gorgons
Serpent-maned she-beasts
Gorgons are monstrous female creatures from Greek mythology with snakes for hair and faces so hideous that looking at them turned onlookers to stone.
Medusa is the most famous, slain by Perseus.
The word extends to any terrifyingly ugly or repulsive woman: His mother-in-law was a gorgon.
Stone-gazing mythic creature
- PerseusGorgon-slaying demigod
- AthenaGreek wisdom deity
- GreekOf Athenian origin
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
legend · monsters · petrification · snakes · sisters · immortal · mortal · aegis
Curving in repeated bends
- snakesElongated limbless reptiles
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- fangsSharp piercing teeth
- writhingTwisting the body convulsively
coils · hair · monstrous · hideous · gaze · eyes · bronze · claws
Solid earth fragment
- statueThree-dimensional sculpted likeness
- gazeFixed, intent look
- frozenSolidified by extreme cold
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
transformation · marble · sculpture · cursed · glance · eyes · turned · rigid
Decorative architectural waterspout
- grotesqueDistorted, bizarre figure
- architecturalRelating to building design
- medallionLarge decorative disk pendant
- shieldHandheld defensive armor
aegis · mosaic · frieze · pediment · doorway · protection · talisman · amulet
Emotional response to threat
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
gruesome · ghastly · monstrous · deadly · petrifying · chilling · terrifying · intimidating
Medusa
Stone-gazing mythic creature
myth · legend · monsters · petrification · snakes · sisters · immortal · mortal · aegis · shield
serpentine
Curving in repeated bends
writhing · coils · hair · monstrous · hideous · gaze · eyes · bronze · claws · wings
stone
Solid earth fragment
paralysis · transformation · marble · sculpture · cursed · glance · eyes · turned · rigid · immobilized
gargoyle
Decorative architectural waterspout
- grotesqueDistorted, bizarre figure
- architecturalRelating to building design
- medallionLarge decorative disk pendant
shield · aegis · mosaic · frieze · pediment · doorway · protection · talisman · amulet · Versace
fear
Emotional response to threat
nightmare · gruesome · ghastly · monstrous · deadly · petrifying · chilling · terrifying · intimidating · ominous
- mythical creaturesdragon, dragons, vampire, vampires, werewolf
- ancient ornamentacanthus, meanders, rosettes, scrollwork, friezes
- grotesquesgargoyles, grotesques, demons, chimeras, hybrid creatures