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Author
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Topic: A new take on Medusa
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happyleo
Knowflake Posts: 35
From: vienna, austria
Registered: Sep 2014
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posted July 15, 2015 05:07 AM
  
Or: could Pallas, the feminist Goddess of Wisdom really act so unfair?I hope it hasn't been mentioned yet, and is really something new and interesting for you.I haven't found it yet here on this forum, but I checked just briefly. After Poseidon raped Medusa in Pallas Athena's temple, Pallas punished her by turning the beauty into a Monster whose sight you wouldn't wish to (and also actually, after looking at her, can't) recall. The common explanation is, well, Pallas was insulted because Medusa openly bragged about being more beautiful than the Goddess etc.
But that is just the male version. In the hellenistic world, the symbol at the door of women's shelters was the head of Medusa.
It was a sign of protection from male power over women. So, I guess, when you find someone's Pallas on your Medusa in synastry, expect rather protection than beheading  Also, as Medusa has a scorpionic vibe to her, I think this shedding of beauty for the sake of survival fits better than just being repeatedly punished unjustly. IP: Logged |
Gabby
Moderator Posts: 6788
From:
Registered: Sep 2012
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posted July 15, 2015 11:09 PM
So are you saying Athena turned her into a monster in order to protect her from being hurt again instead of doing it in a jealous rage or as punishment? IP: Logged |
happyleo
Knowflake Posts: 35
From: vienna, austria
Registered: Sep 2014
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posted July 16, 2015 08:01 AM
yes, to empower her in a way.
women in the hellenistic world found refuge under medusa's symbol, a sign that they have viewed the matter very differently from how men depicted it. remember, medusa was a priestess, a follower of athena. she vowed lifelong celibacy.
poseidon could not resist his urge to have her, so he took her, right in athena's temple, against her will.
medusa never wanted to lose her virginity, i guess her beauty was not really helping though. in a world, where women were not empowered at all but would sometimes against their will have to move in a frame imposed by male desires, values etc we can easily see how shedding her beauty was beneficial in living her life on her own terms, for she perhaps enjoyed, but did not need to be desired (so scorpionic - everything boils down to your real, basic, most important needs).
so, by turning her into an ugly creature, wasn't she living in the end as she intended actually? in solitude, in peace, safe.
who is really punished? the men who could hurt medusa, they look at her and turn into stone. it's not only that you couldn't touch her, look at her and you're toast. IP: Logged |
ail221
Moderator Posts: 6242
From: Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted July 16, 2015 09:55 AM
I enjoy your interpretation better than the original.IP: Logged |
Gabby
Moderator Posts: 6788
From:
Registered: Sep 2012
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posted July 16, 2015 12:07 PM
That's a very interesting interpretation! I've never liked the or felt the story or interpretation of it was correct. It sounded so cruel of Athena!My pisces Pallas is exact trine my cancer Medusa, both trine my NN 0-1 degree...Pallas opposes my Moon forming a kite. My medusa is exact square my Venus, Venus is my chart ruler.. IP: Logged |
Aubyanne
Moderator Posts: 4016
From: Tinseltown, Hollyweird, The Multiverse
Registered: Sep 2014
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posted July 16, 2015 12:13 PM
Huh. I've got MEDUSA conjunct my IC (0°).ALICE-VERTEX-MEDUSA are all parallel (karmic lessons being re-tested in the present lifeline) with my MEDUSA conjunct his ASC, his MEDUSA conjunct my SUN, and quincunx his karmic-debt stellium. Well, that is illuminating. IP: Logged |
happyleo
Knowflake Posts: 35
From: vienna, austria
Registered: Sep 2014
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posted July 16, 2015 01:28 PM
yes, the usual interpretation would seem very out of character (even though the gods of the pantheon are quite inconsistent)i have read this interpretation somewhere a while ago and can't find it anymore. so, it's not mine.  IP: Logged |
ail221
Moderator Posts: 6242
From: Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted July 16, 2015 01:35 PM
There are a few different versions of the Medusa myths.In one version Medusa is merely a boastful woman who compares herself to Athena while in the Partheon and Athena chooses to enact revenge on her from that action. In another yes as mentioned she was raped by Poseidon and a priestess. In one of the earlier ones she was born a gorgon with two other sisters and her parents were Phorkys a ancient sea god and Keto a marine goddess, the dangers of the sea and large sea creatures i.e whales, large sharks, and sea-monsters. I do believe Athena and Medusa are still connected because when Perseus cuts off Medusa's head Pegasus and Chrysaor sprung from her head. Much like the birth of Athena, she was born from Zeus's head. I agree with the protection notion because Medusa's head can be seen on numerous Greek and Roman artifacts i.e. as shields, breastplates and mosaics. Another idea to think about is Medusa's sisters were immortal and ageless while she was mortal, perhaps Athena was trying to teach her a lesson about beauty fading and to accept the reality of her life. IP: Logged |
NikiVenus6
Knowflake Posts: 198
From: Mumbai
Registered: May 2015
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posted July 17, 2015 06:10 AM
Medusa is somewhat like Indian goddess "Manasa" devi she is goddess of the serpents. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manasa ------------------
Free Information on Love Astrology IP: Logged |
happyleo
Knowflake Posts: 35
From: vienna, austria
Registered: Sep 2014
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posted July 17, 2015 01:48 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Aubyanne:
Huh. I've got MEDUSA conjunct my IC (0°).ALICE-VERTEX-MEDUSA are all parallel (karmic lessons being re-tested in the present lifeline) with my MEDUSA conjunct his ASC, his MEDUSA conjunct my SUN, and quincunx his karmic-debt stellium. Well, that is illuminating.
 I tried but I am still not sure I understand...
Perhaps you could let us know how this plays out in your life?
IP: Logged |
happyleo
Knowflake Posts: 35
From: vienna, austria
Registered: Sep 2014
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posted July 17, 2015 01:52 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ail221:
There are a few different versions of the Medusa myths.In one version Medusa is merely a boastful woman who compares herself to Athena while in the Partheon and Athena chooses to enact revenge on her from that action. In another yes as mentioned she was raped by Poseidon and a priestess. In one of the earlier ones she was born a gorgon with two other sisters and her parents were Phorkys a ancient sea god and Keto a marine goddess, the dangers of the sea and large sea creatures i.e whales, large sharks, and sea-monsters. I do believe Athena and Medusa are still connected because when Perseus cuts off Medusa's head Pegasus and Chrysaor sprung from her head. Much like the birth of Athena, she was born from Zeus's head. I agree with the protection notion because Medusa's head can be seen on numerous Greek and Roman artifacts i.e. as shields, breastplates and mosaics. Another idea to think about is Medusa's sisters were immortal and ageless while she was mortal, perhaps Athena was trying to teach her a lesson about beauty fading and to accept the reality of her life.
wow, amazing research! i wondered about the pegasus part of the story, i didn't realise athena's birth was similar. and yes, perhaps athena found a way to punish everyone involved at the same time... i still believe though, that medusa got the life she actually wanted to live, given her function (even though the priestess thingie is just in one version). IP: Logged | |
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