Medusa: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Myths=== | ===Myths=== | ||
In [[Greece|Greek]] mythology, she was described as having had hair composed of live [[poison|venomous]] [[snake]]s, wings and a | In [[Greece|Greek]] mythology, she was described as having had hair composed of live [[poison|venomous]] [[snake]]s, wings and a gaze so deadly that all who faced it turned into stone. She was slain by the hero [[Perseus]] with [[Perseus' Sword of Eden|a Sword of Eden]],<ref name="Glyph 5">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph 5: "Instruments of Power"]]</ref> a [[Harpe of Perseus|harpe]] according to legend, given to him by [[Hermes Trismegistus|Hermes]]. Hermes also helped Perseus by giving him winged sandals, and the goddess [[Athena]] gave Perseus a bronze shield polished mirror-bright.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[A Treasury of Legends]]</ref> | ||
After Perseus cut off her head, the winged foal [[Pegasos]] sprung from Medusa's neck.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends" /> | |||
==Influence and legacy== | ==Influence and legacy== | ||
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It was also said that after Perseus had brought Medusa's head to [[Argos]], the [[Buried Head of Medusa|head]] was found in a mound of earth near Argos' agora.<ref name="ACOd" /> | It was also said that after Perseus had brought Medusa's head to [[Argos]], the [[Buried Head of Medusa|head]] was found in a mound of earth near Argos' agora.<ref name="ACOd" /> | ||
During the [[Peloponnesian War]] the [[Mercenary|''misthios'']] [[Kassandra]] was asked by the [[Sparta]]n noblewoman [[Damia]] to tell the story of Perseus to her children [[Danae (Spartan)|Danae]] and [[Kristos]] and their friends.<ref name="A Treasury of Legends" /> | |||
In 47 BCE, the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] acquired a rare [[heavy weapons|heavy weapon]] named after Medusa, owing to her ferocity.<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | In 47 BCE, the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] acquired a rare [[heavy weapons|heavy weapon]] named after Medusa, owing to her ferocity.<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | ||
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*''[[Assassin's Creed III: Liberation]]'' {{Mo}} | *''[[Assassin's Creed III: Liberation]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' {{Mo}} | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' {{c| | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' {{c|artwork only}} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 16:49, 23 February 2019
Medusa was the most famous incarnation of the Writhing Dread, and by extension, the gorgons, a type of hybrid beast created by the Isu as part of the Olympos Project. Medusa was originally a human but taken over by an Atlantis artifact known as the Prize of the Medusa, to act as a guardian for it in order to seal the Gates of Atlantis.[1]
History
Myths
In Greek mythology, she was described as having had hair composed of live venomous snakes, wings and a gaze so deadly that all who faced it turned into stone. She was slain by the hero Perseus with a Sword of Eden,[2] a harpe according to legend, given to him by Hermes. Hermes also helped Perseus by giving him winged sandals, and the goddess Athena gave Perseus a bronze shield polished mirror-bright.[3]
After Perseus cut off her head, the winged foal Pegasos sprung from Medusa's neck.[3]
Influence and legacy
In Korinthia, the story of Medusa inspired someone to carve a monumental statue of her grimacing head, known as the Cyclopean Head of Medusa, though later its creation was attributed to the Cyclopes.[4]
It was also said that after Perseus had brought Medusa's head to Argos, the head was found in a mound of earth near Argos' agora.[4]
During the Peloponnesian War the misthios Kassandra was asked by the Spartan noblewoman Damia to tell the story of Perseus to her children Danae and Kristos and their friends.[3]
In 47 BCE, the Medjay Bayek of Siwa acquired a rare heavy weapon named after Medusa, owing to her ferocity.[5]
Trivia
- The mural depicting Perseus and Medusa in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is based on a painting on a hydria from the 6th century BCE.
Gallery
-
Concept art of the Cyclopean Head of Medusa -
The Head with the Kephisos' Sanctuary Ruins behind -
Gorgon, possibly Medusa, as part of the Aegis on the Statue of Athena in Athens -
Gorgon, possibly Medusa, as part of the Aegis on a marble statue of Athena -
The face of a gorgon, possibly Medusa, on a shield -
A 5th century BCE mural depicting Perseus beheading Medusa
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed III: Liberation (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (artwork only)
References
- ↑ Mel MacCoubrey' Twitter
- ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Glyph 5: "Instruments of Power"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – A Treasury of Legends
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedACOd - ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins