Gorgons

This article is about the Greek mythological monsters. For other uses, see Gorgon (disambiguation).
"Gorgoneion" redirects here. Not to be confused with Gorgoneion (astronomy).
Running Gorgon; amphora, Munich, Staatliche Antikensammlungen 2312 (c. 490 BC)[1]

The Gorgons (/ˈɡɔːrɡənz/ GOR-gənz; Ancient Greek: Γοργώνες),[2] in Greek mythology, are three monstrous sisters, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, said to be the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto. They lived near their sisters the Graeae, and were able to turn anyone who looked at them to stone. Euryale and Stheno were immortal, but Medusa was not and was slain by the hero Perseus.[3]

Gorgons were dread monsters with terrifying eyes. A Gorgon head was displayed on Athena's aegis, giving it the power both to protect her from any weapon, and instill great fear in any enemy. Gorgon blood was said to have both the power to heal and harm.

Representations of full-bodied Gorgons and the Gorgon face, called a gorgoneion (pl. gorgoneia), were popular subjects in Ancient Greek, Etruscan and Roman iconography. While Archaic Gorgons and gorgoneia are universally depicted as hideously ugly, over time they came to be portrayed as beautiful young women.

  1. ^ Krauskopf and Dahlinger, pp. 311–312 (Gorgo, Gorgones 331); Digital LIMC 9805; LIMC IV-2, p. 187 (Gorgo, Gorgones 331); Hard 2004, p. 59, fig. 2.5.
  2. ^ Grimal, s.v. Gorgons.
  3. ^ Bremmer 2006, s.v. Gorgo 1; Bremmer 2015, s.v. Gorgo/Medusa; Gantz, p. 20; Grimal, s.v. Gorgons; Tripp, s.v. Gorgons.