Who were the Gorgons in Greek mythology?
Q: Who were the Gorgons in Greek mythology?
A: The Gorgons were female monsters that had fangs and serpents for hair with bronze claws. They were the daughters of Phorkys and Keto, and there were three of them named Stheno, Euryale and Medusa.
Q: What happened to anyone who looked at the Gorgons?
A: Anyone who looked at the Gorgons was turned to stone.
Q: Was Medusa mortal or immortal?
A: Medusa was mortal; she was beheaded by Perseus.
Q: What did Athena do with Medusa's head?
A: Athena kept Medusa's head on her chest as a symbol of power; this is often seen in motives showing Athena with an aegis and a Gorgon's head on her chest.
Q: How many Gorgons are mentioned by Homer?
A: Homer only talks about one Gorgon.
A2 : Hesiod names all three, Stheno, the powerful one, Euryale,who could jump far, and trouble-ridden Medusa, the queen.
Q: Where did they live according to Hesiod ?
A: According to Hesiod , they lived at the edge of the known world , in the Atlas Mountains . At a later time , Libya is also named as their home .
Q: What is apotropaic magic ?
A: Apotropaic magic is used against bad spirits and bad luck . It is believed that heads of the gorgons found on shields , capes or amulets have magical powers which can protect from evil forces .
