Medusa’s Family Tree

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Family

• Ceto(parent),Phorcys(parent),Echidna(sibling),Euryale(sibling),Gorgons(sibling),Graeae(sibling),Ladon(sibling),Stheno(sibling)— Consort

  Phorcys and Ceto, ancient sea deities, produced a brood of monsters: the Gorgons (Medusa, Euryale, Stheno), the Graeae, Echidna, Scylla, and the dragon Ladon.

  ⚠ Hesiod Theogony 295-303 does not explicitly name Echidna's parents; the antecedent of 'she' is debated. Apollodorus (Bibliotheca 2.1.2) gives Tartarus and Gaia as Echidna's parents instead.

• Poseidon(spouse),Chrysaor(child),Pegasus(child)— Consort · Miraculous

  Poseidon lay with Medusa in Athena's temple. When Perseus later beheaded Medusa, both Pegasus and Chrysaor sprang from her severed neck, born of Poseidon's divine seed.

Guarded by

• Graeae

  The Graeae guarded the approach to their sister Medusa's dwelling at the edge of the world. Perseus had to overcome them first by stealing their shared eye before he could reach the Gorgons' lair.

Slain by

• Perseus

  Perseus beheaded Medusa with a sickle given by Hermes, using Athena's mirrored shield to avoid her petrifying gaze.

Member of

• Gorgons

  The Gorgons are the three monstrous sisters Medusa, Euryale, and Stheno, daughters of Phorcys and Ceto. They dwelt at the edge of the world and could turn onlookers to stone with their gaze.

Associated with

• Athena,Pegasus,Poseidon

  Poseidon lay with Medusa in Athena's temple, and their offspring Pegasus and Chrysaor were born when Perseus beheaded the Gorgon. Athena's rage at the desecration had cursed Medusa into her monstrous form.

• Asclepius,Athena

  Asclepius used blood from Medusa — given to him by Athena — to perform his miraculous cures and resurrections. The right-side blood healed; the left-side blood could kill.

• Aegis

  After Perseus slew Medusa, her severed head was mounted on the Aegis, adding its petrifying gaze to the shield's divine power. The Gorgoneion became the Aegis's most fearsome feature.