Existing comment:
Greek
Red-Figure Hydria (Water Jug), 450 BC
Perseus beheading the Gorgon Medusa
"Now Medusa alone was mortal; for that reason Perseus was sent to fetch her head."
-- Apollodorus, Library, 2.4.2
Medusa was one of three Gorgons, snake-haired monsters who turned all who gazed upon them into stone. The hero Perseus chopped off Medusa's head with the help of the divinities Athena (shown here with her helmet and shield) and Hermes (holding his caduceus). Perseus kept the head in a magic pouch (held in his left hand) until he gave it to the [sic] Athena, who placed it on her aegis (a magically protective garment). |