《The Seduction of Medusa》


 Foreword

    <u>Foreword:</u>


    <u>this will be edited out after approval. mods, here''s the link to proof of ownership on other sites: https://archiveofourown.org/works/39314952/chapters/98384175</u>


    Mythology is a complicated, constantly evolving process by which we carry forward the lessons of the past for new generations to learn. As such the tales told are part of the ebb and flow of time. They are simultaneously defined by all prior iterations while being constantly reimagined. The simple truth is what we often regard as the ¡°original¡± works aren¡¯t the originating sources of the myths. These are cultural tales handed down for generations before they even got codified and catalogued into the written word. Case in point: Homer did not create either The Iliad nor The Odyssey, he was the one who had collected and recited those works to their first chroniclers.


    With this thought in mind, allow me to put forward my thesis. There is no heresy in repurposing and reimagining the stories of the gods for new eras. Pagan ¡°restorationism¡± is ultimately a fool¡¯s errand precisely because it is trying to restore an ¡°original¡± which in of itself was never the ¡°original¡±. The only true heresy comes from failing to honor the essence of the tale itself. In much the same way a modern comic book reader will abide many versions of Batman but will be genuinely outraged by a depiction that has him killing people; students of myth and adherents of the gods can recognize when the essence of the myth has been violated.


    My purpose in writing this work is to correct one such violation. The story of Medusa is one that has evolved with society and culture over the years. As nearest we can tell she was ¡°originally¡± the eldest of the gorgon sisters and an iconic monster for the Hellenic hero Perseus to slay. Possibly a minor goddess of a prior culture that got incorporated into Mycenean Greece. By the time of Hesiod¡¯s Theogony, she had acquired the attribute of being a lover of Poseidon. I am a proponent of the theory that Medusa was intended to represent vanity and how the hubris it inspires will turn all you gaze at to ¡°stone¡±, robbing all the wonder out of life, leaving you alone in a garden of ¡°statues¡±, isolated from genuine, living, breathing people.


    There is a long-standing tradition to recognize Medusa as a victim of the gods. More specifically a victim of sexual violence at the hands of Poseidon and petty cruelty in her punishment by Athena. This interpretation is granted much credence in the popular culture by virtue of the source that pioneered this interpretation being nearly two-thousand years old. It¡¯s great age mistakenly leads people to believe that it is the ¡°original¡±, even though the true original works are lost to time and predate it by hundreds of years at a minimum. I am of course speaking of the tales from Metamorphosis by the Roman poet Ovid.


    Ovid tells us Medusa was a good and faithful servant of Athena who was sadistically punished for being violated by Poseidon in Athena¡¯s temple. This version of the story paints of Poseidon as a casual serial rapist¡­which he is. There is more than sufficient corroboration from multiple sources to justify that interpterion. The issue at hand lay not with the depiction of Poseidon but rather Medusa and, most grievously, Athena. By making Medusa a helpless victim of the gods Ovid denies the symbolism inherent in her transformation, thereby drastically reducing the integrity of the story by entirely missing the thematic point. Though the worst injustice is done against Athena herself.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    While as the goddess of wisdom, war, and victory Athena was no ¡°Mr. Rogers¡±, she was rarely depicted as cruel or capricious. She could be stern, competitive, and harsh but never thoughtlessly so. She could and would be ruthless when the occasion called for it but never more than necessary. Outside of Ovid¡¯s accounts (which includes the first surviving entrance of Arachne into the mythology) Athena is constantly helping heroes in their quests, winning contests against the other gods, standing brave in the face of Typhon when the other gods fled Olympus, founding democracy, and overseeing the implementation of the world¡¯s first proper justice system.


    Or in the parlance of anime: Athena is best girl.


    While the idea of Athena possessing the cold cunning to deprive one of her long-time divine rivals of their plaything in such a decisive move isn¡¯t entirely out of step with her characterization; the fact cannot be ignored that the two instances of such cruelty come from the same author over a thousand years after Homer and Hesiod with no surviving sources to corroborate his interpretation of Minerva/Athena. While I do not intend to demean a great poet, I think it is more than fair to put his contributions to the mythology under scrutiny. Most of it checks out and does not violate the essence of the gods or myths. The glaring exception to this is Athena. To draw an analogy with modern popular culture; Ovid¡¯s interpretation of Athena is the equivalent of Zack Snyder¡¯s Batman or Frank Miller¡¯s Wonder Woman.


    By that account my offerings are equally open to such scrutiny. Should you find fault in my work then please put forward your correction. This is the process of multigenerational cultural sharing that allows these stories, and thus the gods, to persist. So long as we keep telling their stories they can never truly ¡°die¡±. I offer up this work to my crown goddess Athena (cards on the table: I¡¯m a practicing pagan) for the express purpose of playing my part in the process that allows her to endure and to right a wrong I think that has been done against her.


    One can admire Ovid the poet, his lasting legacy to the arts, and even understand why his versions of the myths are meaningful to people. Yet a person can still take offense to the harm they¡¯ve done. The truth is that Ovid¡¯s work is almost exclusively the root of people¡¯s misunderstandings towards Athena. It is because of his work that the feminist movement, and by extension much of the popular culture friendly to it, has grown so alienated to Athena. He has single-handedly turned the most powerful and capable woman in Greco-Roman mythology (with the incalculable influence it has on modern western culture) into a pariah and traitor, a rape victim blamer and jealous mean girl among a huge swath of the women who should benefit from her example.


    I don¡¯t retell this story to do any harm by Medusa. First and foremost, I do so to defend my goddess and her good name from an unjust perpetuating slander. Secondly, while it deprives her the moral clarity of being a ¡°faultless victim¡±, I do adamantly believe Medusa must have agency in her own damn story. Lastly, while I understand and value the story of a woman being destroyed by a powerful man, I simply believe the parable against vanity and hubris has more moral utility to the world. I¡¯ve done my best to retain the good in Ovid¡¯s version of the tale while refining it so I feel the correct pieces of it are properly highlighted (I have no intention of letting Poseidon off the hook). Hopefully this work will soften the hearts hardened against Athena and will encourage others to participate in this glorious mess of myth making.

 Book I

    <u>Book I</u>


    The seafoam kissed her face.


    Winds of Zephyrus¡¯ grace


    billow the young woman¡¯s tunic


    as she stands on the edge


    of the Acropolis,


    overlooking the Aegean.


    Young maiden Medusa


    had been gifted highest


    honors of old Athens.


    She had been proclaimed as


    priestess of Athena.


    For many, the office


    would be foul auspice;


    for such lofty stations


    beset degradations


    of spirit by hubris.


    Fair Medusa was not


    among the lot of ¡°many¡±.


    Ever just and temp¡¯rate,


    she kept proper conduct


    in divine accordance.


    Through the eyes of Bubo,


    her most cherished pet owl,


    Great Athena was pleased.


    Medusa kept the rites,


    conducted rituals,


    and offered wise counsel.


    It was not long before


    citizens of Athens


    raised a statue to her.


    Earnest, reserved, grateful;


    met such adoration


    humbly with grace.


    Yet the eyes upon her


    gazed with such intentions


    that invite attention


    of one Aphrodite.


    ¡°Who is this girl?¡± she asked,


    ¡°she provoked the passions


    of all Athenians.¡±


    Then the high lady love


    cast her brewing ire


    upon magnificent,


    peerless lady wisdom.


    ¡°Such beautiful creatures


    are wasted in service


    to your chaste scholarship!¡±


    Aphrodite shouted.


    Great Athena smirked,


    for Venus¡¯ envy


    could not hide in her eyes.


    ¡°Hush thy haut,¡± she replied,


    ¡°Lady Love, your antics


    would make a monster of her.¡±


    Affronted, Aphrodite


    stormed away, dictated


    by her fickle impulse.


    Yet Athena lingered.


    Her own words gave her pause.


    Later that very night,


    Athena took the form


    of a shambling old crone.


    Old Athens¡¯ citizens


    were none the wiser to


    the goddess¡¯ presence.


    The women most envied


    Medusa¡¯s braided locks


    and the men enraptured


    by her slender figure.


    ¡°I know this spell too well,¡±


    Athena whispered.


    She found her way to


    city¡¯s acropolis,


    where her grandest temple


    stood in all its splendor.


    On its front step lingered


    the young women whom all


    of Athens was transfixed by.


    Athena¡¯s blue-grey eyes


    met the golden yellow


    orbs of Medusa which


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.pierced through shade like a torch.


    ¡°Greetings sweet grandmother!¡±


    Medusa said as she


    gingerly approached what


    she presumed to be a


    wayward city elder,


    ¡°If you are lost, then come;


    take shelter from Nyx here,


    palace of Athena,


    till Helios¡¯ first light


    make true your journey home.¡±


    That is when the old crone


    removed her hood, revealed


    herself in full splendor:


    goddess¡¯ divine light


    was banishing the night.


    ¡°Your goddess is most pleased


    with your hospitality,¡±


    Athena said to her.


    ¡°Athena!¡± Medusa


    excitedly proclaimed.


    The priestess leapt from step


    and rushed to her god¡¯s side.


    ¡°Come and see the wonders


    done in my name,¡± she urged.


    As eager as a child,


    Medusa took the hand


    of Athena and led her to


    the statue of herself,


    which stood before Athena¡¯s.


    The monument was meager


    by fair comparison.


    It was not an affront,


    and even if it was,


    the goddess of wisdom


    recognized that was not


    Medusa¡¯s own doing.


    She reservedly smiled


    at her priestess¡¯ joy.


    She was a happy child,


    impassioned by reward


    for her worthy conduct.


    But she was not goddess


    of knowledge for nothing.


    Athena knew too well


    these first steps along the


    well-trod path of ruin.


    ¡°Be happy Medusa,¡±


    she said, ¡°happy in deeds


    and not in your acclaim.


    Though you may meet it with


    an honest heart and grace,


    baleful gaze of masses


    can easily infect


    even the most earnest


    souls with foul vanity.


    You make me proud, child.


    Always allow your eyes


    to look upon others


    in good faith and reason


    See them as the living


    beings blessed with the gift


    of miraculous life


    and the wonder of thought,


    that is the work called ¡®people¡¯.¡±


    Though reverent attention


    she had paid, Medusa


    found herself overwhelmed.


    The girl wasn¡¯t certain


    what to do with those words.


    ¡°If the statue offends-,¡±


    she began to say but


    was hastily cut short.


    ¡°No! My sweet girl, be proud,¡±


    Athena insisted,


    ¡°Remember who you are:


    a caring, competent


    woman with true power.


    You are more, also less


    than an idol of man.¡±


    That is when the goddess


    made manifest a shield


    polished to such a state


    that one could see their face


    in the shine¡¯s reflection.


    ¡°Look upon this image


    to witness your true self,¡±


    Athena instructed


    as she handed the shield


    to perplexed Medusa,


    ¡°You don¡¯t lose sight of her.

 Book II

    <u>Book II</u>


    Medusa slept soundly


    and woke the following


    morning; rising from bed,


    the nest of beaded braids


    coiled before her face,


    checking her reflection


    in wise Athena¡¯s gift.


    Her own unparalleled


    beauty was her visage.


    The young noble woman


    was a descendant of


    King Erichthonious,


    the half-serpent founder


    of glorious Athens,


    was raised by Athena


    as if he were her son.


    As she gazed at herself,


    Phobos son of Ares,


    did run a cold finger


    down her spine. Medusa


    shrieked from the chilling touch.


    In her reflection she


    did witness some scales


    upon her forehead¡¯s skin.


    She retracted from her


    own sight, pawing at the


    cursed patch of scaly skin


    only to discover


    mere flecks of confetti.


    The young woman chuckled


    at her own foolishness,


    paying no regard to


    her flawless reflection.


    She set to her duties


    without hesitation.


    Yet as young Medusa


    travelled she was followed


    by crowd of clamorers.


    Their numbers grew with each


    passing day, and their chants


    echoed adulations


    in her dreams every night.


    Young men voiced affections,


    then she dreamt of heroes.


    Brave heroes of Hellas


    professed adoration,


    then she dreamt of princes.


    Princes came to court her,


    then she dreamed of kings.


    The greater the station


    of Medusa¡¯s suitors,


    the more she attended


    to mirrored reflection.


    All the while, unbeknownst,


    Phobos whispered to her


    of her ancestor:


    the old serpentine king.


    Increasingly she saw


    him in her reflection.


    She buried her visage


    beneath layers of paint,


    adorning herself in


    elaborate jewels.


    The more she attended


    to her own elegance,


    she diminishingly


    oversaw her duties.


    A white owl called Bubo


    watched Medusa from the


    old olive tree outside


    temple chamber¡¯s window.


    Athena¡¯s watchful beast


    fluttered above the clouds


    to report his findings.


    On way to Olympus,


    a trio of gods held


    their tongues till he had passed.


    Apollo god of sun,


    Poseidon god of seas,


    and Zeus god of the sky


    had gathered to confide


    mutual affections


    for Athena¡¯s priestess.


    A woman whose beauty


    enraptures the world


    does not evade the eyes


    of masculine divine.


    All three of them known for


    many mortal affairs,


    looked upon Medusa


    as does a hungry dog


    at a fresh slab of meat.


    Yet, quite aberrantly,


    had not acted upon


    their most primal passions.


    Insouciant Apollo


    muttered most cautiously,


    ¡°How my heart sings for her!


    Yet Athena¡¯s ire


    gives pause to my lyre.


    On this matter, I know


    that my eldest sister


    frowns when I do conspire


    with such thoughts in my head.


    Kinsmen, I dare not cross


    goddess of victory


    even for this maiden.¡±


    God king of Olympus,


    Zeus held his first daughter


    in a higher regard


    than all the other gods.


    Brave, wondrous Athena


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.was apple of his eye.


    Zeus, solemn with his words,


    declared, ¡°I need not fear


    her as does Apollo.


    Though true my loins ache for


    this mortal Medusa,


    I shan¡¯t ever injure


    Athena¡¯s heart by such


    a heinous transgression


    against her property.


    Where marriage could not slake


    my rakish behavior,


    the adoration of


    my favorite child can.¡±


    A wounded Apollo


    looked toward his father


    with a quivering eye


    and a trembling lip.


    Yet he held fast his tongue.


    Poseidon, the brother


    of Zeus and a god king


    of seas by his own right,


    held no reservations.


    ¡°What a sad, sorry sight


    that I must bear witness to.


    Zeus and Apollo made


    humble by a woman.¡±


    ¡°Tread carefully, brother,¡±


    Zeus snarled. Apollo said,


    ¡°Come now uncle, say not


    such petty vengeful words.


    Athena won Athens


    over you in fair contest.¡±


    ¡°That was only because


    of her insidious


    design: democracy,¡±


    Poseidon snapped in reply,


    ¡°Yet why am I surprised


    Zeus is silenced by his


    peerless, perfect princess?


    Let it be known that I,


    Poseidon, ocean king


    will not shirk nor cower


    from impertinent niece.


    I would love nothing more


    than make a proper whore


    of a virgin priestess.


    Grovel to a woman


    as you see fit; but I,


    as god and king, shall take


    what I please of mortals.¡±


    ¡°You will do no such thing!¡±


    Zeus commanded, his voice boomed


    with the sound of thunder,


    ¡°Medusa, high priestess


    of Athens is sacred


    property of her god.


    Violating purity


    of one with her station


    would be occasion for


    war among the divine.¡±


    ¡°Exactly what I want,¡±


    Poseidon snickered back,


    ¡°Should contest come to blows,


    precious goddess of war


    shall be crushed under my waves!¡±


    ¡°Should it come to violence


    my daughter shall not stand


    alone,¡± Zeus growled in return.


    ¡°Should it come to such state


    Ares and Aphrodite


    shall happily reply


    in my favor, brother,¡±


    Poseidon did reply.


    ¡°And in turn: Hephaestus,


    Hermes, and Artemis


    shall answer my favor.¡±


    ¡°Uncle,¡± Apollo said,


    ¡°I have no hatred for


    my sister Athena,


    and much love for my twin.


    Artemis shall fight for


    Athena. So shall I.¡±


    ¡°Now, tell me my brother,¡±


    Zeus sneered, ¡°whom shall Hades


    raise his banner for, hmmm?¡±


    Poseidon knew the truth.


    It would be Athena.


    A battle against her


    would beget a great war


    he knew he could not win.


    Regardless, he hungered


    for vengeance in response


    to her long-ago slight.


    Though it shamed and pained him,


    he knew to acquiesce.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Poseidon


    lamented, ¡°I shan¡¯t use


    force on the high priestess,


    but seduction, willful


    forfeit of purity,


    is not a cause for war.


    I shall have my vengeance


    when Medusa¡¯s body


    is willfully intwined


    in the throes of passion


    of regal, divine lust.


    The high-whore-priestess of


    sacred virgin goddess.


    That fair enough brother?¡±


    Zeus couldn¡¯t help but smiling


    as he considered it.


    This could prove a useful


    precedent later on.


    ¡°Very well my brother,


    now begins your trial:


    Medusa¡¯s seduction.¡±

 Book III

    <u>Book III</u>


    Medusa walked along


    the alabaster streets


    of the ancient city.


    The maid was returning


    from ornate abode of


    second Erechtheus.


    The city¡¯s king had held


    a feast in her honor;


    ¡®twas but cunning pretext


    for opportunity


    for him to gain favor


    among those who would be


    allies or foes to his


    intrigues and ambitions.


    Such occasion proved the


    most opportune moment


    for rich and powerful


    men to attempt to catch


    the sun kissed golden orbs


    of fair Medusa¡¯s sight.


    The eyes of the priestess


    held a spell over men


    that held them still as stone.


    To show their affections,


    she had been showered in


    gifts of fur and jewels.


    As she wound her way back


    to Athena¡¯s temple,


    she spoke aloud a thought,


    ¡°How long has it been since


    I offered sacrifice?¡±


    Medusa set aside


    the worrying notion.


    ¡°State craft is noble work


    of Lady Athena,¡±


    she reassured herself.


    Priestess rationalized


    time among opulence.


    ¡°How better to hold sway


    over those who would rule


    than by heart¡¯s enchantment?¡±


    Old and infirm alike


    went unnoticed by her


    sight, no more than pebbles


    along her pristine road.


    Returned to her chambers,


    Medusa looked upon


    Athena¡¯s gift to her.


    Something in reflection


    commanded attention.


    Anxiously she approached.


    There was a collection


    of flakes on her forehead


    and cheeks, but when she went


    to wipe them away there


    were none found on her hands.


    Still the patches of scales


    remained in reflection.


    Medusa drew her face


    closer and closer to


    the shield to inquire.


    Braided lock of her hair


    rose up and hissed as though


    a manner of serpent.


    The breath had been stolen


    out of Medusa¡¯s lungs.


    Given fright, she stumbled


    backwards. Priestess laid prone.


    Maiden knew to atone


    for her growing follies.


    On her knees she pleaded


    for Athena¡¯s mercy,


    but her penitent words


    were echoed by bitter


    back biting of her thoughts.


    ¡°Why do you punish me


    for my accomplishments?¡±


    she hissed at her goddess.


    Bubo screeched in reply.


    Dark clouds covered the sky


    and the thunder echoed.


    Then Athena was there.


    She hide away clenched teeth


    behind stoic grimace.


    But it was grey-blue eyes


    that belied her fury.


    Priestess trembled with fear,


    Thanatos could be near.


    Athena closed her eyes,


    breathed deep, and found kind word.


    ¡°My dear child, Medusa,


    be not seduced by ego.


    Make victim of yourself


    in your mind, forever


    you are defined by it.


    Make not the gods¡¯ graces


    into foul afflictions.¡±


    ¡°Forgive me, Athena!¡±


    Medusa wept into


    her goddess¡¯ chiton.


    Athena stroked her hair


    and spoke in stern whisper,


    ¡°Do not be sorry. Learn.¡±


    Thunder echoed again,


    Athena had vanished,


    and Medusa shaken.


    She ran a hand across


    her swollen, tear stained eyes


    to find her makeup smudged.


    Medusa reached up to


    attend to it but stopped.


    She took the silken gown,


    which had been patron gift


    of a stately suitor,


    and cleaned her face with it.


    Medusa leaned forward


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.to observe reflection.


    She retained blessed visage.


    Medusa sighed relief.


    For a time she did tend


    well and true to her charge.


    Yet enticing allure


    of high station suitors


    held much sway in her dreams.


    Such is as the taste of


    the most exquisite sweets.


    The experience shall


    linger on tip of tongue


    and at forefront of thought.


    Her patience for the work


    had long since disappeared.


    Though she could force herself


    to say generous words


    or adorn pleasant smiles,


    Medusa could not bring


    herself to bear witness


    of divine spark within


    their all too human souls.


    One day she walked along


    the Aegean¡¯s¡¯ shoreline.


    There she met a stallion


    of power and beauty.


    The wondrous beast shimmered


    with colors of the seas.


    Medusa approached it


    and stroked the beast¡¯s vibrant


    mane of cerulean.


    The stallion whinnied with


    delight at maiden¡¯s touch.


    The horse fiercely nuzzled


    its face against hers till


    Medusa had been shoved


    to the sand as she laughed


    at the antics of this


    most peculiar beast.


    The powerful equine


    stood astride over her


    as the ocean¡¯s surf washed


    over sublime figure.


    Then a lightning bolt struck


    surface of the ocean.


    The stallion neighed in pain


    as though it had been struck.


    It staggered back into


    the waves, which churned in kind.


    Medusa rushed into


    the water to offer


    her comfort to the beast.


    She lovingly held it


    as she gently whispered


    kind words to soothe its fear.


    The animal gestured


    for maiden to mount him,


    and Medusa did so.


    He galloped down the shore


    as she rode him bareback.


    Rhythmic thumping of his


    strides stirred in her passions


    that welcome attention


    of one Aphrodite.


    Medusa, embarrassed


    and confounded by such


    enticing emotion,


    dismounted the stallion


    and went to flee from it.


    It had provoked in her


    thoughts that invited a


    temptation to break her


    sacred chastity vow.


    There was a reason why


    maidens were priestess¡¯


    for virgin goddesses.


    But before she could flee,


    Medusa heard a voice,


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me without your


    name, my beautiful girl.¡±


    Medusa turned around


    to find a rugged man


    who radiated both


    great power and danger.


    Though awestruck by the sight,


    Medusa was incensed


    by her ego¡¯s insult.


    ¡°Sir!¡± she angrily growled,


    ¡°How do you not know me?


    I am none other than


    exquisite Medusa,


    Athena¡¯s high priestess!


    She who¡¯s beauty is known


    and coveted by kings


    from across the world!¡±


    In barren olive tree


    Bubo kept careful watch


    of unfolding events.


    ¡°Of course I know your name,¡±


    the rugged stallion said,


    ¡°but I had to keep you


    from fleeing before I


    could share proclamation.


    You underestimate


    and do not overstate


    the reverence commanded


    by unequal beauty


    you have been gifted with.


    Girl, your idolaters


    extend to the heavens.¡±


    At those words, Poseidon


    revealed his self in full


    divine wonder and awe.


    All thoughts of kings flew from


    Medusa¡¯s thoughts as she


    had acquired a god.


    Crying tears of sweet joy,


    she rushed into his arms.


    As she did so, he merged


    again with the ocean.


    Medusa laid herself


    on the sand as the waves


    worshipfully caressed


    her serpentine body.

 Book IV

    <u>Book IV</u>


    So began their affair.


    Much to the god¡¯s chagrin,


    Poseidon remained chaste


    keeping to his bargain


    with brother and nephew.


    He maintained the disguise


    of a rugged sailor.


    Medusa would forsake


    her priestessly duties


    to bask in the glory


    of her divine beauty


    in mystical palace


    within humble conch shell.


    She scarcely noticed the


    nereids attending


    to her every desire.


    She could only see her


    present suitor¡¯s station.


    Her lover was a god,


    and all other people


    may as well be as stones:


    inert and nonfactors.


    They laid in each other¡¯s


    arms, her struck by Eros,


    on a bed of pearls.


    Poseidon¡¯s body ached


    as he abstained his loins.


    ¡°How sweet would her body


    be to ride astride me?¡±


    his thoughts constantly asked.


    He could possess her now,


    for Aphrodite had


    sent her son as ally


    of Poseidon¡¯s vengeance.


    Struck by love¡¯s arrow, she


    shan¡¯t refuse amorous


    advances of a god.


    Yet it was that same goal


    that bid Poseidon to


    forgo Eros¡¯ aid.


    Athens should have been his.


    To truly twist the knife,


    Medusa had to choose


    him over Athena.


    As she laid with sea king,


    Medusa gazed into


    ocean¡¯s vibrant expanse.


    Then a sea snake slithered


    past her sight and she whelped.


    Poseidon tended to


    his lover as curled locks


    coiled around her fingers.


    ¡°You need fear no serpent


    when I am present, love,¡±


    he tenderly told her.


    Medusa shook her head


    ¡°no¡± and readied herself


    to divulge deep secrets,


    ¡°I am not afraid of


    them by their own accord.


    I am a descendant


    of Erichthonious,


    half serpent king of old.


    Every generation


    of family¡¯s women


    await baleful curse of


    serpent¡¯s inheritance.


    Cherished Euryale


    and sweetest Stheno;


    my most precious sisters,


    bore brunt of curse¡¯s wrath


    sparing me from their pain.


    Yet the son of Ares,


    the treacherous Phobos,


    haunts my thought to this day


    with irksome notion I


    am not yet a gorgon.¡±


    Poseidon tenderly


    caressed Medusa¡¯s head.


    ¡°Fret not for kin¡¯s failings,¡±


    he whispered cunningly,


    ¡°Lovely as the divine,


    by your beauty alone


    are worthy of godhood.¡±


    Medusa feigned rebuff


    but suspected as much.


    ¡°Alas, I cannot be.


    I abandoned my kin


    and only by the grace


    of Lady Athena


    I was spared fatal end.


    She sent me a white steed


    that flew with the speed of


    my imagination.


    Somewhere along the way,


    as I ensconced myself


    with adequate peerage,


    I lost track of the beast.¡±


    Poseidon wordlessly


    ruminated her words.


    Then the mortal and god


    bid each other goodbye


    and exited their bliss.


    Upon her returning


    to Athena¡¯s temple,


    Medusa was found by


    the goddess of wisdom.


    Athena somberly


    cast down her gaze as she


    beheld how Medusa


    had covered shield in cloth.


    ¡°My Lady Athena!¡±


    Medusa worriedly


    cried out in stark surprise,


    ¡°Goddess, what brings you here?¡±


    Athena shook her head.


    ¡°Medusa, stupid child,¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.she chided her priestess,


    ¡°it is not yet too late,


    but that hour draws near.


    Look upon your true self


    and banish vanity


    or lose all you cherish.¡±


    Medusa¡¯s sneered reply


    hissed off of a forked tongue,


    ¡°What right does a woman


    who has never been loved


    nor been in love a man


    to cast any judgment


    upon me? Oh, I see!


    It must be jealousy!


    You are old, bitter crone


    in a maiden¡¯s body!¡±


    Without a single word,


    Athena silenced her


    by placing tip of spear


    against Medusa¡¯s lips.


    Athena¡¯s murderous


    glare pierced Medusa¡¯s soul.


    The errant priestess shook


    with great trepidation.


    Athena turned her head


    aside, raised two fingers


    to her lips and whistled.


    a horse¡¯s neigh replied.


    A gorgeous white stallion


    Medusa recognized,


    galloped up temple steps.


    Athena stroked the beast¡¯s


    face, retrained attention


    on her wayward priestess.


    ¡°My sweet fool, Medusa,


    Spell has narrowed your mind.


    Climb atop Pegasus


    and ride him far away.


    Flee from fame and stature.


    This, your moment is now;


    fate intersects for you.


    Make a choice. One of two:


    be the girl who listened


    or monster who didn¡¯t.¡±


    Medusa¡¯s mind was blank.


    She could not comprehend


    what was being told to her.


    Yet mortal dread acted


    itself through her body.


    Phobos hung most heavy


    upon her slim shoulders.


    She abided implore


    of the Lady Wisdom,


    and rode majestic beast


    through the city at night.


    As she did so, her thoughts


    were given wings and soared.


    Adoration had dulled


    them recently for her.


    Free from the eager crowds


    and absent high stature,


    Medusa was herself.


    She cast a glance towards port


    then towards the city¡¯s gates.


    She could have ridden out


    across Attica¡¯s plains


    to remake her one life


    as a humbled student


    who escaped excesses


    of beauty and glory¡­


    but heard the sea¡¯s call.


    She turned the horse towards the


    seashore and it whinnied in protest.


    Medusa dismounted


    Pegasus and led him


    along by his bridle.


    Her mind grew dull again


    and her thoughts venomous.


    They snarled bitterly


    at ¡°jealous Athena¡±.


    With every step she grew


    increasingly certain


    of what she told herself.


    There, upon ocean¡¯s shore,


    Poseidon stood waiting;


    not in human disguise


    but rather as a god


    in full might and splendor.


    The mortal woman rushed


    into open embrace.


    ¡°I see you have brought it,¡±


    Poseidon said to her.


    ¡°Brought what?¡± Medusa asked.


    ¡°A sacrifice,¡± he said.


    Medusa was aghast.


    ¡°Pegasus is my friend,¡±


    she pleaded, ¡°I cannot.¡±


    ¡°Come lover,¡± Poseidon


    gently whispered, ¡°for me?¡±


    With those words, Medusa


    found a knife in her hands.


    It had a pearl handle


    and obsidian blade,


    not unlike a snake¡¯s fang.


    ¡°Ritual sacrifice


    is for divinity.


    It is for you and me,¡±


    he said as he kissed her.


    Though the promise was vague,


    Medusa understood


    implication too well.


    Her heart soared at prospect


    of unequaled stature.


    She could be a goddess:


    beautiful, immortal,


    free of family¡¯s curse.


    And all she had to do


    was appease her lover.


    Medusa found resolve,


    approached kind Pegasus,


    and slit the horse¡¯s throat.


    Poseidon watched on as


    Medusa did consume


    the horse¡¯s whole body.


    Her hunger for stature


    opened inside of her


    an unfillable whole.

 Book V

    <u>Book V</u>


    That very night, even as


    she was still covered in


    the blood of Pegasus,


    Medusa led her love


    to Athena¡¯s temple.


    Their eager hands pawing


    at one another¡¯s forms,


    peeling away their clothes


    with frantic ecstasy.


    Before her own statue,


    Lord Poseidon thrusted


    his full measure into


    enraptured Medusa,


    ending her maidenhood.


    Mighty waves crashed against


    the shore in synch with the


    divine lord of oceans.


    Medusa moaned loudly.


    Her mind flooded by dreams


    of being Poseidon¡¯s wife,


    Athena¡¯s own statue


    torn down and her temple


    gifted to Medusa,


    the new Olympian.


    Then Poseidon finished.


    Medusa laid there in


    ecstatic afterglow.


    They nuzzled their faces


    together in passion.


    Then a white owl hooted.


    With Bubo on shoulder,


    an irate Athena


    descended from on high.


    Sea god and Medusa


    rose to their feet laughing.


    Medusa¡¯s chuckle hissed.


    ¡°Oh? What will you do now,


    miserable Wisdom?¡±


    she snarled gleefully,


    ¡°What power do you have


    over a divine king?¡±


    But grey-eyed Athena


    glared forward in silence,


    her sorrow and fury


    plain to the naked eye.


    Then Poseidon bellowed


    mightily in answer.


    The longer his laugh went,


    the more trepidatious


    poor Medusa became.


    The endless pit inside


    of her deepened and grew.


    At last Poseidon spoke.


    ¡°The high-whore-priestess of


    scared virgin goddess!


    Listen little mortal,


    you are nothing to me


    but venue for vengeance.


    My impertinent niece


    has needed correction


    for far too long a time


    She had forgotten her


    place when she challenged me


    for the right¡¯s to Athens.


    She further defied me


    with callous victory.


    But what is most perfect?


    Indignant irony.


    The sole reason you weren¡¯t


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.taken at my first whim


    was your scorned protection


    of one Lady Wisdom.


    I was only tender


    in my courtship of you


    as to evade my own


    brother¡¯s retribution


    for slighting his precious,


    perfect, peerless, princess.


    Behold the hurt and hate


    blazing in her blue eyes.


    Athena, that feeling


    you feel is called ¡®defeat¡¯.


    I couldn¡¯t have done it


    without you, Medusa.


    You will never be queen


    of any place or man,


    but beware the fair skies


    and tremble at thunder.


    The gods will happily


    have you as our own whore.¡±


    With those cruel words, he left.


    Medusa¡¯s heart shattered


    and she wept profusely.


    Goddess and her priestess


    lingered on in silence.


    ¡°Athena, I¡¯m sorry!¡±


    Medusa pleaded but


    Athena was unmoved.


    ¡°Medusa,¡± the goddess


    spoke, voice cracking with rage,


    ¡°Look upon this image


    to witness your true self.¡±


    Then Athena removed


    cloth covering the shield.


    In it¡¯s reflection stood


    a horrid serpentine woman


    whose hair was a hissing,


    deadly nest of vipers.


    Her immaculate skin


    became as slimy scales,


    and her legs as a tail.


    Medusa had become


    the monster she always


    feared was destined to be.


    Medusa¡¯s monstrous screams


    echoed across Athens.


    Then with bitter grimace,


    Athena spoke to her.


    ¡°Fear not,¡± Athena said,


    ¡°Now no man, mortal or


    divine shall ever touch


    you again, my failure.¡±


    Medusa was blinded


    with broiling fury.


    As she slithered away


    all her eyes could witness


    was the ¡°jealous goddess¡±


    who had betrayed her trust.


    All living things became


    stone in her sight because


    nothing outside herself


    had any further worth.


    With her gorgon sisters,


    horrid Medusa fled


    to Serifos Island


    where the three hid away


    from the hated, cursed world


    in a reclusive cave.


    There they remained until


    the day a hero came,


    with the shield of reason,


    to slay the dread monster


    of vanity and set


    free creativity.