Medusa is a supporting antagonist in the novel Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and all its adaptions.
In the Disney + series she was portrayed by Jessica Parker Kennedy, who also played Plastique in Smallville.
Biography[]
Background[]
Medusa was once a devout priestess of the goddess Athena, though she was often ignored by her. One day, the sea god Poseidon met her and the two fell in love, though Athena decided to punish her out of jealousy by turning her into a gorgon who would turn anyone who looked in her in the eyes to stone. Eventually, she was slain by the hero Perseus, but much like all monsters of ancient Greece, she could not truly die, and was restored after a century of imprisonment in the Underworld.
Books[]
Posing as an old Middle Eastern lady named Aunty Em, Medusa lures people into her "Emporium" and then turns them into statues by making them look at her face, usually directly at her eyes. She wears a veil to hide her face and snake hair. She pretends to take a photo of her victims and lifts the veil to uncover her head, thus turning her victims to stone. Medusa turned many people and creatures into statues, including Grover's uncle.
At one point, Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood are lured into the shop by the smell of food during their Quest. Grover notices that a statue in the shop looks like his uncle, which arouses his suspicion as his uncle had been missing for a long time.
Medusa feigns kindness, by giving them food and talking to them about her shop. She also mentions that her sisters are gone. (They faded because people forgot about them.). She then tries to get them to pose for a photograph and turn them into statues.
Grover realizes that the suspicious statue is indeed his uncle. Annabeth and Grover realize who Aunty Em really is. They try to convince Percy that they should leave. Percy, however falls for Medusa's kind words and refuses. A few minutes later, Percy realizes that "Em" sounded like the letter "M" which stood for Medusa.
At this point, Medusa reveals herself. It becomes too late to escape, so the trio decide to fight Medusa. After a brief struggle, Percy defeats Medusa by severing her head with Riptide, his celestial bronze sword, using a polished bronze ball as a mirror. He then sends the head, left behind as a spoil of war, to Olympus via the Hermes Express.
When Percy returns the Master Bolt to Zeus, Poseidon informs to expect a package when he returns home. Shortly thereafter, the package containing Medusa's head is dropped on Percy's bed and, understanding the god's intent, Percy offers to use it to get rid of his abusive stepfather Gabe Ugliano.
Sally Jackson refuses, stating that she needs to find her own courage, but Percy nevertheless leaves Medusa's head with her. A week later, Percy receives a letter from Sally in which she reveals that she had used Medusa's head to turn Gabe into a statue which she sold as a sculpture called The Poker Player. From the sale, Sally was able to get enough money to start a new life and she ensures Percy that she has disposed of Medusa's head rather than use it again.
Movies[]
- Main article: Medusa (Percy Jackson Film Series)
Disney+ series[]
While inside her house, Medusa sees Percy, Annabeth and Grover outside with Mrs. Dodds threatening them. She walks outside, and the four cover their eyes to avoid her gaze. She is able to stop their fighting and invites them inside. She gave them a choice to have lunch with her, or have Alecto kill them, and walked inside to await their decision. After some reluctance, Percy decides to trust her, and he, Annabeth, and Grover head inside.
Medusa heard the three come in and tells them she had left some snacks on the table. She then enters the room with a pitcher of lemonade and tells Annabeth that she does not hold a grudge against her for being a daughter of Athena.
After Percy, Annabeth and Grover sit down, Percy asks Medusa what she is; if she isn't a monster. She replies; by saying that; she is a survivor and dislikes bullies. She then begins to tell the three her story, of how she was turned; into the being she now is; by Athena out of jealousy. Annabeth calls her a liar, saying that; her mother was always just in her decisions.
Upset, Medusa heads; into the kitchen and asks for somebody to lend her a hand. Percy decides to talk to Medusa, telling her that; Annabeth is not always rude. Medusa quickly responds; by saying that; she would betray him. Percy is shocked, as she seemingly knows the prophecy that; he was given. She also asks Percy; if they would help him retrieve his mother from the Underworld; if it meant interfering; with their quest and then offers to petrify them; but does not get an answer and turns around, only to find Percy has left.
Medusa then takes off the veil and hat that; covers her eyes, and snakes for hair and walks; into the dining room. She sees the basement door open, walks down the stairs and sets the outline of the stairs ablaze, along; with multiple torches set throughout the basement, revealing the dozens of people; who have been petrified; by her; including Grover's uncle, Ferdinand. She looks for them, while also telling them how similar they were to their parents.
She also tells them; if they refused to stand up to the gods, she would do so herself; by turning Percy and Annabeth to stone and sending their statues to Olympus as a message. Percy then uncapped his sword and stood to face Medusa, although Grover is able to distract her; by flying; into some boxes; by using the flying shoes given to them; by Luke. Annabeth then places her invisibility hat on her and Percy is able to cut off her head.
Later, Percy takes Medusa's head and petrifies Alecto; who had been waiting outside the house for them. He also decides to send the head to the gods at Olympus, as a message.
Percy, Annabeth and Grover later faced the consequences of sending Medusa's head to Olympus, as Athena had been embarrassed; by the ordeal and had; allowed the Mother of Monsters, Echidna to enter the Gateway Arch, one of her temples, a decision that; had nearly killed Percy.
Personality[]
In the Lightning Thief, Medusa is actually kind to Percy in her own strange way. She wants him to stay; with her forever; by becoming a statue. Annabeth reveals that; Medusa and Poseidon were former lovers.
Since Percy is Poseidon's son, Medusa does not want him to suffer. But; when Percy and his friends decide to fight her, she attacks him and gets killed; in the process. On the other hand, Medusa harbors a strong hatred against the family of Athena.
Athena turned Medusa; into the fearsome monster she is. Medusa wants to turn Annabeth; into a statue and destroy her; because she is a daughter of Athena. This way, she hopes to take revenge on Athena. But she is unable to do so.
In the series, Medusa is a calm and soft-spoken individual; who; despite her rough history, is slow to anger and rarely seems to show any kind of vengeful spirit.
Medusa seems to consider herself something of a liberator and her victims are nothing more than people she is "freeing" from life. When things do not go her way, she becomes very determined, and cold and is not afraid to show her full might against others.
Physical appearance[]
Medusa used to be a beautiful woman; until she was cursed and transformed; into a hideous Gorgon by Athena.
In the series, Medusa resembles a young woman dressed in a Greek-inspired 40's style clothing, a long white gown and a pair of brown midheel shoes. Her most distinct piece is a bowler hat with a white veil that; covers her pale blue eyes. When she removes her hat, her hair is composed of living snakes.
Powers and abilities[]
As in legend, Medusa has the power to petrify people to stone; whenever they gaze upon her eyes. Even after her head is severed from her body, her eyes can still petrify people.
Trivia[]
- In original Greek Mythology, particularly "The Metamorphoses" by Ovid, Poseidon raped Medusa at the Temple of Athena, and since the goddess of wisdom couldn't punish him due to being a fellow deity, she turned Medusa into a Gorgon in retribution. In Percy Jackson, genuinely enjoyed Poseidon and his relationship.
- In the book, Medusa was described as resembling a "Middle Eastern lady", at least Percy thinks so; because of her dress, stating that; "she wore a long black gown that covered everything; but her hands and her head was completely veiled. Her eyes glinted behind a curtain of black gauze" and added that; she had "coffee-colored hands". Her appearance was changed for the series, most likely for culturally sensitive reasons, as well as to; make her appearance more elaborate.
- Prior to Jessica Parker Kennedy playing Medusa, she was played; by Uma Thurman in the live-action film and Ryan Knowles; who had also played Chiron, Poseidon, Hades, and Kronos in the Broadway musical.
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 Villains
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