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Course: The J. Paul Getty Museum > Unit 1
Lesson 1: Medusa in ancient artVideo
It was said that Medusa, the mythical monster, could turn people to stone with just a look. So, why did the ancient Greeks put an image of her on a mirror? What's the story behind this object... and what’s the deal with all the snakes? Created by Getty Museum.
Video transcript
Ever had a bad hair day? What about a bad hair day every day? What about having snakes for hair? That's Medusa, the mythical creature who
at a glance could turn people to stone. She's probably not responsible for
creating Dwayne The Rock Johnson, though. Medusa story is reflected in this object. See what I did there? Mirror, reflect... Never mind. It's a mirror that was made in Italy
before it was Italy, around 500 BCE. It's about the length
of a piece of notebook paper, and it's made out of bronze, polished to be reflective on one side
and on the other... Belle of the ball
here is the star of a story for the ages. Medusa. Once a beautiful maiden
with an attitude to match, she was transformed by Athena
into a hideous monster. According to myth, Perseus
our hero crept into Medusa's cave using the reflection of his shield
to avoid her gaze, which, as you remember, had rocky consequences,
and cut off her head. Now, I'd be remiss to not point out the intrinsic irony
of putting Medusa on a mirror. Maybe it's a confidence boost
when people compare themselves to her. Her story reminds us
how temporary looks can be. So obsessing over them is futile. However, the actual purpose of the Medusa
mirror was to ward off envious stares. What lessons might Medusa teach us?