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Medusa

Medusa

12 8.4
A woman in Greek myth who turns people to stone when they look at her
  • proper noun
  • /məˈduːzə/
  • Literature
: Medusa
  • The Medusa head, you know, that image has recurred with Hillary Clinton, who was portrayed as Medusa in in the last presidential election.
  • Medusa's head
  • Raft of the Medusa
  • mosaics of Medusa

The Medusa head, you know, that image has recurred with Hillary Clinton, who was portrayed as Medusa in in the last presidential election.

Examples

  • Capit Medusa translates to head of Medusa, that Greek monster with snake for hair that if you look at you turn to stone.

  • Legend states that anyone who looked directly at Medusa would be turned into stone immediately.

  • The head of the Medusa.

    Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

  • Instead of hair, Medusa has living, hissing snakes on her head.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Ray Bradbury once said that coming up with an idea is like trying to behead the Medusa.

    Back in Time (2015)

  • In Greek mythology, Perseus was tasked with defeating the Gorgon Medusa, whose gaze could turn people to stone.

  • To avoid being turned to stone, the hero used a reflective shield to glimpse the terrifying Medusa without direct eye contact.

Synonyms

Gorgon
vsMedusa
  • Literature
6 9.9

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

is one particular member of that monstrous sister group and a named figure

Surface Forms

Medusa main

Etymology

Medusa comes from an old Greek root med- meaning 'to protect' or 'guardian'. That's why the myth shows her as a terrible guardian whose gaze can turn people to stone.