Gorgons

The collective name for the three hideous daughters of Phorkys (Phorcys); with snakes writhing from their heads, wrists and waists, the three monster-women were dreaded and feared.

Their form, as depicted in Greek art, changed over the centuries until they finally became the snake headed she-monsters we know today; they were named Sthenno, Euryale and Medusa; Sthenno and Euryale were immortal but Medusa was mortal and anyone who gazed upon her face was turned to stone.

Three generations before Herakles (Heracles) the hero Perseus was sent by the king of the island of Seriphos, Polydektes (Polydectes), to kill Medusa and cut off her head.

Perseus first sought out the sisters of the Gorgons, the Graiai, who were gray from birth and shared one tooth and one eye between them; Perseus stole their tooth and eye and, using them as ransom, forced the Graiai to give him the location of the nymphs who had possession of the Cap of Hades (which would make him invisible), a pair of winged sandals (for flying) and a kibisis (a bag to hold Medusa’s head); he later obtained a sickle (or sword) from Hermes and set out to slay Medusa.

With the help of Athene (Athena) Perseus was able to cut off Medusa’s head; after the attack on their sister, Sthenno and Euryale chased Perseus but his flying sandals saved him.

Numerous beasts sprang from the blood dripping from Medusa’s severed head including: the flying horse, Pegasos (Pegasus), Khrysaor (Chrysaor) and countless serpents in the deserts of Libya.

For more detailed information on the Gorgons I suggest that you consult the Immortals section of this site.

• Theogony, lines 274-284, 980
• Argonautika, book 4, lines 1502-1536