The petrifying face of Medusa
From the earliest known account in Hesiod's ' Theogony' to the present day, the gorgon Medusa has fascinated artists. I too regard her as a stunning visual creation. Here is my interpretation of her. Medusa and her two sisters Sthenno & Euryale, with their hands of bronze, razor sharp teeth and hair of hissing wriggling snakes lived in a dark, gloomy place at the end of the world where they basked in their reputation of being the most savage of monsters. Far away in sunny Seriphos, king Polydectes wishing to be rid of a young man called Perseus decided to send him on a mission from which he doubted the fellow would return. "You wish to prove yourself a hero" said the king " well then, bring me back the severed head of the gorgon Medusa. She is the only mortal one of three abominable sisters. When you approach to kill her be careful to not look directly into her face or you shall instantly be turned to stone."