Queen Medusa

Evil Repels Evil

Bor n by primordial sea gods, Keto and Phorkys, three Gorgon sisters were birthed. A Gorgon was believed to be winged females with venomous snakes instead of hair. Two of the three sisters, Stheno and Euryale were born immortal, whereas the Greek Goddess Medusa was known to be mortal.

Medusa was a beautiful priestess before Athena cursed her, a single gaze into her eyes would petrify one in an instant, turn ing them to stone. Athena justified the curse for allegedly enticing Poseidon (the god of sea and war as well as horses and earthquakes) which ultimately lead to her rape in Athena’s temple. As a consequence of her actions, Athena made certain that Medusa’s curse was unbreakable. The once woman was now seen as a monster who was feared by all.

Athena deemed the curse an inadequate punishment for her transgressions. Sitting on her throne, Athena demanded the impossible, she wanted Medusa’s head presented to her by the demi-god Perseus. Avoiding Medusa’s gaze with the aid of a shiny shield gifted by Athena, Perseus creeped into the Gorgon sisters room as they slept. Stheno and Euryale attempted to defend Medusa however, the unfortunate events had already unraveled. Perseus beheaded Medusa using a harp e, an adamantine sword. Perseus gained the respect from everyone in Olympus with his heroism.

Physic al Ex pression

Known for her fierce feminine composure, Medusa was a symbol of protection against evil whilst also encouraging the resilience of women. Her manifestation of power unleashes her stone gaze upon nearby threats and the snakes on her head illustrate the uncontrolled emotions that can lead to destruction. Medusa’s story could be translated through the movement of a form that is overdecorated, unpredictable and complex. Through a dynamic design concept consisting of the strength and aggression of a snakes chaos, Medusa’s story could be expressed.

By Isabella Violaris 102676429

01 Three Gorgon Sisters

Stheno (the Mighty), Euryale (the F ar Springer) and Medusa (the Queen) are the Gorgon daughters to the premordial gods o f the sea; Phor kys and Keto. Known for their snakes instead o f hair and wing s, Stheno and Euryale were immortal whereas Medusa was not. The Gorgon sisters had a close r elationship whic h later lead to the protection and defense of Medusa against Perseus.

02. Poseidon C auses a World Of Pain

Poseidon is known as the god of waters, earthquakes and horses and for holding a large trident. In Athena’s temple, the older brother of Zeus, Poseidon forcefully violated Medusa. Poseidon’s actions damaged Medusa’s reputation and life.

03 Athena Curses Medusa

After finding out about Medusa and Poseidon in her temple, Athena was out for revenge. The outraged Athena curses Medusa so that those who gaze into her eyes are petrified and turn ed to stone. Soon after Athena demands Medusa’s head is gifted to her by a hero.

04. Medusa Is Sla in by Perseus

Heroic Perseus did the impossible and killed Medusa. With the help from a shiny shielf gifted from Athena, Perseus was able to avoid the dangerous gaze of Medusa, beheading her using a harp e, an adamantine sword. Medusa’s story is a war ning to mortals; don’t believe that you are equal to the gods.

Premordial sea gods Phorcys and Ceto birthed three Gorgon Daughters

Gorgon sisters Stheno and Euryale were bor n immortal however Medusa was not.

In Athena’s temple, Medusa was a priestess who took a vow of chasity

Due to her temple being defied, Athena demands Medusa’s head to be brought to her by Perseus

The jealous and angry Athena cursed Medusa so that those that gaze in her eyes tur n to stone.

Medusa’s beauty caught the eye of Poseidon when he raped her in the temple

To aid Perseus in his battle, Athena gifts him a shiny shield to avoid Medusa’s gaze.

Perseus creeps into Medusa’s room as she sleeps.

Stheno and Euryale saw Perseus in Medusa’s room and attempted to kill him before he attacked their sister.

Cr ank Mechanism/Bone

This bone structure mechanism is inspired by the end of Medusa’s allegory; her death. The use of gears within a basic crank mechanism, I was able to add multiple rods which would be more complex as Medusa’s story is. By setting each rod in a different position on the gears it allowed for some chaos and depth to be added in the design. In this structure the rods are cut out in the shape of snakes to represent Medusa’s hair. The base of this concept is circular shaped to symbolise Perseus’ shield he used to slay Medusa.

Movment Of a Snake