Gorgon

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The face of a gorgon on a shield

Gorgon is a creature in the Greek 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.

History

In Ovid's Metamorphises, Medusa became a gorgon after the god Poseidon raped her in Athena's temple.

According to the stories, the legendary founder of Mycenae and hero Perseus slew Medusa with a shining sickle given to him by the messenger of the gods Hermes, which might have been a harpe.

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

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.

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, and Medusa, a heavy weapon found in Egypt during the 1st century BCE by the Medjay Bayek of Siwa.

Trivia

• The term gorgon is derived from the Greek γοργός (gorgós), meaning 'grim, fierce, terrible'.

Gallery

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  Gorgon's head used as an apotropaic device on a house
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  Gorgon as part of the Aegis on the Statue of Athena in Athens
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  Gorgon as part of the Aegis on a marble statue of Athena

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (mentioned only)