The Tale of Medusa

(pic credit to where i found it on Google, in google images)

First things first, I'm Christian. I also have a vague fascination with Greek Mythology.

That being said, there's honestly something bothering me about Medusa's story. Everyone knows it.

There's a lot of theories as to why she got turned into a Gorgon; some say Athena was enraged Poseidon used her temple, others say Athena turned her into what she was out of pity.

Even if it was the first reason, the blame should NOT have been put on Medusa. Actually, scratch that.

NO BLAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT ON MEDUSA. MEDUSA SHOULD NOT HAVE BECOME MEDUSA.

See, there's plenty of stories where the gods go around, taking women for their own with very little to no thoughts on the mortal women's health. In some form or another, Hera got revenge on all of Zeus' dalliances, blaming them for Zeus' wandering eyes...

...but there's a huge fucking problem, here.

You do not say 'no' to a god. 

Even if the mortal woman refuses, she eventually always says 'yes'. Because the gods seemingly always get their way.

Now, I'm not sure about Medusa. But she was a mortal, and in some of the tales she was dedicated to Athena as one of Athena's priestesses.

So, first scenario. Poseidon uses Medusa to spite Athena; Athena gets utterly pissed, turns Medusa into a Gorgon, later helps Perseus kill Medusa.

Lovely.

Second scenario: Poseidon attacks Medusa, Athena turns her into a Gorgon to protect her from men in the future, later helps Perseus kill Medusa.

...do you see the itty-bitty problem I'm having?

It doesn't matter the version of the tale. Medusa cannot say 'no' to a god, as they are supposedly the most powerful beings then.

There is practically zero chance of Medusa wanting to sleep with Poseidon in her patron god's temple (unless Medusa hoped that she'd get cursed, etc... Let's not delve into that, it's 2:30 am). I mean, there's still a chance, but -

But in all of Greek times, there was this whole thing of pissing off the gods. IF Medusa agreed to have sex with Poseidon in Athena's temple, it would probably be out of the belief he would protect her.

And that would make him a shitty god of the oceans because wonderful job there, Poseidon. Your girlfriend is now part snake.

And then the second theory. Medusa being turned into a Gorgon to protect herself from men is... admirable of Athena to do, I suppose (as I've read Medusa's head was used for some protection thing in ancient times), but then there's the huge shit upon that particular theory for both.

Athena helped Perseus kill Medusa.

Now that's a piece of shit.

See, Perseus' story is something we know well (thanks to Percy Jackson's Guide to Greek Myths). For this particular tale, we'll go with that version for the sake of simplicity.

Essentially, Perseus needed Medusa's head to turn the dude threatening his mother to stone. Athena agreed to help him - she even got him flying shoes and a reflective shield.

This alone should be enough to tell she is not a 'benevolent goddess to turn Medusa to stone for Medusa's sake'.

Perseus kills her and returns home, happily ever after. Perseus' mom lives and all that fun stuff.

Medusa doesn't. Medusa was killed. Killed. For something that wasn't her fault.

Whether or not Medusa was coerced, she was the unfortunate mortal to get in between Poseidon's and Athena's feud. Whether or not Athena cursed her for sleeping with Poseidon in her temple, Athena always helped Perseus kill Medusa.

It's not fair to Medusa.

Maybe it's because I'm a woman. I just feel really terrible for Medusa. It wasn't her fault.

Signing off,
~angelslaugh