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 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> | 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" /> along with his brother [[Chrysaor (mythology)|Chrysaor]].<ref>'' | After Perseus cut off her head, the winged foal [[Pegasos]] sprung from Medusa's neck,<ref name="A Treasury of Legends" /> along with his brother [[Chrysaor (mythology)|Chrysaor]].<ref name="Cattle of Geryon">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece#Arkadia|Arkadia: The Cattle of Geryon]]</ref> | ||
==Influence and legacy== | ==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 [[Cyclops|Cyclopes]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Korinthia|Korinthia: Cyclopean Head of Medusa]]</ref> | 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 [[Cyclops|Cyclopes]].<ref name="Cyclopean Head of Medusa">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Korinthia|Korinthia: Cyclopean Head of Medusa]]</ref> | ||
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>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Argolis|Argolis: Buried Head of Medusa]]</ref> | 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="Buried Head of Medusa">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Argolis|Argolis: Buried Head of Medusa]]</ref> | ||
During the [[Peloponnesian War]], the [[Sparta]]n ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Kassandra]] was asked by the Spartan 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" /> | During the [[Peloponnesian War]], the [[Sparta]]n ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Kassandra]] was asked by the Spartan 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" /> | ||
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==Behind the scenes== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
The mural depicting Perseus and Medusa in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' is based on a [https://www.theoi.com/Gallery/P23.7.html painting] on a hydria from the 6th century BCE. | |||
Though the creature fought in ''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' memory [[Writhing Dead]] is in dialogue consistently referred to as the "Writhing Dread", during the battle the creature bears the name "Medusa".<ref name="ACOd">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref> | |||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
Revision as of 11:37, 1 August 2020
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] along with his brother Chrysaor.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
During the Peloponnesian War, the Spartan 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.[7]
Behind the scenes
The mural depicting Perseus and Medusa in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is based on a painting on a hydria from the 6th century BCE.
Though the creature fought in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey memory Writhing Dead is in dialogue consistently referred to as the "Writhing Dread", during the battle the creature bears the name "Medusa".[8]
Gallery
-
Concept art of the Cyclopean Head of Medusa by Hugo Puzzuoli -
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 (@melqartiii) on Twitter "Yeah it's a person that comes in contact with the artifact and then their image manifests as one of the guardians based on which artifact they hold." (screenshot)
- ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Glyph 5: "Instruments of Power"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – A Treasury of Legends
- ↑ Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece – Arkadia: The Cattle of Geryon
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Korinthia: Cyclopean Head of Medusa
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Argolis: Buried Head of Medusa
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
