Medusa, in Greek mythology
Medusa (məd
`sə), in Greek mythology, most famous of the three monstrous Gorgon Gorgon (gôr`gən), in Greek mythology, one of three monstrous sisters, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa; daughters of Ceto and Phorcus...... Click the link for more information. sisters. She was once a beautiful woman, but she offended Athena, who changed her hair into snakes and made her face so hideous that all who looked at her were turned to stone. When Medusa was with child by Poseidon, Perseus killed her and presented her head to Athena. Chrysaor and Pegasus sprang from her blood when she died. Medusa's head retained its petrifying power even after her death. Because of this power, her image frequently appeared on Greek armor. In some myths Athena used the Medusa head on her aegis.
medusa, in zoology
medusa, in zoology, scientific name for the jellyfish jellyfish, common name for the free-swimming stage (see polyp and medusa ), of certain invertebrate animals of the phylum Cnidaria (the coelenterates). The body of a jellyfish is shaped like a bell or umbrella, with a clear, jellylike material filling most of the..... Click the link for more information. , i.e., the free-swimming stage of various animals in the phylum Cnidaria Cnidaria (nīdâr`ēə) or Coelenterata
..... Click the link for more information. . See polyp and medusa polyp and medusa, names for the two body forms, one nonmotile and one typically free swimming, found in the aquatic invertebrate phylum Cnidaria (the coelenterates).
..... Click the link for more information. .
medusa
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Medusa stage of a jellyfish
(credit: Tom McHugh—Photo Researchers)
Medusa
In Greek mythology, the most famous of the monsters known as Gorgons. Anyone who looked directly at Medusa turned to stone. She was the only Gorgon who was mortal. The hero Perseus, looking only at her reflection in a shield given to him by Athena, killed her by cutting off her head. Perseus later gave the severed head to Athena, who placed it in her shield; according to another account, he buried it in the marketplace of Argos.
medusa
1. another name for jellyfish
2. one of the two forms in which a coelenterate exists. It has a jelly-like umbrella-shaped body, is free swimming, and produces gametes
medusa [mə′düs·ə]
(invertebrate zoology)
Medusa
beheaded by Perseus. [Gk. Myth.: Hall, 206; Rom. Lit.: Metamorphoses]
See : Decapitation
Medusa
the only mortal Gorgon. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 161]
See : Monsters
Medusa
her face was so hideous that any who saw it were turned to stone. [Gk. Myth.: Brewer Dictionary, 596]
See : Transformation
Medusa
creature with fangs, snake-hair, and protruding tongue. [Gk. Myth.: Hall, 206]
See : Ugliness
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