KIDS TRIVIA

Detailed explanation-1: -The snake-haired Medusa does not become widespread until the first century B.C. The Roman author Ovid describes the mortal Medusa as a beautiful maiden seduced by Poseidon in a temple of Athena . Such a sacrilege attracted the goddess’ wrath, and she punished Medusa by turning her hair to snakes.

Detailed explanation-2: -In this popular version the Medusa is a monster with hair of a thousand snakes. She is under a curse which causes everything she looks at to turn to stone.

Detailed explanation-3: -Medusa could have been a very prototypical goddess of a matriarchal society. Her hair of snakes and reptilian skin are symbolic of the natural cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Snakes are used due to their shedding of skin, and their rebirth to a new skin.

Detailed explanation-4: -In a late version of the Medusa myth, by the Roman poet Ovid (Metamorphoses 4.794–803), Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden, but when Neptune/Poseidon had sex with her in Minerva/Athena’s temple, Minerva punished Medusa by transforming her beautiful hair into horrible snakes.