• Greek mythology began with Gaea (the Earth) and Uranus (the Sky) who were the parents of twelve Titans, who were the first gods and goddesses. Later, these Titans gave rise to, and were subsequently overthrown by, all the rest of the Greek gods.
• One of the Titans was named Pontus, who ruled over the sea. When Gaea got disgusted with Uranus because he threw some of their ugliest children into the underworld, she ditched him and married her son Pontus. They became parents of a son named Phorcys and his sister Ceto. Phorcys and Ceto ruled the oceans together. They ended up having three daughters, two of whom were immortal, and one of which was mortal. The mortal daughter was named Medusa.
• The Roman poet Ovid told Medusa’s tragic tale in his collection of myths called “Metamorphoses” written around 8 A.D.
• Medusa was a very beautiful woman with alabaster skin and long golden hair. When she grew up, she went to the temple of Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, and pledged to serve Athena for the rest of her life, taking a vow of celibacy. One day, Poseidon showed up at Athena’s temple and was infatuated by Medusa. There are two schools of thought concerning how things went from there.
• Either Medusa and Poseidon fell in love and wanted to get married, which threw Athena into a jealous rage; or Medusa resisted Poseidon but was overcome by him, which made Athena want to protect Medusa from any future assaults. At any rate, Athena cast a curse over Medusa, causing her skin to turn to scales and her hair to turn to snakes. Anyone who looked into her eyes would be turned to stone. Medusa, transformed into a Gorgon, left Greece to wander Africa, forlorn and alone.
• Meanwhile, Acrisius, King of Argos, went to the Oracle of Delphi to ask if he would have any sons, since all he had was a daughter named Danae. The Oracle said he would have a grandson, who would kill him. To prevent this, Acrisius locked Danae away, so she could not get pregnant. But Zeus desired her and used his magic to impregnate her. She gave birth to Perseus. Acrisius locked Danae and Perseus in a chest and heaved it into the ocean. The chest washed up on the shore of Seriphos where Danae and Perseus were rescued by Dictys. Dictys raised Perseus to adulthood. Dictys’ brother, King Polydectes, wanted to marry Danae but she objected. He decreed that if Perseus brought him the head of Medusa, he would cancel the wedding.
• The other gods heaped Perseus with magical gifts. A polished mirror from Athena; Hermes’ winged boots; Hades’ helmet of invisibility; Hephaestus’ golden sword.
• When he approached Medusa, he tricked her into looking at herself in the mirrored shield, turning her to stone. He lopped off her head with the golden sword, not knowing that she was pregnant by Poseidon. Two infants escaped from her dying body, Pegasus (a winged horse) and Chrysaor (a winged boar).
• Medusa’s two sisters went after Perseus, but he used his winged shoes and helmet of invisibility to escape. He took Medusa’s head with him, which could still turn people to stone. As soon as he returned to Seriphos, he pulled Medusa’s head out of the sack and showed it to King Polydectes, who turned to stone. Danae was free. Perseus gave Medusa’s head to Athena who turned it into a shield.
• Perseus wanted to go to Argos, but was told about the Oracle’s prophecy. Instead, he travelled to Larissa, where athletic contests were being held. He threw the discus and it accidently hit an old man who was watching: Acrisius, King of Argos, killing him instantly.