Getting a truly unique and meaningful tattoo that also looks incredible can be really hard. In the sea of interesting tattoos that almost every single person gets, finding that one hidden, unique gem can feel like discovering a new continent. One of those hidden, secret tattoo design gems is the Medusa tattoo design.
Now, being a popular character of Greek mythology, it can be hard to believe that people haven’t discovered Medusa for their tattoos, but truth to be told, Medusa is rarely the option for a tattoo design. And that is usually because of the evil and jealousy quality usually associated with Medusa. But, those who like to explore Greek mythology will know that Medusa is a powerful character, that exudes female power and freedom.
So, if you’re interested in finding a new unique tattoo design for your next ink session, you’re at the right place. In the following paragraphs, we’ll talk about Medusa tattoo symbolism and show you why the Medusa design should be your next tattoo. So, let’s get started!
The Story of Medusa
The Mythology
You’ve probably heard of Medusa from the stories in Greek and Roman mythology. Medusa is a popular character, and as such can be traced back to being a part of ancient Greek and Roman writers’ and poets’ work (for example, Homer’s Illiad or Ovid’s Metamorphoses). Even nowadays, Medusa is a well-known and globally recognized character, often associated with popular historic villains.
Now, compared to other Greek mythology characters, Medusa was not a goddess, nor a monster. In fact, Medusa was a human. She was described as a beautiful woman many desired and envied. Her beauty was so otherwordly that she was even noticed by the Gods and there seemed to lie all of her power.
When it comes to her life, Medusa was an avid and loyal support of the Greek goddess Athena. Medusa believe Athena is the most powerful goddess, so in return, Athena also respected Medusa for choosing her over Gods and men.
Now, the problem between Athena and Medusa arose when Poseidon decided to humiliate Athena by claiming Medusa as his forever partner. Since Athena was hurt and couldn’t bear to watch Poseidon and Medusa together, she cursed Medusa and claimed she betrayed her.
One of the ways Athena decided to punish Medusa was by turning her incredible hair into serpents and legs into the legs of a bird. To complete the punishment, Athena made it impossible for anyone to look Medusa in the eyes; not even Medusa could look at her own reflection. If someone was to look Medusa in the eyes, they would turn into a rock.
Medusa’s story continues as she gets banished to an island with her two sisters. Medusa, even with all the punishment, remained mortal. Later, a demigod named Perseus came to Medusa to get Medusa’s head. Hades and Athena helped Perseus get to Medusa, so he managed to decapitate her and used her head (or rather her gaze) to fight the enemies in his later adventures.
The Symbolism
Generally speaking, Medusa’s story is interpreted as Medusa being the villain. However, some interpretations see her as a victim of Poseidon and him pushing himself onto Medusa and forcing her to be his partner. Many see Athenes as the victim here, but we cannot simply ignore the fact that Medusa was also a victim, because of her incredible beauty and friendship with Athena.
Now, considering that Medusa is mostly depicted as this evil woman with snakes on her head, it isn’t surprising that many see her as a mythological symbol of evil or as a monster. Many don’t even know that Medusa was a regular, mortal human. But, modern interpretations see Medusa as a feminist symbol and a powerful woman.
That is why, nowadays, Medusa symbolizes feminism, female power, the power of female seduction, female wisdom, and everything female overall. Medusa also symbolizes the power of the female gaze as well as the power of female charm and passion.
The Medusa Tattoo
Now, when it comes to a Medusa tattoo, many initially associate Medusa with this monster-like image and evil actions. However, with the modern interpretations and a deeper insight into Medusa’s story, we can see that she is wrongly seen as a villain. T
hat is why getting a Medusa tattoo should be associated with the symbolism of female power, womanhood, and femininity. And, that is also why a Medusa tattoo is an excellent choice for a new, interesting and unique design.
Many generally ignore the larger meaning of Medusa’s story as well as the Medusa tattoo. So, if you do get a Medusa tattoo, you should bear in mind that people will comment and maybe even question your choice. If you can, try to explain Medusa’s story. Apart from the villain image, Medusa was actually a victim of Poseidon, and if something similar to what happened to Medusa happened today, she would be viewed as a sexual assault survivor and a true feminist figure.
Medusa, and powerful women resembling Medusa, make people uncomfortable. It seems that beautiful, smart, powerful women were always stigmatized, even in ancient times and mythologies. So, by getting a Medusa tattoo, you’re contributing to a change of the narrative and how society views characters like Medusa.
Medusa Tattoo Inspiration
If you’re interested in the story of Medusa’s life and you’re considering getting a Medusa tattoo, then you’re in the right place. In the following paragraphs, we’ll take a look at some of the most interesting takes on Medusa tattoo designs. Maybe you’ll get even more inspired and go for a similar design yourself. So, let’s take a closer look:
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