Dangerous Beauty: the Character of Medusa in Greek Mythology

In this momentous exhibition there are sixty artwork pieces that express the enhancement of these petrifying figures conveyed the venerating people of the Classical Greek art, and hints their lasting charm to Roman and Western art. During the 19th century, Medusa displays the self-importance of being a seductive and threatening woman in response to freedom for females. Kiki Karoglou created this exhibition; she is the associate curator in the department of Greek and Roman art. Karoglou also discovers the numerous portrayals through the periods of Medusa, and the Gorgon that has actual snakes on the head as a symbol of her crowning praise.

In mythology, which originated from Ovid’s transfigures, Medusa was a very attractive young lady with nice long hair. She had many eligible bachelors who wanted to date her. However, “the god of the sea Poseidon saw Medusa praying in the temple of the goddess Athena, and raped her. ”Then, Athena turned Medusa into a frightening monster with malicious snakes on her head, and when she made eye contact with people they turned into a to stone. The appeal of the ancient story that has prolonged to the numerous retellings of the parable even dispersed to our current time period.

Eventually, the dialogue motivated the story and the portrayals enhanced levels of its true importance. In addition, sphinxes, sirens, and the sea-monster Scylla, are also included in the exhibition. This underlines the alteration of the monsters into anthropomorphic female organisms. Medusa is mainly recognized for her part in the Perseus myth, a “classic folktale hero’s quest” with Perseus executing Medusa and taking her head to king Polydektes. “Therefore, this has stimulated numerous artworks, which involves the well-known figure by Antonia Canova, Perseus with the Head of Medusa. ”Karoglou says “Canova wittily makes Perseus look directly at the Gorgon’s head, in essence turning himself into stone. ”There were a few items that were prominent in this exhibition.

First is the Terracotta pelike jar, which was made during the classical period from Greek culture 450-440 B. C. It is a black vase made out of terracotta with a picture of a man and two women between him. King Polydektes ordered Perseus to acquire the head of Medusa. Perseus plan was a success because of Athena, Hermes and the Nymphs. Afterwards; Perseus went back to the island of Seriphos. Perseus gazes determinedly at Athena before he kills Medusa in her sleep. This interpretation is unfamiliar since it is the original; Medusa's has the face of an attractive youthful lady. Also, the other significant feature that is not shown is the rays border the conqueror's head, representing superior prominence or control.