-
Artworks
Heather Lee Birdsong
Medusa Talisman, 2012relief print on mulberry paper8.5 x 5.75 inches (paper size)Edition 1 of 3 plus 2 AP$ 150.00Medusa, the monstrous woman of Greek myth whose visage was so fierce that looking upon it could turn men to stone, even after she was beheaded! Her depiction, and that...Medusa, the monstrous woman of Greek myth whose visage was so fierce that looking upon it could turn men to stone, even after she was beheaded! Her depiction, and that of her two immortal sisters, changed as much as her myth over time. Originally an ancient monster with goggling eyes and fangs that served as a protective symbol, she morphed into a lethal beauty who was raped by Poseidon and beheaded by Perseus with the help of Athena, female upholder of patriarchy and favorite daughter of Zeus. Her written presence in classical mythology is very small indeed, barely a footnote in Hellenic texts. Nevertheless, many 20th century white feminists have reclaimed her as a symbol of rage and survival, and her name is better known in pop culture than many others from Greek mythology.
