Medusa paintings

Medusa was a horrible creature. She was the daughter of Phorkys and Keto, the children of Gaia (Earth) and Okeanos (Ocean). Medusa was one of the three sisters known as the Gorgons. The other two sisters were Sthenno and Euryale. Medusa was the only mortal out of the three. She wasn't always that ugly but was once very beautiful. Medusa lived in the north were the sun didn't rise. Being very curious, she wanted to see the sun, and asked the Goddess Athena for permission to visit the south. Athena refused. Medusa got angry and dared to say Athena hadn't given her permission because she was jealous of her beauty. Athena was angered and punished Medusa by turning her hair into snakes and cursing her by making Medusa so ugly that who ever looks in the eyes would turn into stone.Perseus was sent by Athena to decapitate Medusa and to turnover her head to King Polydectes of Seriphos. In his conquest, Perseus received a mirrored shield from Athena, gold winged sandals from Hermes, a sword from Hephaestus and Hades' helm of invisibility. Perseus was able to slay Medusa while looking at her reflection in the mirrored shield he received from Athena. At the moment of her decapitating, Medusa was pregnant from Poseidon. When Perseus beheaded Medusa, her dead body gave birth to the winged horse Pegasus and Chrysaor, the golden-sworded giant.