Medusa

                                                                     

Medusa was one of three of the monstrous sisters known as the Gorgons. They had wings, sharp metallic claws, huge boar-like tusks, and serpents for hair. A look at any one of them would turn men into stone. While her sisters were immortal, Medusa was not. Their parents are the monsters Echidna and Typhoon.

Medusa was once very beautiful. However, she brought on the wrath of Athena after laying with Poseidon in one of Athena’s, the war-goddess, temples. Athena turned her into a Gorgon. Medusa retreated to live with her sisters in a cave at the entrance the Underworld, land of the dead. King Polydectes of Seriphus sent Perseus to slay the Medusa and bring back her head, hoping he would perish so that the king could marry Perseus' mother Danae.

Perseus succeeded in killing Medusa with the aid of Athena and Hermes. The goddess equipped Perseus with the tools he needed to defeat Medusa and he returned with Medusa's head. When he discovered the plot of King Polydectes he used the head of Medusa to turn him and his guests into stones. Her head was later adorned the aegis of Athena's.

When Perseus cut off her head, the winged horse Pegasus leapt from the bloody neck of the slain Medusa . Also the outcome of her death  the hero Chrysaor was born.