Gorgon
In Greek mythology, Gorgons are women with snakes for hair. Their gaze turns anyone who meets it to stone, serving as a ruthless form of defense.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Greek mythology
- Kind
- Gorgon sisters
- Trait family
- The Stone-Gazers
- Symbols
- Snake
Near this figure
and 2 more
Symbols
Judged against the description by a model. Meanings are our own paraphrase.
- Snake bears Snake is a broad serpent symbol of creation and guardianship; South American traditions name Snake a primordial earth-maker and giver of hunting arts.
why
In Greek mythology, Gorgons are women with snakes for hair.
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Form
- Deadly gaze
why
The most notorious power of the Gorgons is their petrifying gaze.
- Snake hair
why
their hair, which consists of living, venomous snakes instead of normal human hair
- Cursed into monstrous form
why
Medusa was said to have once been a beautiful maiden who was transformed into a Gorgon as punishment by the goddess Athena.
Behaviour
- Petrifying gaze turns victims to stone
why
Any living creature that meets the eyes of a Gorgon is instantly turned to stone, frozen for eternity in a pose of terror.
Offensive powers
- Petrifying gaze
why
Any living creature that meets the eyes of a Gorgon is instantly turned to stone, frozen for eternity in a pose of terror.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.
- Shadow carries both readings
4 citations
- Apollodorus, translated by J. G. Frazer, The Library, p. 5.
- Hesiod, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns and Homerica, p. 98.
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Gorgons."
- Timothy Gantz, Early Greek Myth, p. 6.
- Hero meets
4 citations
- Apollodorus, translated by J. G. Frazer, The Library, p. 5.
- Hesiod, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns and Homerica, p. 98.
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Gorgons."
- Timothy Gantz, Early Greek Myth, p. 6.