Medusa: The Monster, Myth, and Feminist Icon

The myth of Medusa is one that has been around since 7c BCE through the writings of authors such as Hesiod and Ovid. While originally a monstrous villain of antiquity in the 21st century Medusa has become an icon of feminism, very different to how she was once portrayed. Through classic art to film and TV, Medusa has integrated herself into the modern pop culture spotlight. Medusa started out in myth as a creature of horror that would bring the demise of men and this theme was carried out in medieval art with pieces like Medusa by Caravaggio, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Cellini, and Medusa by Bernini. Nowadays feminist poetry writings like Aphrodite Made Me Do It by Trista Mateer and Great Goddesses: Life Lessons from Myths and Monsters by Nikita Gill flip this narrative on its head. This paper explores and analyzes how attitudes on Medusa and her myth have changed over time as well as her role in the current feminist movement.