I’m completely terrified of snakes. Something is daunting about their cold-blooded skin that makes my own blood turn cold, and my face grow pale at the fact that I share this earth with them. And yet, Medusa drew me in.

As a fan of Greek mythology, I was fascinated by the lives of Hades, Zeus, and many other gods, but it was Medusa who made me stop in my tracks and pay extra attention. I was first officially introduced to her when I watched Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. The sight of her was terrifying yet intriguing, considering I had already heard her name referenced in music and other movies. All it took was one random day of access to unlimited Wi-Fi after school for me to fall down a rabbit hole and learn more about Medusa and how she came to be so notorious.

Origin of Medusa

One of the first things I discovered was that she was a Gorgon, one of three sisters along with Euryale and Stheno. Their parents were Phorcys and Ceto, both primordial sea gods. Out of all their children, Medusa was the only mortal, arguably the perfect recipe for becoming the black sheep of the family. Despite her mortality, she carried an immense amount of beauty.

She devoted her life to Athena and became a priestess in her temple. However, her beauty would lead to her downfall. One day, while walking on the beach, she caught the eye of Poseidon, god of the sea. Enamored by her, and despite her refusal, he forced himself on her in Athena’s temple. When it was over, Medusa was punished severely, not by Poseidon but by Athena, for the atrocity that took place within her sacred space. As punishment, Medusa’s hair was transformed into snakes, she was cast out to an island, and anyone who looked at her would turn to stone.

It’s a tragic story, and yet Medusa has become one of the most recognizable figures in Greek mythology, her impact evident in countless ways.

Pop Culture and Mainstream Media

In pop culture, the woman with snakes for hair who could turn anyone to stone is a powerful symbol. She often represents dangerous beauty, powerful femininity, or monstrous threat. These archetypes appear in TV shows, movies, comics, and games such as Percy Jackson, Clash of the Titans, Castlevania, and Dungeons & Dragons.

In fantasy video games like God of War and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Medusa and Gorgons often appear as enemies meant to evoke fear, reinforcing her mythic role as a trial for heroes to conquer.

Musicians and visual storytellers also invoke her imagery. Rappers and pop icons like Nicki Minaj and Rihanna often reference Medusa to symbolize danger, hypnotism, or untouchability. Album covers and music videos frequently feature snake imagery that ties back to her myth.

Even in art and fashion, Medusa’s influence is striking. The Versace logo, for instance, uses her head to symbolize allure, beauty, and irresistible power. In this way, artists and designers often frame her as both victim and villain, depending on the cultural atmosphere. Increasingly, however, she has become a staple figure in feminist spaces.

Impact and Role in Feminism

In recent years, Medusa has been reclaimed as a symbol of female rage and empowerment. Writers and artists often use her image in stories, poems, and visual art to represent survival, resistance, and the silenced woman’s voice.

What struck me most in her story was how her beauty brought unwanted attention, and though she refused Poseidon’s advances, she was still violated. To make matters worse, instead of receiving compassion, she was punished by Athena for an act she did not commit. It was completely unfair; justice was denied.

At first glance, it might seem strange to analyze Medusa’s tale so deeply, but it’s difficult to dismiss it as mere fiction when stories like hers echo in our daily news. Today, when victims of assault speak out, some people offer sympathy, while others behave like Athena, shifting blame onto the victim. In cases involving women, the betrayal can feel even sharper when other women fail to hold space for them. Victims can be ostracized, cast onto their own “island” of isolation, or ridiculed. All too often, they are turned into villains, just like Medusa, or used as the butt of jokes. This visceral reaction is one of the main reasons so many survivors choose silence.

Although women are more frequently discussed as victims, men also face silencing. And while Medusa’s downfall was orchestrated by a man, her story resonates across genders. Male survivors often endure victim-blaming, too. They’re asked why they didn’t “fight back,” and their masculinity or sexuality, if the perpetrator was male, is called into question. When the perpetrator is female, many dismiss the experience entirely, since society wrongly assumes men cannot be raped by women. Cultural expectations for men to be “strong” only deepen this stigma, and in the end, just like women, these victims opt to remain silent. 

But what makes Medusa’s story especially devastating is the fact that Perseus was sent to bring her head when it was all a trap, set up by King Polydectes to get him killed. Not only did Perseus succeed in cutting off her head, but it was also used as a weapon. Reading that particular section of her story, one can’t help but view figures like Perseus differently. Granted, he was sent to complete a task, but it’s disheartening to see a part of her body being used once more.

What’s also interesting is how mainstream media barely speaks about how Medusa came to be the monster she is. In fact, if one is not naturally drawn to Greek mythology enough to dig deeper, one might remain oblivious to the horror she faced, happily consuming her image while barely scratching the surface. But considering the hostile relationship that so often exists between victims and the world, society tends to erase their pain while preserving only the palatable aspects. In the end, not only is Medusa’s suffering forgotten, but what we’re asked to celebrate is Perseus’ triumph. And yet there is so much more to learn from her story. Every detail carries significance for how the world continues to move today, like her beheading, which can be seen as symbolic of society’s attempt to silence women’s voices, bodies, and power.

And yet, there is a certain irony in that same act. Even after punishment, isolation, and death, Medusa’s head still held immense power. That power can be seen as a form of resistance, proof that a victim’s voice, once raised, cannot be erased. Her story reminds us that silencing someone does not mean their truth vanishes; it often only echoes louder.

Reclaiming Medusa’s Story

We may consume films and TV shows mostly for entertainment, but they undeniably shape how we perceive the world. For years, adaptations have stripped away Medusa’s backstory, reducing her to nothing more than a monster. But it’s never too late to change that. It’s never too late to tell her story truthfully, to place focus on her trauma and her strength. After all, change needs to start somewhere, perhaps showcasing the truth of Medusa could do more than revive a myth; it could give voice to the silenced, mirror the experiences of countless others, and spark a change in how the world views and treats victims.

Written by Chantelle Matawu