Mythologis
Medusa: The Complete Story of the Gorgon, from Monster to Myth

Greek Mythology

Medusa: The Complete Story of the Gorgon, from Monster to Myth

The Gorgon, the Curse of Athena and the Hero Who Killed Her

The complete story of Medusa, the Gorgon whose gaze turned men to stone. Her origins among the three sisters at the edge of the world, the curse that gave her serpents for hair, the hero who beheaded her, and why a monster became one of the most retold figures in Greek myth.

180 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

$14.99

Instant PDF download

Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • From Hesiod and Ovid to Apollodorus
  • Designed for print quality
See all chapters  +
  1. 01The Gorgon Before the Monster
  2. 02Three Sisters at the Edge of the World
  3. 03Poseidon and the Temple of Athena
  4. 04The Curse and the Serpent Hair
  5. 05A Gaze That Turns Men to Stone
  6. 06Perseus, the Mirror and the Blade
  7. 07The Severed Head and the Birth of Pegasus
  8. 08The Gorgoneion: A Face on Every Shield
  9. 09Medusa in Ovid and the Roman Imagination
  10. 10Victim or Villain: Reading Medusa Today
  11. 11The Afterlife of the Gorgon

About this book

About this Greek mythology guide

She was not born a monster. The complete story of Medusa, from priestess to Gorgon to the severed head that launched a thousand shields.

Everyone knows the face: the snakes, the staring eyes, the head held up in triumph. But Medusa was not born a monster, and the story of how she became one is stranger and sadder than the image suggests.

This is the complete story of Medusa. The three Gorgon sisters at the edge of the ocean; the beautiful priestess of Athena and what Poseidon did to her in the goddess's own temple; the curse that turned her hair to serpents and her gaze to stone; the hero Perseus armed with a mirror, winged sandals and an unbreakable blade; the severed head that gave birth to Pegasus; and the strange afterlife of a face that Greeks carved onto shields, armour and temple walls to ward off evil.

The book follows Medusa through Hesiod, Pindar, Ovid and Apollodorus, separating the archaic monster from the Roman victim, and asks why each age has needed a different Medusa. Every chapter cites where it comes from.

Delivered as a print-quality PDF within 24 hours of purchase.

What you will discover inside

  • The three Gorgon sisters and the one who was mortal
  • What Poseidon did in Athena's temple, and the curse that followed
  • How Perseus used a mirror to kill a monster he could not look at
  • The birth of Pegasus from the blood of the severed head
  • The Gorgoneion: why Greeks put her face on shields and walls
  • Victim or villain: how every age reinvents Medusa

Greek mythology book at a glance

TraditionGreek mythology
Chapters11 chapters
Length180 pages
SourcesDrawn from the primary sources, cited inline
Reading levelBeginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch
FormatPrint-quality PDF
DeliveryPDF within 24 hours

Formats and editions

EditionWhat you getPrice
Instant PDFPrint-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours.$7.99
PaperbackA paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon.Coming soon

About the author

Guillaume Henry, founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.

More about the author

Keep exploring Greek mythology

Prefer to read before you buy? These free, fully sourced guides cover the same gods, myths and sources you will meet in the book.

Read the complete Greek mythology guide

Questions about the Greek mythology book

When will I receive my PDF?

Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.

Is Medusa based on the original myths?

Yes. It draws on Hesiod's Theogony, Pindar, Ovid's Metamorphoses and Apollodorus, and shows where the archaic Gorgon ends and the Roman victim begins.

Does it cover Perseus too?

Yes. The hunt for Medusa, the gifts of the gods, the beheading and the birth of Pegasus all have their chapters.

How long is the book?

Eleven chapters, around 180 pages depending on the final layout.

Will there be a paperback on Amazon?

The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.

What formats is this book available in?

Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.

What is the return policy?

The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.

Can I order from outside the United States?

Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.

More Greek books

See the full library
← Back to Greek books