Who wrote about Medusa in ancient times?
Q: Who wrote about Medusa in ancient times?
A: The Latin poet Ovid wrote about Medusa in his Metamorphoses.
Q: What did Poseidon do to Medusa?
A: Poseidon raped Medusa in the temple of Athena.
Q: How did Athena punish Medusa for this crime?
A: Athena changed Medusa into a monster with snakes for hair as punishment.
Q: How have artists depicted Medusa over time?
A: Artists have made statues and paintings of Medusa for thousands of years, and Ancient Greeks and other ancient people painted her face on pots and doors and other things. In Greek art from this time, artists usually painted or carved people looking out to the side, but they almost always carved images of Medusa looking out of the picture toward the viewer. These pictures are called Gorgoneions.
Q: What is the purpose behind depicting Medusa like this?
A: The purpose behind depicting her like this was so that she could scare evil things away, just like Perseus used her against his enemies.
Q: What is Book IV of Ovid's Metamorphoses about?
A: Book IV of Ovid's Metamorphoses is about Poseidon raping Medusa in the temple of Athena, and how Athena punished her by changing her into a monster with snakes for hair.
