In Greek mythology, the Gorgons were a trio of monster sisters — Stheno, Euryale and Medusa. Medusa, the only mortal sister of the three, was a radiant maiden, admired by many. Yet, her beauty became her curse.

When she and Poseidon gave in to a forbidden love in the sacred temple of Athena, the goddess’s wrath was swift. Athena, in her fury, transformed Medusa's luscious locks into a tangle of venomous snakes. One glimpse of her hideous visage would turn a man to stone.

The Gorgons retreated to a faraway island, where they lived in unholy solitude, doing whatever Gorgons do until fate led Perseus into their path. The hero, tasked with a mission, met the sisters with a sharp resolve and decapitated Medusa, her severed head a weapon of both doom and salvation. With it, Perseus defeated King Polydectes — the very man who had sought to claim his mother, Danae, as his own.

(As an aside, in the 1981 cult classic film The Clash of the Titans (and the 2010 remake), the tale takes a twist — Perseus uses Medusa’s head to turn the mythical Kraken to stone, saving the kingdom of Argos from certain annihilation. While the Kraken is a beast of Norse legend, its cinematic clash with Medusa’s power weaves a rich narrative. The severed head, flung into the sea, gave rise to the ancient Roman belief that red coral is the hardened blood of Medusa herself.)

Now back to the business at hand…

And so we learn that the visage of the Gorgon, or Gorgoneion, was applied to coins, artwork and buildings in the ancient world as an apotropaic motif. Earlier depictions of the Gorgon’s countenance were quite hideous, typically featuring a tongue protruding from a fanged grimace. But over time Medusa acquired more classically attractive features and a somewhat tragic expression. (See, for example, the cameos below.) Today, Medusa is a feminist symbol of women’s power. The gorgoneion is worn as a protective pendant and has been immortalized in the logo of Italian fashion house Versace.