Medusa, Gorgon of Stone

The myth

Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of the sea deities Phorcys and Ceto, and the only mortal one: her sisters Stheno and Euryale could not die (Hesiod, Theogony 270–283). Her gaze turned to stone anyone who met it, and living snakes coiled in her hair. Ovid later told that she had once been a beautiful maiden transformed by Athena. King Polydectes sent Perseus to fetch her head; guided by Athena and Hermes, the hero beheaded her while looking only at her reflection. From her neck sprang the winged horse Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor, and Athena set the head upon her aegis.

Why it has this power

A Legendary level-9 card with 3300 ATK and 2900 DEF: few creatures of the Aegean can withstand a gaze that ends a battle before it begins. She is a Darkness Spellcaster because her power is a curse rather than a weapon, and her Moon and Fox constellations recall the cave where she hid and the cunning needed to face her. She has no effect text: the numbers themselves are the petrifying stare.

Did you know

Greeks painted and carved the Gorgon's face, the gorgoneion, on shields, temples and coins as a charm to ward off evil.

Connections

Where to get it

• Daily Offering: 0.0035% per pack (Legendary 0.03% per card)
• Traveler's Pack: 0.014% per pack · 0.084% in the themed pack (Legendary 0.05% per card)
• Bronze Reliquary: 0.028% per pack · 0.17% in the themed pack (Legendary 0.1% per card)
• Silver Reliquary: 0.099% per pack · 0.59% in the themed pack (Legendary 0.4% per card)
• Golden Reliquary: 0.23% per pack · 1.4% in the themed pack (Legendary 1% per card)
• Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 0.21% of days · 6,000 gems
• Craft with card dust: 4,800 dust

Sources

1. MEDUSA & GORGONS (Medousa & Gorgones) - Snake-Haired Monsters of Greek Mythology — Aaron J. Atsma, Theoi Project
2. Medusa (World History Encyclopedia) — Kelly Macquire
3. Theogony — Hesiod (trans. H. G. Evelyn-White), Theoi Classical Texts Library