Medusa received help. He received a mirrored shield from Athena, gold, winged sandals from Hermes, a sword from Hephaestus and Hades's helm of invisibility. Since Medusa was the only one of the three Gorgons who was mortal, Perseus was able to slay her while looking at the reflection from the mirrored shield he received from Athena. During that time, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon. When Perseus beheaded her, Pegasus, a winged horse, and Chrysaor, a giant wielding a golden sword, sprang from her body. Jane Ellen Harrison argues that "her potency only begins when her head is severed, and that potency
Perseus with the Head of Medusa the pedestal as "Perseus" in the pedestal acts as an allegory to Duke Francesco Medici. The politics of the Medici and Florence dominate the Piazza della Signoria, specifically referencing the first three Florentine dukes. Duke Alessandro I was the first Florentine duke and "Hercules and Cacus" was revealed during his time and met with terrible reception by the public in 1534. The next sculpture to be revealed was Cellini’s "Perseus" and Cosimo I was very cautious about the public’s reaction to the piece. Thankfully, the public received the sculpture well as Cosimo watched the reception from a window in the