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who had gazed upon the Gorgon. Perseus managed to get close to Medusa by using Athena's shield as a mirror, therefore avoiding a direct gaze. Medusa was then beheaded.

Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon, and from her decapitated body the winged horse Pegasus, and the giant Chrysaor were born. Pegasus was used by Bellerophon in his adventures, whilst Chrysaor became the King of Iberia.

Even in death, Medusa still had a role to play in Greek mythology. Though the remaining Gorgons chased after Perseus, they were unable to catch him. As Perseus then flew to rescue his mother, Medusa's head was used to turn the Titan Atlas into stone as he held up the heavens. As he flew over the Red Sea, blood from the decapitated head dripped creating the sea's coral. Perseus also used Medusa's head as a weapon as rescued Andromeda.

Perseus made one final use of the head, rescuing his mother from an imminent wedding, Perseus turned all those present, aside form his mother, into stone.

With the quest completed, Medusa's head was passed from Perseus to the goddess Athena, who placed it on her Aegis, her shield, to be used when she fought.

There are some similarities between Medusa and the goddess Hera. The worship of both women predates the creation of the Mount Olympus gods. Prior to ancient Greece, Medusa was worshipped in Africa as a serpent goddess. Just as Hera decreased in importance with the arrival of the Hellanes people in Greece, so did Medusa. The more male dominated religion of the Olympian gods saw Medusa relegated to a relative minor role, and in many peoples' view an oppressed role.

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