The Power of the Feminine
Medusa’s not-so-secret power was the ability to turn anyone who looked directly at her into stone, but this was not always the case.
The once desirable and compelling maiden Medusa was cursed by the virginal god Athena (Hellenic symbol of female virtue) for allowing herself to be seduced by Poseiden in Athena’s temple. It was a classic case of victim blaming.
Females are frequently found guilty for the transgression of males, however Medusa’s story, her portrayal and the symbolism societies have attached to her, is more than a one dimensional victim of the patriarchy.
Certainly Medusa represents female oppression - Poseidon violated the beautiful maiden who paid the price for his lust; later, the 'hero' Perseus beheaded Medusa while she slept.
These days, some victims of sexual assault choose to invert this narrative of shame and punishment - they have the head of Medusa tattooed on themselves, reclaiming Medusa as a symbol of empowerment, strength, and protection against evil.
The use of Medusa to ward off evil is not a modern one. Medusa’s head was used to deter bad luck on vases, in domestic architecture and temples across the ancient world. She popped up everywhere, surprising drinkers as they drained their cups, guarding the house in the form of terracotta tiles, and represented on the armour of Greek soldiers protecting the wearer against the enemy in mortal combat.
The Baroque painter Caraviggio’s arresting painting of Medusa is a self-portrait. The artist, who kept questionable company, was given to sword fights, and always in conflict with the law. Maybe by painting himself as Medusa, he was saying that he was immune to her fatal gaze, perhaps symbolising a view that he was above the law. His is a direct and compelling work which was completed in the late 1600s and still draws the gaze of crowds to Florence's Uffizi gallery today.
In Camile Claudel’s sculpture Perseus and the Gorgon 1897, the sculptor captures more than one moment of triumph. Perseus is victorious and he holds Medusa's head high, and her blood soaks the drape wrapped sinuously around his naked body, which when it reaches the ground, will give rise to the sublime winged horse Pegasus.
The designer Gianni Versace also honed in on the positive when he chose Medusa as the company logo, which continues to represent the power and beauty of the luxury brand.
Medusa is a paradox. She represents a dangerous threat against other dangerous threats; the fearsome power of Nature and the feminine; the ability to protect or ward off evil, and the power of the positive over the negative. Perhaps this is why she has featured in art for so many centuries.
