Greek Mythological Monsters

Imagine a superhero, such as Spiderman. Everyday, Spiderman has a different foe he fights against. In Greek mythology, this process works the same way. The gods and goddesses of Greek mythology had many foes, usually being monsters. The monsters in Greek mythology were known to destroy people, damage different cities, or cause all kinds of havoc. The Gorgons, Lamia, and Hydra, are few of many monsters that were menaces to society.

The Gorgons were possibly the most well-known of the Greek monsters. Originally Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, the daughters of ancient sea god, Phorcys, and Ceto, were known as the most beautiful of the Olympian gods. When Zeus took control of Mount Olympus, he stripped them of their powers. Athena (Zeus’ daughter), the goddess of wisdom, took Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa as her attendants and priestesses. Under her law, the sisters pledged to remain virgins to honor her.
Poseidon, the sea-god, just like many other suitors, found the beauty of all three sisters mesmerizing. According to the Roman poet, Ovid, “Medusa was violated in Athena’s shrine by the Lord of the Sea, Poseidon, Zeus’ daughter turned away and covered, with her shield, her virgin’s eyes.” After Poseidon seduced Medusa, he went on to seduce Stheno and Euryale also. As a result, Athena showed no mercy and cursed the sisters by stripping them of their renowned beauty and transformed them into repulsive monsters. The sisters became fearsome winged creatures with hair made of snakes and a face so hideous that it turned anyone who looked upon it to stone. The Gorgons had black tongues too big for their mouths, wild boar teeth, brazen claws, and wings and hair of serpents.
Ashamed of their grotesque appearance, the Gorgons fled to live on the Isle of the Dead, which lies across the River Styx, at the edge of the Underworld. Later, Perseus (son of Zeus and Danae) was given the task to cut off the head of Medusa, the only mortal Gorgon, to save his mother.