Medusa part of their religion. Medusa was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who thereafter used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone, as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield. In classical antiquity the image of the head of Medusa appeared in the evil-averting device known as the "Gorgoneion". The three Gorgon sisters—Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale—were all children of the ancient marine deities Phorcys (or "Phorkys") and his sister Ceto (or "Keto"), chthonic monsters from an archaic world. Their genealogy is shared with other sisters, the Graeae, as in
Far-Stepper/Of Wide Sea to the caverns to hide their shameful lovemaking. After they depart the island, Euryale hears a cry from within and discovers the mortal baby Medusa. Euryale devotes herself to her young sister and becomes a mother figure, bringing purpose back to her life. In her teenage years, Medusa learns of Stheno's murder from Euryale. Furious at the gods, Medusa decides to ascend Mount Olympus to get her revenge, without Euryale's knowledge. Upon arrival at the Temple of Athena, Medusa is met by Poseidon, who proceeds to overcome and subsequently rape her. Athena witnesses the act and curses Medusa, causing all