Skip to main content

The Medusa Myth



Since I decided to go as Medusa this year for Halloween, I thought I should brush up on my Greek myths and not just rely on my memories of the 1981, stop-motion-tastic film Clash of the Titans.  In Ovid's rendition, this symbol of female power was once a beautiful, virginal priestess, "the jealous aspiration of many suitors," in the temple of Athena.  When Poseidon decides he will have her, he "ravishes" (i.e. rapes) her as she prays in temple in front of the altar of Athena.  The goddess Athena punishes Medusa's transgression by causing snakes to grow out of her head, tearing their way through her scalp to take the place of her much admired hair.  Athena gives Medusa boar's tusks and turns her skin to scales.  (The myth doesn't mention how Athena takes vengeance on Poseidon.)  After this torturous transformation Medusa is banished to the island of Cristhene, off the coast of Ethiopia in the Red Sea.  In exile she is pursued as she was in the temple, however, instead of coming to violate her men come to decapitate her, stealing her head for its ability to petrify any living creature.  So she waits on her island, turning everyone and everything who tries to come near her to stone, with only the company of her mane of slithering snakes to break her solitude.


The myth of Medusa is a tragedy.  I don't know which is worse: being so beautiful that you lose your job and are blamed for your own rape or destroying everyone who comes near with the mere sight of you.


What I love about the Medusa myth is the symbolism around female power.  Medusa engenders that power even once she is stripped of her beauty.  Even after she is beheaded she remains an unstoppable, undeniable force-- slayer of monsters, demons, and men.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

OPD brutality v. Corp $ in government = mission drift

The Oakland Police Officers' Association just posted "An Open Letter to the Citizens of Oakland"  http://www.opoa.org/uncategorized/an-open-letter-to-the-citizens-of-oakland-from-the-oakland-police-officers%E2%80%99-association/  regarding the general strike tomorrow and inconsistency in the Mayor's message.  The letter notes the extreme cost of providing a police presence for protests and asks that the citizens of Oakland support the police in asking for the Mayor to give clear instructions that are consistent with her publicly stated positions on these issues. I support Oakland police officers and, like all employees, they deserve to have clear expectations laid out by their leadership that are in line with the values espoused by the city government.  That is that only way that any employee can be truly effective.  What is frustrating to me is that the motives of the Occupy movement have been convoluted by the Mayor and the actions of the OPD at the dire...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Sorry. You're not on the list."

I think you should have to document your personal fiscal conservatism by showing how leveraged your debt is and your credit score when you come to a rally. I have a feeling many of my comrades are under water on their little glass houses.  
Post a Comment
Read more

Oakland Businesses: if you want business to improve, support the movement.

If you feel that you're employees and/or business are being adversely effected by the Occupy Oakland movement send a representative to their nightly general assembly on Broadway and 14th Street in downtown Oakland.  Voice your concerns and take notes.  Be part of the process and help find solutions.   One suggestion is ask Occupy Oakland to publish the names of businesses who are supporting protests with signs and donations in their Twitter feed and Facebook pages.  My guess is that businesses who are willing to publicly support the movement with signage in their windows and announcements on their websites will find more customers than they know what to do with.  Go down to the encampment, bring donations and you will find allies, supporters, and lifelong customers.    http://sanfrancisco.grubstreet.com/2011/11/camino_closed_today_in_support.html
Post a Comment
Read more