MEDUSA

Among the Greek gods, the emblem of sovereignty was the aegis - a red dyed goat skin with serpents and the head of the Gorgon, Medusa. Athena, patron goddess of Athens, is shown wearing the aegis in Phiadias' statue of her in the Parthenon. Athena was originally a Libyan deity and the Medusa was a representation of herself as the Libyan goddess Medusa or Metis. Medusa's snake-haired mask could turn men to stone and guarded the sacredness of women's mysteries, in which men could not participate.

Perseus, the legendary hero, used the Medusa head to petrify his enemies and from the Medusa's blood rose his winged steed, Pegasus, who was 'born of female wisdom.' In the Mediterranean, red coral jewelry is still associated with Medusa and menstral blood.

The image shown here is from an Italian Rennaisance shield. The face, all-knowing and wise, appears about to speak. Surrounded by her serpents and a solar halo, the figure was obviously utilized in the hope that Medusa would turn all enemies to stone.

Information above from Barbara Walker's The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects, 1988.