In Greek mythology, Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, who were daughters of the sea god Phorcys and the sea goddess Ceto.

The other two Gorgons were Stheno and Euryale.

Medusa was the only one of the three who was mortal. She was renowned for her beauty, but she was cursed by the goddess Athena, who turned her hair into snakes and made her face so terrifying that anyone who looked at it would be turned to stone.