Medusa

Medusa was one of three monstrous sisters known as the Gorgons. They have wings, sharp metallic claws, huge boar-like tusks, and serpents for hair. The gaze from any one of them could turn men into stone. While her sisters were immortal, Medusa was not. Their parents are the monsters Echidna and Typhon.

Medusa was once very beautiful. However, she earned the wrath of Athena after lying with Poseidon in one of the war-goddess' temples. Athena turned her into a Gorgon. Medusa retreated to live with her sisters in a cave at the entrance the Underworld, land of the dead. Later, King Polydectes of Seriphus sent Perseus to slay the Medusa and bring back her head, hoping he would perish so that the scheming king could marry Perseus' mother Danae.

However, Perseus succeeded in killing Medusa with the aid of Athena and Hermes. He returned with Medusa's head turned King Polydectes and his guests into stones. Her head was later adorned the aegis of Athena's.

When Perseus cut off her head, the winged horse Pegasus leapt from the bloody neck of the slain Medusa . Also 'born' was the hero Chrysaor .