The sad story of Medusa the Gorgon through the eyes of artists of different times

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Medusa, the infamous Gorgon, has been a source of inspiration for countless artists throughout many historical periods. Consequently, many of them used various techniques to reproduce the hypnotic charm of Medusa. Today, her gaze continues to captivate viewers in the form of mosaics with optical illusions, statues and drawings. The head of Medusa is immediately recognizable: a direct confrontational look, snakes instead of hair, a distorted facial expression - all these features are characteristic of the image of the Gorgon. However, each artist depicted her in a new and unusual way to reflect the thoughts of society at that time.

In the ancient world, this mesmerizing image could be found as a decoration on a chariot in the 1st-2nd centuries AD. NS. A provocative look adorned the chariot pole connecting the two wheels. Imagine the effect: the wheel spins in a fast blur, while Medusa's head in the center remains stoic and solid. Chaos of movement surrounds Medusa as her gaze constantly grabs the attention of an audience watching a man in a chariot.

Archaeologists believe that this image of Medusa probably adorned a ceremonial chariot, not a racing one. Therefore, it is likely that the chariot was carrying an important person who would like to radiate the same charm. Medusa's head has been a popular decor choice due to its wonderful myth.

Athena cursed Medusa for desecrating her sacred temple, and the goddess turned her into a Gorgon. When the Greek hero Perseus appeared and killed her, he gave the head of Medusa to Athena as a tribute. Athena then took Medusa's head and placed it on her shield, or in some versions, on her breastplate. Thus, the slain head of Medusa became a symbol of Athena's victory.

When people decided to decorate their clothes and garments with the head of Medusa, they caused the same triumph that Athena experienced after her death. Medusa's eyes appear brighter in this piece of art than the rest of the artifact, and therefore her piercing gaze has been preserved.

This piece of Medusa art was recently found in the ancient Odeon (theater) in Kibriya, Turkey, and may date back to the 1st century AD. NS. From what was discovered during the restoration, we can see that this beautiful piece of Medusa's art is focused on her eyes and facial expressions. Medusa's hair and the outer shape of her face are blurred, and they blend into the distorted but colorful background.

This type of mosaic is unusual and attractive, and the pattern, combined with the vibrant color, enhances the dynamic change from the face to its surroundings. It reflects the power of Medusa's gaze, which draws the audience to look at the source of power - the eyes to which the viewer will be forever glued. By focusing her gaze, she intensifies the expression of suffering and pain, her suffering manifests itself in pinched eyebrows and a twisted neck. She personifies tragedy, a suitable theme for the theater.

The Greeks had two main themes in the theater: tragedy and comedy. Medusa is the perfect piece for theatrical decor, because Medusa's own myth is a tragedy. God Poseidon raped her in the temple of Athena, which violated its holiness. Athena was furious with Poseidon, but could not take revenge on him due to his status as a god, so her anger fell on an undeserved sacrifice: Medusa.

The mosaic style reinforces the illustration of how Medusa fell into the trap of a curse. She is full of shock and pain. A gaze into Medusa's eyes triggers the illusionist's trick, as during it, the surrounding mosaic appears to pulsate slightly. Her suffering face creates a stage for theater audiences to empathize with her tragedy.

Bernini's famous Medusa head is great to behold. Bernini created this sculpture, inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses and Giambattista Marino's poem about Medusa. "Metamorphoses" is a collection of myths about the transition of creatures from one state to another, and Medusa herself turns from a beautiful woman into a terrible Gorgon in one wonderful passage. On the other hand, Marino's poem should be read from the point of view of Medusa herself:

(from the Gallery, 1630)

As a result, Bernini's Head of Medusa is striking in its metaphorical ability to represent the sculptor's ability to "petrify" those who admire his craftsmanship. The sculpture depicts the moment when Medusa looks into an imaginary mirror and turns to stone in horror. Medusa in art illustrates not only the ability of the goddess Athena to turn a person into a monster, but also the ability of a sculptor to turn a stone into a realistic masterpiece.

There is no record in the Medusa myth that Medusa herself turned to stone. Bernini and other artists have created intriguing “what if?” Storylines, continuing the Medusa myth in artistic adaptations. She has continued to inspire creative people and introspective artists throughout history.

This Medusa work of art is an engraving by Alexander Runciman, and the environment effect blurs the image into a hazy picture from myth. In this piece, Medusa's head is not the focus of attention, but is part of a dynamic that illustrates violence and vulnerability. Her head is thrown back, exposing her throat, near which the sword of Perseus is in a few moments from a fatal blow. The overemphasis on Perseus's physique, as opposed to the vulnerable sleeping form of Medusa, further indicates an imbalance in power. The figure of Perseus is active and straight, easily defended, while Medusa spread her arms, bared her chest and lies unprotected.

What's especially interesting is that the snakes are sleeping, and her gaze is turned to the side. Medusa's head is small and not at all confrontational, unlike other works of art. Medusa's eyes are closed - her weapon, or her curse, is a gaze that turns people to stone, and therefore, in this work of art, her defenses were nullified. Without the power of her curse behind her back, she's just a sleeping woman. Perhaps this work of art should make the perceiver wonder which hero is applauded for killing a sleeping woman? In it, Medusa is depicted as the victim of a curse and male violence.

This work of art by Medusa Franz von Stuck was created in pastels on paper. Von Stuck followed the popular Art Nouveau movement and symbolism of his time. These styles of art favored depictions of the mystical and the fabulous, with an emphasis on flowing shapes and lines. In this painting, the snakes surrounding Medusa's pale face form a winding stream of darkness.

Unlike the reptilian darkness, Medusa's bright eyes flash. The pallor and tension of the face and eyes give Medusa a hypnotic, radiant look. This is in line with the dreaming art that symbolism encouraged. Greek mythology has been a popular topic for artists in the Symbolism movement. Instead of portraying realistic and natural images, the Symbolists relied on ideas that featured the curious and the weird.

Medusa's art captured the emotions of fear, longing and horror, as well as sadness and melancholy - a fitting study for a Symbolist. Franz von Stuck's art "Medusa" evokes anxiety rather than sympathy in the viewer. In this image, Medusa appears as the strong-willed master of her new power to turn the viewer into stone. Medusa really became a monster, accepting her curse.

In light of the #MeToo movement, this statue by Luciano Garbati has drawn a lot of attention. It is an eminently revisionist work that turns the narrative of the Medusa myth upside down. While in the myth Perseus kills the unsuspecting Medusa in his sleep and uses her head as a trophy, in this piece of Medusa's art the roles are reversed. Medusa stands triumphantly with the slain head of Perseus in her hand, with a determined look that many have mistaken for a symbol of "female rage" against oppression. Rather than depicting only the head of Medusa, this work of art merged the decapitated head with the body.

This unusual work of art returns Medusa all her form and strength that comes with her body, instead of depicting her at the moment of defeat as a severed head. Rather than being a trophy and enduring eternal torment as a decoration, this Medusa echoes the call for change and brings new perspectives in society so as not to treat women like monsters or trophies. The statue was erected in a park next to the New York County Criminal Court, where many cases of violence against women are being tried.

Carol Ann Duffy, an English poet laureate, wrote the poem "Medusa". Her poem highlights a similar theme of violence against women and an identified pattern of victim blame.

The final lines of the poem are as follows:

Medusa for the crimes of Poseidon was punished by the curse of turning into a Gorgon. She has been unfairly accused of male violence, and Duffy's poem and Garbati's Statue highlight the effects of the ongoing violence against a woman who was originally good, but has become a vengeful monster due to recurring circumstances.

The last line of the poem "look at me now" has a double meaning. Is Medusa telling the audience to look at her so she can angrily cast a petrified look at them? Or is the last line of Medusa in the poem a cry of despair for her life, as she once was before the violence? The imposing gaze of the statue of Garbati demonstrates the same power of opposition, requiring the perceiver to look and see what he wants to see …

In the next article, read also about who was Hypatia of Alexandria and why many were ready to get rid of her while others literally idolized.