Medusa: From Beast to Beauty in Archaic and Classical Illustrations from Greece and Southern Italy
By Susan M. Serfontein
Master’s Thesis, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 1991
Abstract: Representations of an attractive Medusa occur on vases as early as the mid-fifth century B.C in the context of the Perseus myth. Earlier portrayals, however, feature a monster, generally hideously depicted. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the iconographic development of Medusa’s full-figure and gorgoneia images on vases and other objects from her earliest archaic representations to her fourth century B.C. portrayals. The primary aim of this thesis is to determine when the transformation of Medusa from a hideous monster into a beautiful woman initially occurs and whether this transformation is simultaneous with regard to both her full-figure representations and the gorgoneia.
The Perseus Myth: One of the oldest and most complete known accounts of the Perseus myth was written by the Greek poet, Pherecydes, probably in the first half of the fifth century B.C. In his second book of Genealogie which survives only in fragments, he recounts the myth generally as follows:
Akrisios, the King of Argos was prophesied to die at the hand of his yet unborn grandson. To prevent the prophesy’s fulfillment, Akrisios imprisoned his unwed daughter, Danäe, in an underground chamber. However, Zeus fell in love with her and easily penetrated her prison by transforming himself into a shower of gold. As a result of their union, Perseus was born. Once Akrisios became aware of his grandson, he locked Danäe and the infant Perseus in a chest and threw them out to sea. The chest landed on the island of Seriphos where Diktys, a kindly fisherman, cared for them until Perseus grew to manhood. Meanwhile, King Polydektes, the brother of Diktys, had fallen in love with Danäe who rejected his affection. At an event held by the King, Perseus foolishly boasted that he would bring back the head of Medusa. She was the one mortal Gorgon among three sisters and was endowed with the formidable power to turn men to stone with a glance. The King seized the opportunity to be rid of Perseus once and for all in order to marry Danäe. However, Perseus was assisted in his quest for Medusa’s head by Athena and Hermes. They helped him to obtain the cap of Hades for invisibility, the winged shoes for swiftness and a pouch or kibisis to hold the head of Medusa. With these magical accessories and the protection of the gods, Perseus was able to decapitate Medusa while she slept. At the moment of her death, Pegasus, the divine winged stallion, and Chrysaor, the hero with the golden sword, were born from her severed neck. Medusa’s two Gorgon sisters, seeking revenge for her death pursued Perseus, who was able to elude them by wearing the cap of Hades that made him invisible. On his return to the island of Seriphos, he discovered his mother taking refuge from the King in a temple sanctuary. He rescued her by exposing to Polydektes and his supporters the decapitated head of the monster, whose power to petrify was effective even in death. Perseus elected Diktys as King of Seriphos and left for Argos to find his grandfather, whose fears about the prophecy had been allayed. The prophecy was fulfilled nonetheless as Perseus accidently killed Akrisios by an unlucky throw of the discos during a sporting event. Perseus left the kingdom of Argos and retired to Asia, where his son became the ruler of the Persians, a folk named in honor of the hero.
By Susan M. Serfontein
Master’s Thesis, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 1991
Abstract: Representations of an attractive Medusa occur on vases as early as the mid-fifth century B.C in the context of the Perseus myth. Earlier portrayals, however, feature a monster, generally hideously depicted. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the iconographic development of Medusa’s full-figure and gorgoneia images on vases and other objects from her earliest archaic representations to her fourth century B.C. portrayals. The primary aim of this thesis is to determine when the transformation of Medusa from a hideous monster into a beautiful woman initially occurs and whether this transformation is simultaneous with regard to both her full-figure representations and the gorgoneia.
The Perseus Myth: One of the oldest and most complete known accounts of the Perseus myth was written by the Greek poet, Pherecydes, probably in the first half of the fifth century B.C. In his second book of Genealogie which survives only in fragments, he recounts the myth generally as follows:
Akrisios, the King of Argos was prophesied to die at the hand of his yet unborn grandson. To prevent the prophesy’s fulfillment, Akrisios imprisoned his unwed daughter, Danäe, in an underground chamber. However, Zeus fell in love with her and easily penetrated her prison by transforming himself into a shower of gold. As a result of their union, Perseus was born. Once Akrisios became aware of his grandson, he locked Danäe and the infant Perseus in a chest and threw them out to sea. The chest landed on the island of Seriphos where Diktys, a kindly fisherman, cared for them until Perseus grew to manhood. Meanwhile, King Polydektes, the brother of Diktys, had fallen in love with Danäe who rejected his affection. At an event held by the King, Perseus foolishly boasted that he would bring back the head of Medusa. She was the one mortal Gorgon among three sisters and was endowed with the formidable power to turn men to stone with a glance. The King seized the opportunity to be rid of Perseus once and for all in order to marry Danäe. However, Perseus was assisted in his quest for Medusa’s head by Athena and Hermes. They helped him to obtain the cap of Hades for invisibility, the winged shoes for swiftness and a pouch or kibisis to hold the head of Medusa. With these magical accessories and the protection of the gods, Perseus was able to decapitate Medusa while she slept. At the moment of her death, Pegasus, the divine winged stallion, and Chrysaor, the hero with the golden sword, were born from her severed neck. Medusa’s two Gorgon sisters, seeking revenge for her death pursued Perseus, who was able to elude them by wearing the cap of Hades that made him invisible. On his return to the island of Seriphos, he discovered his mother taking refuge from the King in a temple sanctuary. He rescued her by exposing to Polydektes and his supporters the decapitated head of the monster, whose power to petrify was effective even in death. Perseus elected Diktys as King of Seriphos and left for Argos to find his grandfather, whose fears about the prophecy had been allayed. The prophecy was fulfilled nonetheless as Perseus accidently killed Akrisios by an unlucky throw of the discos during a sporting event. Perseus left the kingdom of Argos and retired to Asia, where his son became the ruler of the Persians, a folk named in honor of the hero.
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