A terrifying woman ... despicable

Look, reader, look ...
I cannot help it but be captured by the sadness in her eyes. These eyes with encrypted and largely untold story of the cruelty she suffered, cruelty and pain only she knew about, only few remembered.

Medusa…

Men only needed to look at you for your sight to turn them into cold rocks. You were hated for that. You were feared for that. Yet, you had no control over the curse. You couldn't stop it. You were a victim to the curse too.

From a humble servant in the temple of the gods, your were now a monster.

Medusa... Was that your real name? Or was this the name of the Gorgon you became? Medusa, what did you do? Your name still terrifies many.

- Who were you?

***

One of the most terrifying monsters in Greek Mythology.

Hesiod and Ovid 800 years later both wrote about her story. Both tell us of the beautiful maiden with golden hair. She devoted her life to the gods and served in the temple of Athena. She was living her dream.

Until Poseidon saw her and desired her on the spot.

- I want that one! The one with golden hairs.

He forced himself on her. In our modern language we would say that he assaulted her, raped her. He took everything away from her, her purity, her vows to serve in the temple of Athena, for which one had to be a pure virgin to serve. This was just the beginning.

On hearing of what had happen, Athena was furious. She didn't however punish Poseidon but Medusa by cursing her for the rest of her days to live as one of the most terrifying Gorgons in Greece. Her golden hair was now a nest of snakes and her petrifying sight would turn any men who would look at her into a cold stone.

No one knew who she actually was and the violence she’d suffered. No one cared. Even Ovid in his writing considered that she deserved her destiny. feminists have spoken in defence of Medusa, forgetting that the female god Athena whom she served, supported Poseidon and instead confronting him punished the girl wth the golden hair.

Did Athena base her actions and decisions on the fact that Medusa was only a servant? Did Athena think:

- Well, I will benefit more from having Poseidon near me as an ally, not a servant girl, for there are many who would like to serve me!

Today, this story sounds like the story of many women - violated, abused, mocked they seek justice, equilibrium and eventually many end up in trouble with the law. A law that mostly supports Poseidons and Athenas.

***

angry, enraged, furious, terrifying. terrified.
women
... despicable!

an army of terrible, terrible women
disturbing our peace and quite
disturbing our lives
disturbing how we are
around here
today

disturbing our mealtimes
- butter, dear?
disturbing the rule of the day
disturbing all important men and all imporant women
siting on the dining table
- thank you, dear.

***

- Medusa, I am sending you this postcard just to let you know that you are still here. Under the veil of modernity, nothing much has changed. Instead of snakes however, women are now being cursed with diagnosis.
still.

***
Photo: curtesy to Blue Arauz