Artemis and Medusa (Gorgon)

[MonSno_LeeDra]

Is there a connection between Artemis and Medusa? I have never heard of Artemis in reference to the tale of Medusa but there may have been some sort of link.

At the Temple of Artemis (Artemis Orthia) in Sparta one of the objects found in the excavation was a Gorgon shaped item. The item was cast in lead and was of a gorgon that appeared to be running. A few other items could possibly be images of a Gorgons face but only the lead figure could be said for sure to be one.

http://www.compulink.co.uk/~archaeology/civilisation/greece/sparta.htm

Now most of the lead figures recovered were of warriors and such and many figures (various materials) of what was called "Artemis - Mistress of Animals". Possibly a varation of Potnia theron, Mistress of Animals.

The paper "The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia at Sparta" goes into greater depth on findings and conclusions.

http://efts.lib.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/eos/eos_title.pl?callnum=DF261.S68D3

By itself the inclusion of the Gorgon figure may not indicate anything yet if one expands the concept it is not the only site to have such a connection.

On the Island of Korfu (Corfu) there is an ancient temple of Artemis dated to around 580 BC. Little remains but one major element of this temple was the inclusion of a gorgon figure in the pediment of the temple.

If one looks at the shape, there is a strong similarity between the figures.

http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Arts/ArtemisCorfuTemple.htm

http://www.wisc.edu/arth/ah201/ted/08.html

http://www.sacredisland.gr/medusa.html

While the presence of the figurine at Sparta and the Pediment at Corfu may indicate an early association this is not to say there was a connection, I offer it here for discussion.

[Incendia]

This is the most likely reason for any connection:



In Ancient Greece a Gorgoneion (or stone head, engraving, or drawing of a Gorgon face, often with snakes protruding wildly and the tongue sticking out between her fangs) frequently was used as an apotropaic symbol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apotropaic_magic#Apotropaic_symbols) [10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgon#cite_note-9) and placed on doors, walls, floors, coins, shields, breastplates, and tombstones (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_stone) in the hopes of warding off evil.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgon

[MonSno_LeeDra]

If it were just the head (frontal) then I would go wth that.

However, neither of these are frontal or just the head on image. Both are full bodied. The Pediment also showing her two children.

[Incendia]

The Greeks represented the Gorgon’s head in many ways in art, most often as a separate, disembodied head (the Gorgoneion). It is affi xed to the roofs of buildings, and to the protective aegis that Athena wears on her breast. It is seen in a number of different contexts in which the power to kill is also protective. It is used, for example, on drinking cups to ward off the evil effects of too much drink. So the head is not only death-dealing, it is apotropaic, protecting the user and wearer. It protects Athena; it protects the buildings on which it is installed; and it protects the drinker of the wine from its effects.





The Gorgon head with its body does the same thing and appears in similar contexts. The running figureof the Gorgon is used frequently in architecture, most famously, perhaps, on a late seventh-, early sixthcentury temple in Corfu, but also on temples from Greek colonies in South Italy and Sicily...



See p. 4 from here: http://artgallery.yale.edu/pdf/focus/focuson_gorgon.pdf

[Son of Goddess]

I would suggest looking into any historical connections that Sparta and Korfu may have had with each other, political, religious or otherwise. If this indeed is a connection, a relationship between the two would be necessary.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

Thanks Incendia,

Until that article I had not seen any reference to a full body gorgon.

[siannan 13]

Were the carving of Medusa mreally related to Artemis, or just used on many buildings ?


I am suprised to discover that Medusas masks were apotropaic.

It reminds me the Sheela-na-Gig carvings in Ireland (old ugly hags showing their vulva), which were also frequently seen above doors or under roofs, even of churches (there are no pre-christian temples in Ireland).
Sheela-na-Gig are also believed to have an apotropaic function.

Regardin,g the Sheela's clue, my favorite hypothesis it that she is a symbol of life giver, thus powerfull and protector.

Now why would Medusa's head be apotropaic ? maybe some symbol of the snakes ? or her power to kill with a sight ?


sorry if yu think I'm getting too far away from the subject :weirdsmil

[Incendia]

Thanks Incendia,

Until that article I had not seen any reference to a full body gorgon.

De nada. :)

[MonSno_LeeDra]

After some more research and reading I don't think the Gorgon was so much releated to Artemis as it was a ward to keep evil or bad out. I discovered there were a few other temples and such that used the motiff in that manner as well. It also seem's as if the concept of the ward was relatively wide spread given the distance between Corfu and Sparta.

The lead figure found at Sparta almost seems as if it might have been a personal protection against evil that one mgiht carry around with them.

Given the mythology of Medusa and her ability to turn those that look upon her face to stone, I think that might have been a pretty good deterent. Even the gods could not look upon her face it seems for it is mentioned that Athena could only look into the inverse reflective face upon the shield. Seem's quit a few people had it as a blaze upon thier shields.

Add that it appears that everthing was subject to the affect / effect of the gorgon, even in the gorgon's death. Medusa was said to be able to turn viewers to stone even in death. Of course this also assumes that the Gorgon image is modled after Medusa and not one of her other sisters.

Ironically, it seem's the belief was that it took something good and ugly to keep something ugly and bad away. Good used not to denote leaning but extent of ugliniess.

However, it also seems the concept softened over the years and the Gorgon lost much of its power.

The Sheela's I guess that could be a facet of it. If I recall correctly there was a train of though that after the fall of Troy some of the Trojans migrated to Ireland and Britian. The only thing I could see that would caste doubt on that is that Troy was in Asia Minor and the Gorgon was not one of their emblems to my knowledge.

[Son of Goddess]

As for any relation between the Gorgon and the Sheela na Gig, I doubt there is any. I could imagine a connection if the two had a similar appearance, but they do not. Most, if not all, cultures had and still have some image or symbol that is believed to strike fear into those that approach it with an ill heart, thus deterring any evil from being enacted.

In the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly Greece and Turkey, you will find that a single blue eye made of glass is another modern successor of this old folk belief. Italians and Italian-Americans often where the cornuto or 'horn' pendant, the mano cornuto which is a pendant that resembles the 'rock n roll' gesture, or the mano fica which resembles the 'I got your nose' gesture (thumb pushed up between index and middle fingers when the hand is in a fist).

However, for the most part in the modern Western world, the cross or crucifix has absorbed these types of folk beliefs/practices.