Gorgon: Difference between revisions
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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 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" /> | ||
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| | 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> | ||
==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" /> | 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> | ||
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="ACOd" /> and [[Medusa (weapon)|Medusa]], a heavy weapon found in [[Egypt]] during the 1st century BCE by the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</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="ACOd" /> and [[Medusa (weapon)|Medusa]], a heavy weapon found in [[Egypt]] during the 1st century BCE by the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | ||
Revision as of 13:22, 22 January 2020
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. [citation needed]
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.[1] Helped on the orders of the god Zeus, the messenger of the gods Hermes gave Perseus a shining sickle,[2] which might have been a 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.[1]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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,[4] and Medusa, a heavy weapon found in Egypt during the 1st century BCE by the Medjay Bayek of Siwa.[5]
Trivia
- The term gorgon is derived from the Greek γοργός (gorgós), meaning 'grim, fierce, terrible'.
Gallery
-
Gorgon's head used as an apotropaic device on a house -
-
Gorgon as part of the Aegis on the Statue of Athena in Athens -
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)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – A Treasury of Legends
- ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Glyph 5: "Instruments of Power"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Writhing Dead
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins