Medusa means "guardian, protectress"
She was considered a monster, a Gorgon, generally described as a winged human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair.
People that looked into her eyes would turn to stone.
She wasn't always that way.
She is a very misunderstood Greek legend.
She was born to the sea god Phorcys and Ceto.
Medusa's two sisters were immortal but she was mortal.
Medusa was a beautiful virgin maiden.
She had men come from afar just to gaze at her.
She was a priestess at Athena's temple.
In order to do so, Medusa must remain chased.
She always turned down advances from men.
One day she caught Poseidon's eye.
One day he became restless and resentful of Medusa turning him down.
Poseidon also was forever at odds with Athena.
He chased Medusa in Athena's temple.
Medusa begged for Athena's help to no avail.
He had his way with her.
Later Athena appeared.
Instead of showing kindness to Medusa, so was vengeful.
After all, attacking other gods were forbidden.
She turned Medusa's beautiful locks into venomous serpents.
She bewitched Medusa's eyes to turn anyone that would gaze on her face into stone.
Many people heard of the monster than Medusa had become.
Instead of men coming from all around to look at her beauty, now they came for her head as a trophy.
All of them met the same fate, until Perseus.
Perseus, son of Zeus, was sent on a quest.
Hades gave Perseus his helmet that made him invisible to Medusa.
Hermes gave him a pair of winged sandals.
Athena gave him a bronze shield that could deflect Medusa's gaze.
He was also given a special sword that could cut off Medusa's head.
Perseus was able to be head Medusa.
At the time of her death, she was pregnant by Poseidon.
From her severed neck, the winged stallion, Pegasus emerged.
Perseus would keep Medusa's head as a weapon in battle.
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