Eyes bulging, mouth full of teeth, lolling tongue. Snakes for hair and a gaze that will turn you to stone. Medusa. The gorgon. The monster. You might know Medusa from the movie Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, where Percy is attacked by the monstrous Uma Thurman whilst surrounded by her petrified victims. Or more recently, Assassins Creed Odyssey, where you must kill the squealing Medusa while running away from her deathly stare. Some of you may associate Medusa with the Greek hero story of Perseus. Perseus, who required the assistance of two Gods and multiple divine objects to kill the ‘monster’ that was Medusa, whilst she slept, with her back turned. But who was Medusa? Did she always have snakes for hair? What is her story? And why, as a survivor of sexual assault, is her story so important?

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To read further in to Medusa's story and to view her accompanying poem, please visit my Interpretations page.

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* Trigger warning - the mini essay and poem both directly discuss sexual assault.

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Medusa - She was Someone, was sculpted unplugged (no power tools) in huon pine.

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