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Gorgons

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An ancient Greek artwork showing a winged goddess with a Gorgon's head, holding birds in each hand, from Kameiros on the island of Rhodes.

The Gorgons

The Gorgons were three sisters in Greek mythology. Their names were Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa. They were daughters of two sea beings named Phorcys and Ceto.

In old stories, the Gorgons had special powers. Their pictures were used on shields and clothes to help keep people safe. Over time, they were shown as beautiful young women in art.

The name "Gorgon" comes from an Ancient Greek word that means "grim" or "fierce." It sounds like the growl of an animal. This name matches how the Gorgons looked in myths.

Medusa had two children with the god Poseidon. They were a winged horse named Pegasus and a warrior named Chrysaor. The Gorgons are remembered in many stories and pictures from ancient times.

Images

Ancient Greek sculpture showing Perseus and Athena in a mythological scene from the Temple of Selinunte.
An ancient Greek plate from around 520/10 B.C. showing Athena, the goddess of wisdom, with her symbolic owl.
An ancient Greek vase showing scenes from mythology, including Herakles and the Gorgons, created around 620-600 BC.
An ancient Greek vase painting showing a winged mythological creature from around 580 BC.
A detailed sculpture from the West Pediment of the ancient Temple of Artemis in Corfu, showcasing classical Greek artistry.
An ancient ivory carving showing the mythological hero Perseus with the head of Medusa, from a historical site in Samos.
An ancient Greek relief showing a winged mythological figure from Syracuse, created around the late 7th century BC.
An ancient Greek vase painting showing a mythological scene with the Gorgon by the Berlin Painter.
An ancient Greek red-figure vase showing the myth of Perseus and Medusa, part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Ancient Greek sculpture of Medusa with her children Pegasus and Chrysaor, displayed at the Regional Archaeological Museum of Gela.

Related articles

Greek mythology
Medusa
Phorcys
Poseidon
Pegasus

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Gorgons, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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