Gorgon

Petrifying mythical sister

In Greek mythology, a Gorgon is one of three monstrous sisters—Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa—with snakes for hair and a gaze that turned anyone who looked at them to stone.

Medusa, the only mortal Gorgon, was slain by Perseus.

The image appears widely in art and heraldry as an apotropaic symbol meant to ward off evil. (Lowercase gorgon describes a frightening woman.)

mythology

Medusa

Stone-gazing mythic creature

PerseusGorgon-slaying demigod
AthenaGreek wisdom deity
PoseidonGreek sea deity

Pegasus · aegis · decapitation · beheading · reflection · shield · Andromeda · prophecy · heroic · mortal

appearance

snakes

Elongated limbless reptiles

scalesPlates or weighing devices
fangsSharp piercing teeth
clawsAnimal gripping nails

wings · tusks · bronze · golden · hideous · monstrous · petrifying · gaze · eyes · mask

powers

petrification

Becoming rock-like

stoneSolid earth fragment
gazeFixed, intent look
curseInvoked harm through words

paralysis · fear · deadly · glance · stare · transformation · statue · frozen · immobilized · transfix

narrative

maiden

Unmarried young woman

priestessFemale religious officiant
victimOne harmed by another
transformationThorough change in form

tragic · ravished · violated · punished · curse · temple

cultural

Versace

Italian fashion house

logoCompany identifying symbol
CaravaggioRenaissance-era Italian painter
horrorExtreme fear or disgust

femme fatale · feminist · reclamation · strength · defiance · art

apotropaic

talisman

Magical protective charm

protectionGuarding against harm
wardProtected person; division
amuletWorn protective token

evil eye · coins · pottery · warding · emblem · shield · heraldry

Gorgon

Medusa

snakes

petrification

maiden

Versace

talisman

Gorgon

Opposites

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