Medusa

"You are the only one who can never see yourself except as an image; you never see your eyes unless they are dulled by the gaze they rest upon the mirror or the lens (I am interested in seeing my eyes only when they look at you): even and especially for your own body, you are condemned to the repertoire of its images."

Poem by Barthes, taken from “Medusa”, The American Poetry Review, Vol. 50, lss. 1, (Jan/Feb, 2021), : 24-25

Medusa was originally a beautiful priestess in the temple of Athena. However, after a tragic incident where she was violated in Athena's temple, the enraged goddess transformed her into a Gorgon, a creature with snakes for hair and a gaze that could turn anyone who looked at her into stone. Medusa's story takes a turn when Perseus is tasked with slaying her. With the help of various gifts from the gods, including a reflective shield, Perseus manages to decapitate Medusa without directly looking at her. From her severed neck sprang the winged horse Pegasus and the warrior Chrysaor. Medusa's severed head then becomes a powerful symbol in Greek mythology, with Perseus using it as a weapon in subsequent adventures. The tale of Medusa is often interpreted as a cautionary myth about the consequences of violating sacred spaces and the transformative power of divine wrath. This piece taken from Beth Bacmman’s entry from 2021 invites you to do some self-exploration and achieve a level of self-awareness once you are able to witness yourself apart from a world of lenses and mirrors. It will also push you to observe the dynamics between oneself and its reflection, while contemplating the complexities of identities. Lastly, this poetic journey will beckon you to explore selfhood.

Works Cited:

1- “Medusa”, Bachmman, Beth. The American Poetry Review, Vol. 50, lss. 1, (Jan/Feb, 2021), : 24-25, https://www.proquest.com/docview/2473440023?accountid=14784&parentSessionId=K%2BrD62tGtjAAbcBSnLVCWv5IUduXgHMV7KIve6dGvHs%3D&pq-origsite=primo&sourcetype=Magazines

2- "Medusa", Macquire, Kelly. World History, (June 2022). https://www.worldhistory.org/Medusa/