Medusa

**Medusa** is a minor recurring character in the *Divine Comedy*.

Perhaps the most famous of the Gorgons, Medusa was once a beautiful maiden turned monster that terrorized men. After her death at the hands of Perseus she was sent to the underworld where she found refuge in Heresy's City of Dis. Eventually, Medusa was able to raise herself up to the ranks, becoming the mayor of Dis.

## History

### Background

Medusa was the youngest of her two half-sisters Stheno and Euryale and a daughter of Humbaba and Lamashtu. Out of the sisters, Medusa was perhaps the most beautiful and "human-like" which made her a favorite of sorts to Humbaba but hated by her mother. Despite the clear favoritism, Medusa got along quite well with her sisters though this was strained when Lamashtu would manipulate her sisters to abuse her. In addition, like most monsters, Medusa had a clear distrust towards divine beings, initially at first, but would come to admire Athena for her wisdom.

Medusa left her cavernous home to live about her own life, leaving her two sisters behind; according Stheno she started to stop sending them letters informing them of events that took place in her life. She spent the next several years living among the humans and working as a priestess in Athena's temple. Her beauty also enraptured everyone that looked at her, both men and women, and it was not long before one of the gods took notice of her enticing appearance as well.

### Medusa's Fall and Rise

At one point in time, Medusa met and fell in love with a farm boy who returned the affection but kept it on the low given that an Athenian priestess practiced celibacy which Medusa admitted was not as fun as her colleagues made it out to be. Their love grew intense to where Medusa betrayed her vows of celibacy and made love with the farm boy in the forest by the lake. However, this wouldn't have gone unnoticed by Poseidon who, in a fit of sheer jealousy, informed Athena of the act committed by her favored priestess. Athena decided to punish Medusa by revealing her true form to the farm boy during one of their night outs to which the farm boy immediately turned to stone from the sheer terror of her appearance, greatly horrifying Medusa.

She uncontrollably killed anyone she came across and eventually fled to Sarpedon, an island somewhere near Cisthene. Medusa anger and hatred grew over the years, making her more beastial and removing whatever was left of her beauty and elegance. Tragically, she would meet her end by the demigod Perseus who beheaded her in order use her decapitated head as a weapon against the monstrous Cetus. After her death, Medusa was sent to underworld where she wandered for quite some time until she came upon Hell. Initially rejected at first, she was allowed to stay at the behest of Eve who recognized her as a descendant of Tiamat, a sister of Eve. Medusa would find refuge in the City of Dis where she worked her way up to become the mayor of Heresy's capital city.

## Trivia

* Medusa is based on the monster of the same name found in Greek mythology.
* Her theme song would be "Miss Jackson" by Panic! At the Disco.
* Contrary to belief, Medusa is actually the only member of the Gorgon sisters that has a petrifying gaze.
* Sinners are immune to Medusa's gaze since they're already dead, however, she is able to encase them in stone.
* Medusa is the only one of the sisters that has green snakes for hair.
* It is revealed that before Medusa's death she was pregnant with the farmboy's children which consisted of two boys; Chrysaor and Amphisbaena, a gorgon and gargoyle who would then become the forefathers of gorgons and gargoyles.
	+ It is also said that Basilisks hail from Amphisbaena which makes sense considering a Basilisk can kill anyone with its gaze, an ability inherited from Medusa herself.