakes for hair

Medusa (Μέδουσα) is the youngest and only mortal of the three Gorgon sisters (Stheno, Euryale, Medusa) in Greek mythology. Originally a beautiful priestess of Athena's temple, after being raped by Poseidon within the temple, she was unjustly transformed by the enraged Athena into a horrifying monster — hair turned into living serpents, with the curse that any who looked directly at her would turn to stone. This is considered Greek mythology's most tragic and unjust transformation myth, and Medusa is sometimes reinterpreted not as a simple villain but as a victim of patriarchal mythology. The hero Perseus killed her with help from Hermes's winged sandals and Athena's mirror shield. The severed head became a powerful weapon, used by Perseus to petrify enemies. From her blood were born the winged horse Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor.