Medusa was one of the most frightening creatures in Greek Mythology. One of the three Gorgons, sisters who were daughters of the Sea God Phorcus, Medusa was the only mortal Gorgon. Beautiful in her youth and inordinately proud of her flowing hair, she boasted of her beauty to the Goddess of War, Athena. Inflamed with jealousy, mighty Athena turned all three sisters into the hideous Gorgons with staring eyes, protruding fangs and a nest of writhing snakes for hair. So fearsome was their countenance that to gaze upon them was to be turned to stone.

Apparently, their new found appearance brought their rage to unheralded heights. Indeed they were wanton in their blood lust. Although many warriors attempted their demise, it was Perseus who finally prevailed with wit and cunning. Rather than look directly at his foe, Perseus used his polished shield to see his reflected enemy and thus be able to fight and eventually behead her.

Upon decapitation, the winged steed Pegasus sprang from Medusa’s lifeless corpse. Ever mindful of an opportunity, the watchful Athena saved the blood from Medusa’s body and entrusted it to Aesculapius the physician to be used wisely in the world of Men. The blood from her left side was a fatal poison but the blood from her right side had the power to revive the dead.