Medusa was the most famous incarnation of the Writhing Dread, and by extension, the gorgons, a type of hybrid beast created by the Isu as part of the Olympos Project. Medusa was originally a human but taken over by an Atlantis artifact known as the Prize of the Medusa, to act as a guardian for it in order to seal the Gates of Atlantis.[1]
History
Myths
In Greek mythology, she was described as having had hair composed of live venomous snakes, wings and a gaze so deadly that all who faced it turned into stone. She was slain by the hero Perseus with a Sword of Eden,[2] a harpe according to legend, given to him by Hermes. Hermes also helped Perseus by giving him winged sandals, and the goddess Athena gave Perseus a bronze shield polished mirror-bright.[3]
After Perseus cut off her head, the winged foal Pegasos sprung from Medusa's neck.[3]
Influence and legacy
In Korinthia, the story of Medusa inspired someone to carve a monumental statue of her grimacing head, known as the Cyclopean Head of Medusa, though later its creation was attributed to the Cyclopes.[4]
It was also said that after Perseus had brought Medusa's head to Argos, the head was found in a mound of earth near Argos' agora.[4]
During the Peloponnesian War the misthios Kassandra was asked by the Spartan noblewoman Damia to tell the story of Perseus to her children Danae and Kristos and their friends.[3]
In 47 BCE, the Medjay Bayek of Siwa acquired a rare heavy weapon named after Medusa, owing to her ferocity.[5]
Trivia
- The mural depicting Perseus and Medusa in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is based on a painting on a hydria from the 6th century BCE.
Gallery
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed III: Liberation (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (artwork only)
References
- ↑ Mel MacCoubrey' Twitter
- ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Glyph 5: "Instruments of Power"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – A Treasury of Legends
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins