Medusa was the youngest and mortal of the three humanoid sisters called the Gorgons. When the city of Athens was named after Athena, the Olympian goddess of war and wisdom, her rival Poseidon took revenge on her faithful virgin priestess Medusa. In anger over the betrayal and to avoid any further interest in Medusa, Athena turned her into a frightening monster with snake hair and glowing eyes, whose gaze would turn anyone into stone.
Living in seclusion with her sisters, Medusa was outwitted and beheaded by the Greek hero Perseus. From her neck sprang the children of Poseidon – the giant Chrysaor and the winged horse Pegasos. Athena placed the head of her loyal priestess Medusa on her shield as a form of special protection that could turn her enemies into stone. It became a famous protective symbol known as the Gorgoneion.

GREEK DESIGN FROM APPOLONIA PONTICA,
PRESENT DAY BULGARIA, C. 450 BC
MEASURES 12 MM