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Ship-GorgonShield

The face of a gorgon on a shield

Gorgon is a creature in the Greek mythology. The legendary Medusa was considered the most famous of them. Stories of gorgons were born from a certain type of hybrid beasts created by the Isu as part of the Olympos Project.

History[]

According to the stories, the legendary founder of Mycenae and hero Perseus was tasked by the ruler of Seriphos King Polydektes to slay the gorgon Medusa.[1] Helped on the orders of the god Zeus, the messenger of the gods Hermes gave Perseus a shining sickle,[2] which might have been a harpe, as well as winged sandals and the goddess Athena gave Perseus a bronze shield, polished mirror-bright. Armed with these, Perseus succeeded in his task.[1]

During the Peloponnesian War, a member of the Daughters of Artemis, Ligeia, fell prey to a Gorgon's stare. The Spartan misthios Kassandra later defeated the creature at the request of Ligeia's lover, Bryce.[3]

Influence and legacy[]

By the time of the Peloponnesian War in 5th century BCE, the image of a gorgon was used by the Greeks as a protective amulet used to decorate houses and shields. It was also implemented in various statues of the goddess Athena as part of her Aegis.[4]

Certain weapons were associated with gorgons: there was the Gorgon Slayer, a spear which belonged to the mercenary Zetes the Retired during the 5th century BCE, the Gorgoneion Xiphos which was said to echo the voices of the Gorgon's victims,[5] and Medusa, a heavy weapon found in Egypt during the 1st century BCE by the Medjay Bayek of Siwa.[6]

Behind the scenes[]

The term gorgon is derived from the Greek γοργός (gorgós), meaning 'grim, fierce, terrible'.[7]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: OdysseyA Treasury of Legends
  2. Assassin's Creed IIGlyph 5: "Instruments of Power"
  3. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyWrithing Dead
  4. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  5. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyGorgoneion Xiphos
  6. Assassin's Creed: Origins
  7. γοργός on Wiktionary
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