'Medusa of Athens' - The Woman, The Victim, The Legend
Part 1: A fan-fiction/retelling of the 'first' victim
(TW: Sexual Assault. Please read with care. Thank you.)
There were none wiser, stronger, or better than her, Athena, the Goddess of wisdom and strength, knew. Victory flowed fresh in her blood of gold – ichor. She had just won the battle of being the patron God of Athens and won from whom but her uncle, the God of the Waters himself! However, she knew Poseidon’s propensity to hold grudges. An attack could be on the way anytime soon. The caution did not stop her from savoring her spoils as her hungry eyes wandered over the capital, looking for a new conquest to engage her. Mortals could be the most entertaining species.
Amidst the cacophony of the cosmopolitan city – hawkers crying, officials announcing, and buyers haggling, a mellifluous voice struck her ears.
“Goddess Athena!”
Few things managed to take Athena aback. The woman’s beauty happened to be one of them. Long, golden hair tumbled on her dusky face, which was adorned with a dainty nose and full, red lips. Her white robe contrasted against her skin. The woman was kneeling in the exquisitely built temple of marble, which had been devoted to the Goddess. The mortal continued to heap praises. Well aware of the protocol, the golden-haired maiden stood and draped an embroidered silver robe on Athena’s statue.
Divine rays emanated from the statue as Athena deigned to appear in the temple.
“Goddess!” the woman gasped, falling on her knees.
“Rise, maiden.” Athena’s rich, deep voice reverberated in the temple. “What is your name, and whence do you come from?”
“Medusa is my name,” the mortal’s silky voice said. “I am the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, minor lords of the sea.”
Athena’s eyes hardened. “Lords of the sea, you say?”
“The sea, Goddess. But I am here to devote my heart and soul to your service. I want to be the first priestess of this temple.”
Medusa looked into Athena’s eyes. A sudden current passed in the space between them. The mortal must have felt the exchange of sparks too, for she looked away, red rushing to her cheeks. Athena noticed the blueness of those frail mortal eyes – eyes that were bluer than the sky and deeper than the ocean. Yet, another factor attracted her.
Those eyes seemed to contain intelligence and consideration more than most men.
“Answer me, then.
“What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?”
Medusa did not take time to think. “The answer should be a human. In the morning of life – our childhood – we crawl on all fours. At noon, which is adulthood, we walk upright on two legs. In the evening of our lives, we use a cane as a third leg.”
“Born of the earth, yet a gift divine,
I thrive where the sun and soil align.
A token of peace, a feast I provide,
In oil or fruit, I’m prized worldwide.
What am I?”
Medusa smiled in recognition. “Your gift to us, Goddess, what else? The people of Athens chose this over Poseidon’s salt water. They are your divinely provided olives.”
Athena continued to grill the woman – on policy, on Gods, on anthropology. Each answer seemed better than the previous and drew Athena closer, till she could hear the mortal’s breaths. Athena knew her presence overwhelmed mortals, yet the maiden held her ground.
“Last question for today,” Athena said.
"I cannot be seen, yet I color your view,
I cannot be touched, yet I’m felt through and through.
I can bind the mighty, or make the meek bold,
A treasure eternal, yet never bought or sold.
What am I?"
Athena watched Medusa’s lips as she spoke. “The answer is love, Goddess. The best and the worst feeling in the world.”
A rush of power hit Athena; a unique exhilaration and euphoria made their way to her heart. She could appreciate beauty with brains; she could appreciate a challenge. Medusa remained on her knees, awaiting the judgment.
“Call an official,” said Athena. “I have an important announcement to make.”
And so, one of Athena’s first and grandest temples in Athens got the perfect priestess. The duties, the offerings, and the devotion were at a level unseen by Athena before. At the dawn of every week’s first day, Athena used to appear in the temple to meet the priestess. The Goddess posed riddles, discussed the recent developments in Olympus, or simply shared silence with the mortal. Those times energized the Goddess more than ambrosia could. During those conversations, butterflies flew in Athena’s stomach, and she could see the yearning in the mortal’s eyes. For the time being, she decided to keep her distance and tease the mortal some more. The bountiful sparks added a new flavor to her life. She looked forward to them eagerly.
Some Thoughts on Medusa’s Myth
In Greek myths, Medusa (ironically meaning a ‘protectress’) was one of the 3 Gorgons. In Ovid’s version of the myth — arguably the most popular one — she was a beautiful maiden. Poseidon raped Medusa in Athena’s temple.
Instead of helping the mortal, Athena cursed her, transforming her into a monstrous figure with snakes for hair and an ability to petrify people.
In popular media, Medusa is villainised as a horrifying figure who transforms other people into stone.
I wrote this fan fiction as part of my college project. Here, I try to incorporate Athena’s perspective and provide a new interpretation of the myth. I will share more thoughts on this in the next few editions.
This is part 1 of my story, Medusa of Athens.
Let me know your thoughts. I hope you enjoyed it.