Gorgon

6 9.9

Three monstrous sisters in Greek myth with snakes for hair whose look turns people to stone

noun
/ˈɡɔrɡən/

Literature

: Gorgona

She is one of three Gorgons, along with Theno and Uriel, her sisters.
the Gorgon's head

She is one of three Gorgons, along with Theno and Uriel, her sisters.

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Examples

The concertmaster turned, stared down at her, eyes wide as if she were the Gorgon and he'd turned to stone.

Fiction book (1998)
What kind of favor is fixing us up with the Gorgon sisters?

Nightmare Sisters (1988)
Man does not behold the face of the Gorgon and live.

Forbidden Planet (1956)
Shielded from the Gorgon's stone cold gaze, Perseus crept through Medusa's cave.
When Perseus was sent forth to defeat the Gorgon, he was armed with four gifts from the heavens: A sword, boots… a helmet and a shield.

Lazer Team (2016)
In Greek mythology, the Gorgon Medusa could turn anyone who looked at her into stone.
The hero Perseus bravely faced the Gorgon, using a reflective shield to avoid her deadly gaze.
Mythological stories often depict the Gorgon as a fearsome creature with snakes for hair.

Surface Forms

Gorgon singular

Gorgons plural

Etymology

Gorgon comes from an old Greek word gorgós, which means 'dreadful' or 'terrible'. Imagine a scary sister with snakes for hair whose look could turn people to stone — the name simply called her a 'dreadful' monster, which is why we use Gorgon for such a terrifying creature.