Before she became the snake-haired Gorgon whose gaze turned men to stone, Medusa was a devoted maiden of Athena. But after a brutal assault by Poseidon in the goddess’s temple, Athena punished Medusa — not the god—transforming her into a creature feared by all. Hunted by “heroes” seeking fame, Medusa took refuge in a cave… until Perseus arrived with divine gifts and a deadly mission.

This retelling by TED-ED unravels the layers of a myth that’s more tragedy than tale of heroism, showing how Medusa’s image became both feared and revered across history.