When Greek mythology wove her story into the male-dominated Olympian pantheon, she lost her power. Digging into the “archeology” of the Medusa myth we can see how patriarchy first invaded goddess-worshipping cultures, and then stripped women of their natural power. The new tale of Medusa transformed her into a monster with a horrifying glare, with writing snakes sprouting from her head.
In ancient lore, snakes were often associated with feminine power. But following the rise of patriarchy, these reptiles were associated with evil, becoming objects of fear and disgust (for both men and women). However, knowing the evolution—and distortion—of the Medusa myth in the hands of male myth-makers, we can see that her infamous head of snakes once symbolized immense and positive female power. Her force lies hidden, just like her symbolism.
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