Medusa’s Backstory in Greek Mythology Explained: A Victim or a Villain?

Percy Jackson episode 3 is now streaming on Disney+, and it has introduced one of the most popular characters of Greek mythology, Medusa. 

Episode 3 sees Percy, Annabeth, and Grover embark on a quest to retrieve Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt. It also reveals a number of other things that will play an important role in the upcoming episodes. 

Percy and his friends also encounter Medusa, which ultimately leads to Percy beheading her like in the original myth. But there’s a lot more to Medusa’s story than what we see in the show or read in the Percy Jackson books. 

If you’re here to learn more about Medusa or freshen up your memory, read on! 

1. Medusa’s Story in Greek Mythology Explained 

Medusa is usually seen as an antagonist in classical Greek mythology. She was cursed by Athena for having sexual relations with Poseidon in Athena’s Temple. Athena cursed her to have poisonous snakes for hair and that anyone who looked at her would turn into stone. 

However, the story of Medusa that we know now did not originally come from Greek texts. Ovid, a Roman classical poet, narrated Medusa’s tale for the first time as we know it today. 

As per Ovid’s words, Medusa was a devoted priestess who worshipped Athena. She gave up a normal life to live in Athena’s temple and worshiped her until she blessed her. She even refused to marry her childhood sweetheart for being devoted to the goddess of wisdom. 

Needless to say, she was not born a monster in Ovid’s version and was extremely beautiful. Men have never been able to keep it in their pants since ancient times, so the gods were no different. 

The Greek god of the sea, Poseidon, lusted for Medusa and established forceful sexual relations with her in Athena’s temple. This angered Athena for obvious reasons. So, she should be angry with Poseidon for assaulting a woman in the temple, right?

No! Athena had too much wisdom for such judgment. The goddess of ‘wisdom’ instead decided to curse a victim of sexual assault and turn her into a hideous, ugly monster. Moreover, she said that no man who would look at her would live to tell the tale. This means anyone who looked into her eyes would turn into stone. 

In Greek myths dating before Ovid’s work, Medusa is described as one of the three Gorgons. Ancient Greek mythology described Medusa as having a monstrous form since birth.

However, in both Greek and Roman versions, she was killed by Perseus, who beheaded her. Her severed head, which still possessed the power to turn people into stone, was preserved by the gods for their own selfish use. 

2. Who is Medusa in Percy Jackson?

Medusa is a Gorgon monster in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. She has a tragic backstory where she is punished by Annabeth’s mother, Athena, for having an affair with Percy’s father, Poseidon. 

In the Percy Jackson universe, Medusa has her own voice, and she tells her tragic story to Percy, Annabeth, and Grover in the first book, The Lightning Thief. However, Riordan does not go as far as to portray her as a total victim. 

In the Percy Jackson series, Medusa is cursed by Athena for having an affair with Poseidon. The two have sex in her temple, leading the goddess to be furious at the lady. 

Although the story maintains the partiality of Athena for punishing Medusa but not Poseidon, it does not acknowledge Medusa’s sexual harassment. 

Nevertheless, both the Percy Jackson books, and the series establish the hypocrisy and selfishness of the Greek gods. In Percy Jackson episode 3, Percy cuts off Medusa’s head but mails it back to the gods at Olympus as a message against their unfairness. 

3. Is Percy Perseus? 

Percy Jackson killing Medusa in the series is reminiscent of the Greek hero Perseus killing Medusa in Greek mythology. However, Percy’s character is an original creation and is not inspired by Perseus. 

In classical mythology, Perseus killed Medusa as the gods instructed him to do so. He cuts off Medusa’s head and uses the severed head as a weapon, as it still has the ability to turn people into stone. 

In some versions, Medusa’s head is kept in Athena’s shield; in other versions, Perseus buries it in the marketplace of Argos. In some newer versions, it is used to protect a town as well. 

Medusa’s fate in the Percy Jackson universe is similar to her fate in the original story. However, Percy does not represent Perseus in the books or the series. It is simply an easter egg dropped by Riordan in the books and adapted into the show. 

On that note, you should read Percy Jackson and the Greek Gods and Percy Jackson and the Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan. The books are not officially a part of the Percy Jackson series, but they are a modern retelling of the Greek myths in Percy Jackson’s signature humor. 

If you want to know more about Greek myths (and how insufferable the gods are), you should definitely pick them up!

4. About Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a 2023 American superhero film based on the DC character Aquaman. Produced by DC Studios, Atomic Monster, and the Safran Company, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the sequel to Aquaman (2018), and the 15th and final installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

The film was directed by James Wan from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman, alongside Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, Martin Short, and Nicole Kidman.

In the film, Arthur must work with his half-brother Orm (Wilson) to prevent Black Manta (Abdul-Mateen II) from killing his family and using the cursed Black Trident to overheat the world while searching for the lost seventh kingdom of the seas.