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One of the Gorgons, and the only
one who was mortal. Her gaze could turn whoever she
looked upon to stone. There is a particular myth in which
Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden. She desecrated
Athena's temple by lying there with Poseidon. Outraged,
Athena turned Medusa's hair into living snakes.
Medusa was killed by the hero Perseus with the help of
Athena and Hermes. He killed her by cutting of her head
and gave it to Athena, who placed it in the center of her
Aegis, which she wore over her breastplate.
From Medusa's dead body the giant Chrysaor and the winged
horse Pegasus, her son by Poseidon, sprang forth. |
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