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As 'lovely' as that bit in Ovid's Metamorphoses is, no canon mention is made of it.
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{{Era|Animals}}
{{Era|Animals}}{{WP-REAL}}
{{WP-REAL}}
[[File:Ship-GorgonShield.jpg|thumb|250px|The face of a gorgon on a shield]]
[[File:Ship-GorgonShield.jpg|thumb|250px|The face of a gorgon on a shield]]
'''Gorgon''' is a creature in the [[Greece|Greek]] [[Greek mythology|mythology]]. The legendary [[Medusa]] was considered the most famous of them. Stories of gorgons were born from a certain type of hybrid beasts created by the [[Isu]] as part of the [[Olympos Project]].
A '''Gorgon''' in [[Greek mythology]] is any member from the monstrous sisters [[Medusa]], {{Wiki|Stheno and Euryale}} who were described as having so dreadful an appearance that they would petrify onlookers. The antiquity authors [[Hesiod]], [[Euripides]], and {{Wiki|Gaius Julius Hyginus}} all gave differing accounts of the Gorgons' parentage, but all agreed that only Medusa could be killed.<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Gorgons}}</ref>
 
In truth, stories of gorgons were born from a hybrid beast called the [[Writhing Dread]] that the [[Isu]] made as part of the [[Olympos Project]].


==History==
==History==
According to the stories, the legendary founder of [[Mycenae]] and hero [[Perseus]] was tasked by the ruler of [[Seriphos]] King [[Polydektes]] to slay the gorgon Medusa.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[A Treasury of Legends]]</ref> Helped on the orders of the god [[Zeus]], the messenger of the gods [[Hermes Trismegistus|Hermes]] gave Perseus a [[Perseus' Sword of Eden|shining sickle]],<ref name="Glyph 5">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph 5: "Instruments of Power"]]</ref> which might have been a [[Harpe of Perseus|harpe]], as well as winged sandals and the goddess Athena gave Perseus a bronze shield, polished mirror-bright. Armed with these, Perseus succeeded in his task.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends" />
According to legend, King [[Polydektes]] of [[Seriphos]] tasked the hero [[Perseus]] to slay the gorgon Medusa.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[A Treasury of Legends]]</ref> On [[Jupiter|Zeus]]' orders, [[Minerva|Athena]] gifted Perseus with a [[bronze]] [[shield]] polished mirror-bright, while [[Hermes Trismegistus|Hermes]] gave him a pair of winged sandals, [[Hades]]' {{Wiki|cap of invisibility}},<ref name="Wiki"/> and a [[Perseus' Sword of Eden|shining sickle]]<ref name="Glyph 5">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph]] #5: "Instruments of Power"</ref> or {{Wiki|harpe}}. Armed with these, Perseus succeeded in his task.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends" />


During the [[Peloponnesian War]], a member of the [[Daughters of Artemis]], [[Ligeia]], fell prey to a [[Writhing Dread|Gorgon]]'s stare. The [[Sparta]]n ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Kassandra]] later defeated the creature at the request of Ligeia's lover, [[Bryce]].<ref name="Writhing Dead">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Writhing Dead]]</ref>
During the [[Peloponnesian War]], the [[Daughters of Artemis]] member [[Ligeia]] fell prey to a Gorgon's stare. The ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Kassandra]] later defeated the creature at the request of Ligeia's lover, [[Bryce]].<ref name="Writhing Dead">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Writhing Dead]]</ref>


==Influence and legacy==
==Influence and legacy==
By the time of the Peloponnesian War in 5th century BCE, the image of a gorgon was used by the Greeks as a protective amulet used to decorate houses and shields. It was also implemented in various statues of the goddess Athena as part of her [[Aegis]].<ref name="ACOd">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey''</ref>
By the 5th century BCE, the Greeks used gorgon imagery as a {{Wiki|Apotropaic magic|protective symbol}} to decorate houses and shields. It was also implemented in various statues of the goddess Athena as part of her [[Aegis]].<ref name="ACOd">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref>


Certain weapons were associated with gorgons: there was the [[Gorgon Slayer]], a [[spear]] which belonged to the mercenary [[Zetes the Retired]] during the 5th century BCE, the [[Gorgoneion Xiphos]] which was said to echo the voices of the Gorgon's victims,<ref name="Gorgoneion Xiphos">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Gorgoneion Xiphos]]</ref> and [[Medusa (weapon)|Medusa]], a heavy weapon found in [[Egypt]] during the 1st century BCE by the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]].<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref>
Certain weapons throughout antiquity were associated with gorgons: the mercenary [[Zetes the Retired]] wielded the [[spear]] [[Gorgon Slayer]] in the 5th century BCE, the [[Gorgoneion Xiphos]] was said to echo the voices of the Gorgon's victims,<ref name="Gorgoneion Xiphos">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Gorgoneion Xiphos]]</ref> and the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] found the [[heavy weapon]] [[Medusa (weapon)|Medusa]] in [[Egypt]] during the 1st century BCE.<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref>


==Behind the scenes==
==Behind the scenes==
The term ''gorgon'' is derived from the Greek [[wikt:γοργός|γοργός]] (''gorgós''), meaning 'grim, fierce, terrible'.<ref name="γοργός">[[wikt:γοργός|γοργός]] on Wiktionary</ref>
The term ''gorgon'' is derived from the Greek [[wikt:γοργός|γοργός]] (''gorgós''), meaning "grim, fierce, terrible".<ref name="γοργός">{{WT|γοργός}}</ref>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
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==Appearances==
==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' {{1stm}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' {{c|artwork}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' {{c|artwork}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]] – [[Valley of Memory]]'' {{Mdat}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Discovery Tour: AlUla]]'' {{Mdat}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mythical creatures]]
[[Category:Mythical creatures]]
[[Category:Olympos Project]]
[[Category:Olympos Project]]

Latest revision as of 03:13, 29 September 2026

The face of a gorgon on a shield

A Gorgon in Greek mythology is any member from the monstrous sisters Medusa, Stheno and Euryale who were described as having so dreadful an appearance that they would petrify onlookers. The antiquity authors Hesiod, Euripides, and Gaius Julius Hyginus all gave differing accounts of the Gorgons' parentage, but all agreed that only Medusa could be killed.[1]

In truth, stories of gorgons were born from a hybrid beast called the Writhing Dread that the Isu made as part of the Olympos Project.

History[edit | edit source]

According to legend, King Polydektes of Seriphos tasked the hero Perseus to slay the gorgon Medusa.[2] On Zeus' orders, Athena gifted Perseus with a bronze shield polished mirror-bright, while Hermes gave him a pair of winged sandals, Hades' cap of invisibility,[1] and a shining sickle[3] or harpe. Armed with these, Perseus succeeded in his task.[2]

During the Peloponnesian War, the Daughters of Artemis member Ligeia fell prey to a Gorgon's stare. The misthios Kassandra later defeated the creature at the request of Ligeia's lover, Bryce.[4]

Influence and legacy[edit | edit source]

By the 5th century BCE, the Greeks used gorgon imagery as a protective symbol to decorate houses and shields. It was also implemented in various statues of the goddess Athena as part of her Aegis.[5]

Certain weapons throughout antiquity were associated with gorgons: the mercenary Zetes the Retired wielded the spear Gorgon Slayer in the 5th century BCE, the Gorgoneion Xiphos was said to echo the voices of the Gorgon's victims,[6] and the Medjay Bayek of Siwa found the heavy weapon Medusa in Egypt during the 1st century BCE.[7]

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

The term gorgon is derived from the Greek γοργός (gorgós), meaning "grim, fierce, terrible".[8]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gorgons on Wikipedia
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – A Treasury of Legends
  3. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Glyph #5: "Instruments of Power"
  4. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Writhing Dead
  5. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  6. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Gorgoneion Xiphos
  7. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins
  8. ↑ γοργός on Wiktionary
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