MEDUSA
All-caps scientific name
Medusa was a monster in Greek mythology whose gaze turned onlookers to stone and whose hair was a mass of living snakes.
Perseus slew her by viewing her reflection in his shield rather than looking directly.
The name now applies to anything paralyzing or petrifying: Her medusa stare froze him mid-sentence.
In biology, a medusa is the free-swimming, umbrella-shaped stage of jellyfish and related creatures—the tentacles suggesting snaky hair.
Serpent-haired mythical being
- PerseusGorgon-slaying demigod
- snakesElongated limbless reptiles
- petrificationBecoming rock-like
- stoneSolid earth fragment
Athena · monster · Greek · Poseidon · beheading · Pegasus · shield · reflection
Drifting marine stinger
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
- stingingCausing sharp pain
- cnidarianStinging aquatic invertebrate
- bellHollow resonating instrument
translucent · ocean · drifting · polyp · lifecycle · plankton · bioluminescent · pulsing
Pertaining to women
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- protectionGuarding against harm
- wrathFierce, punishing anger
- transformationThorough change in form
victim · monster · beauty · danger · petrifying · gaze · rage · trauma
Gorgon
Serpent-haired mythical being
- PerseusGorgon-slaying demigod
- snakesElongated limbless reptiles
- petrificationBecoming rock-like
stone · Athena · monster · Greek · Poseidon · beheading · Pegasus · shield · reflection · curse
jellyfish
Drifting marine stinger
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
- stingingCausing sharp pain
- cnidarianStinging aquatic invertebrate
bell · translucent · ocean · drifting · polyp · lifecycle · plankton · bioluminescent · pulsing · gelatinous
feminine
Pertaining to women
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- protectionGuarding against harm
- wrathFierce, punishing anger
transformation · victim · monster · beauty · danger · petrifying · gaze · rage · trauma · survival
Caravaggio
Renaissance-era Italian painter
Bernini · Renaissance · grotesque · beautiful · tragic · female · gaze · terror · frozen · classical
MEDUSAAthena
Greek wisdom deity
Aphrodite · Iris · Demeter · nymph · guardian angel
MEDUSAAsclepius
Ancient medicine deity
Orpheus · Phoenix · Lazarus · healer · life-giver
MEDUSAAphrodite
Greek goddess of love
Venus · Helen of Troy · Psyche · Adonis
- medusa headSerpent-haired monster's severed visage
- Medusa's headSnake-crowned lethal countenance