![]() ![]() This narrative continues with the fact that Medusa (the victim) was punished instead of the abuser (the god Poseidon)įurther important symbolism behind Medusa tattoos originated from the fact that she was forced to be silent about the act. The fact that Medusa was a victim of rape by a god who believed he was entitled to her body (sounds familiar right?) resonates more than ever with victims of abuse. Medusa is a particularly iconic figure among women that have experienced assault and sexual assault, especially from men. She is an icon for those that feel oppressed or those that have been mistreated. To many, Medusa is a symbol of strength, resilience, solidarity, and survival. However, there are some important themes from the infamous Greek myth that help explain the symbolism behind most Medusa tattoos. Of course, Medusa tattoos can have various meanings depending on an individual’s interpretation and personal beliefs. A bronze sculpture made by Benvenuto Cellini in Florence. He had located Medusa (who you couldn’t look at) using the reflections in a shield (gifted to him by Athena) and beheaded Medusa before she could awake. The King has chosen Medusa as he believed she was invincible and that she would kill Perseus, whom he hated.Īnyway, Perseus succeeded and then used Medusa’s severed head to kill the king. Perseus had been challenged by King Polydectes (who was in love with Perseus’ mother) to kill Medusa. That was until the day that she was beheaded in her sleep by Perseus. Medusa was then forced to live a life of silent solitude in a cave on an island called Sarpedon. So to clarify, Medusa who was brutally raped by a God has now lost everything and can’t even talk to anybody about it as she will turn anyone that looks at her into stone. A Gorgon was a creature with snakes for hair and a gaze that could turn people to stone in an instant. ![]() Instead of targeting her fury at Poseidon the perpetrator, she blamed the victim of the horrific act, poor Medusa.Īthena enacted a terrible punishment on Medusa, she turned her into a Gorgon. Upon discovering what had happened, Athena became enraged that her temple at been disrespected like this. He believed that since he was a god, he was entitled to her body. On a visit to Athena’s temple, Poseidon (God of Sea and Water ) became so infatuated with Medusa that on his return he raped her. Medusa was a beautiful young woman and a Priestess of Athena (Goddess of War and Wisdom). So here’s a quick recap of the important points in the Medusa story. When telling the tale, people also tend to concentrate on the character of Perseus, instead of the brutal ordeals of Medusa. The ancient Greek tale is often misunderstood and mistold and often portrays Medusa as some kind of demonic monster, which is unfair. To appreciate the meaning behind Medusa tattoos, especially for women, it’s really important to understand the story. In this guide, we showcase our favorite Medusa tattoo ideas, some of which are truly incredible! We also explain the real Medusa story and the important symbolism that Medusa tattoos represent.Ĭredit: own_agenda_tattoo The Tragic Tale of Medusa Medusa has been wrongly portrayed as a monster for too long and few people actually know her tragic story. "That's why a lot of people have this tattoo, because if they were, they are victims, it is like empowering yourself, taking back your power type of thing," said in her video, after going viral discussing Medusa tattoos.Medusa tattoos are enjoying a resurgence and rightly so. She is seen as a symbol of power after sexual assault and combatting the culture of victim-blaming as a woman made into a monster for her own rape. Similarly, the TikTok tattoos reference Medusa as a victim rather than a villain. ![]() She was even used in feminist theorist Hélène Cixous's 1975 manifesto The Laugh of the Medusa. In modern tales of Gorgon though, she is a symbol of female rage. Other iterations of the myth however recognize it as a blessing, a way for Medusa to protect herself after being assaulted by Poseidon.Īccording to The Met Museum, Medusa is portrayed in most Greek art as an "apotropaic symbol used to protect and ward off the negative," representing a "dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil." In the widely believed variation, the power put onto Medusa was a curse from Athena, who was furious at the tainting of her sacred temple. Beautiful tattoo has so many underlying truths #improudofyou #ShowYourGlow ♬ she knows - favsoundds
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