Gorgona Agricultural Penal Colony also home to a vegetable garden and olive tree grove where olive oil is produced, as well as livestock facilities which high quality cheese, chicken and pork is produced. The island is named after the Gorgons of Greek mythology which were three sisters, Medusa, Stheno and Euryale, who had hair made of venomous snakes that could turn any observer into stone. Since the 4th century AD, Gorgona has been home to various monastic orders including the Benedictines until it finally came under the influence of the Carthusians in the 14th century. Eventually the Gorgona Abbey was abandoned in 1425 though
Pierides (mythology) Pierides (mythology) In Greek mythology, the Pierides (Ancient Greek: Πιερίδες) or Emathides (Ἠμαθίδες) were the nine sisters who defied the Muses in a contest of song and, having been defeated, were turned into birds. The Muses themselves are sometimes called by this name. They were the daughters of Pierus, king of Emathia in Macedon, by Antiope of Pieria or Euippe of Paionia. The sisters were also called Emathides, named after their paternal uncle Emathus. In Ovid's "Metamorphoses", Urania, one of the Muses recounts their contest with the Pierides to Athena in the following excerpts:"So spoke the Muse. And now was