How Ugly Was Medusa?

Whenever you feel as if you're having a bad hair day, spare a thought for this snake-haired specimen.

Left: this Medusa has trouble with warts and her rather large snakes.
© Matilda Simpson.

The Ancient Greeks passed an incredible collection of stories down from generation to generation. We call them myths. These stories were full of gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters.

Some of the most feared monsters were called gorgons. The scariest of these was the powerful, winged gorgon Medusa. Instead of hair, she had wriggling, hissing snakes growing out of her head. She was so ugly that anyone who looked at her face was turned to stone!

Right: this beauty was found at Brading Roman Villa on the Isle of Wight.
© Oglander Roman Trust.

Medusa has fascinated sculptors and painters for centuries. Strangely, in some works of art her face actually looks very beautiful. Look at this Roman mosaic from the 4th century for instance.

How do you imagine Medusa would have looked? Can you draw the ugliest person you can possibly imagine, so ugly that we might turn to stone if we even glance at it? Go on, of course you can. Get those felt tips pens or paints out and get busy.

We'd love to put your pictures up on the site, so please send them in!