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Once upon a time, a long time ago there lived a beautiful maiden named Medusa. Medusa lived in the city of Athens in a country named Greece -- and although there were many pretty girls in the city, Medusa was considered the most lovely.

Unfortunately, Medusa was very proud of her beauty and thought or spoke of little else. Each day she boasted of how pretty she was and each day her boasts became more outrageous.

On Sunday, Medusa bragged to the miller that her skin was more beautiful than fresh fallen snow. On Monday, she told the cobbler that her hair glowed brighter than the sun. On Tuesday, she commented to the blacksmith's son that her eyes were greener than the Aegean Sea. On Wednesday, she boasted to everyone at the public gardens that her lips were redder than the reddest rose.

When she wasn't busy sharing her thoughts about her beauty with all who passed by, Medusa would gaze lovingly at her reflection in the mirror. She admired herself in her hand mirror for an hour each morning as she brushed her hair. She admired herself in her darkened window for an hour each evening as she got ready for bed. She even stopped to admire herself in the well each afternoon as she drew water for her father's horses -- often forgetting to fetch the water in her distraction.

On and on Medusa went about her beauty to anyone and everyone who stopped long enough to hear her -- until one day when she made her first visit to the Parthenon with her friends. The Parthenon was the largest temple to the goddess Athena in all the land. It was decorated with amazing sculptures and paintings. Everyone who entered was awed by the beauty of the place and couldn't help but think of how grateful they were to Athena, goddess of wisdom, for inspiring them and for watching over their city of Athens. Everyone, that is, except Medusa.

When Medusa saw the sculptures, she whispered that she would have made a much better subject for the sculptor than Athena had. When Medusa saw the artwork, she commented that the artist had done a fine job considering the goddess's thick eyebrows -- but imagine how much more wonderful the painting would be if it was of someone as delicate as Medusa.

And when Medusa reached the altar she sighed happily and said, "My this is a beautiful temple. It is a shame it was wasted on Athena for I am so much prettier than she is - perhaps some day people will build an even grander temple to my beauty."

Medusa's friends grew pale. The priestesses who overheard Medusa gasped. Whispers ran through all the people in the temple who quickly began to leave -- for everyone knew that Athena enjoyed watching over the people of Athens and feared what might happen if the goddess had overheard Medusa's rash remarks.

Before long the temple was empty of everyone except Medusa, who was so busy gazing proudly at her reflection in the large bronze doors that she hadn't noticed the swift departure of everyone else. The image she was gazing at wavered and suddenly, instead of her own features, it was the face of Athena that Medusa saw reflected back at her.

"Vain and foolish girl," Athena said angrily, "You think you are prettier than I am! I doubt it to be true, but even if it were -- there is more to life than beauty alone. While others work and play and learn, you do little but boast and admire yourself."

Medusa tried to point out that her beauty was an inspiration to those around her and that she made their lives better by simply looking so lovely, but Athena silenced her with a frustrated wave.

"Nonsense," Athena retorted, "Beauty fades swiftly in all mortals. It does not comfort the sick, teach the unskilled or feed the hungry. And by my powers, your loveliness shall be stripped away completely. Your fate shall serve as a reminder to others to control their pride."

And with those words Medusa's face changed to that of a hideous monster. Her hair twisted and thickened into horrible snakes that hissed and fought each other atop her head.

"Medusa, for your pride this has been done. Your face is now so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it will turn a man to stone," proclaimed the goddess, "Even you, Medusa, should you seek your reflection, shall turn to rock the instant you see your face."

And with that, Athena sent Medusa with her hair of snakes to live with the blind monsters -- the gorgon sisters -- at the ends of the earth, so that no innocents would be accidentally turned to stone at the sight of her.

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Q: Why did Athena turn Medusa ugly?
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Related questions

Did Athena or aphrodite turn medusa ugly?

Athena cursed her for 'getting it on' with Poseidon in her temple.


How did Medusa's sisters get ugly?

I think it was part of the punishment. Athena turned Medusa ugly because she was angry at her, and she also turned Medusa's sisters ugly.


What is the story behind Athena the Greek goddess?

Poseidon was in Athena's temple with Medusa. At that time, Medusa was beautiful. Athena caught them and got furious. Then she turned Medusa ugly with snake hair.


How did Medusa become ugly?

Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, and very beautiful. She was punished, though, for sleeping with poseidon (the sea god) in Athena's(god of battle and wisdom) temple. Athena made medusa have snakes for hair and made her so ugly that any one who looked at her directly in the eyes would turn to stone.


Who was Medusa from the greek gods?

Medusa was one of the three gorgons transformed into an ugly monster by Athena


What did Medusa do to mortals?

Medusa turned mortals into stone, just by looking at them. Athena had made her so ugly that she would turn any person who looked directly at her into stone on sight.


Why did Athena turn Medusa's hair into snakes?

Athena turned Medusa's hair into snakes because Poseidon slept with Medusa inside Athena's temple.


Why did Athena turn Medusa into a Gorgon?

Medusa and Poseidon (god of the seas) had sex in one of Athena's temples, which angered Athena.


How did Athena turn Medusa into a montser?

Athena caught Poseidon and Medusa having sex in athena's temple and turned her because she was mad.


How did Medusas kids look like?

Poseidon and Medusa did not end up having children, thanks to Athena. Athena caught the two of them together in her temple, and used her powers to make Medusa ugly, which is how Medusa got her snake hair.


Did Zeus turn Medusa into a monster?

No, Zeus didn't turn Medusa into a monster. His daughter, Athena, did.


Did Medusa turn people to stone because no one liked her?

No, Athena cursed medusa and her sisters making them gorgons with snakes for hair and a gaze that could turn a man to stone. Athena did this because medusa's sisters helped medusa break into Athena's temple to hook up with poisieden