Formerly a priestess of Athena, the beautiful Medusa was raped by Posedian. Unable to punish him directly, Athena hurt him through Medusa, changing her beauty into a monster. With snakes as hair, the Gorgon possessed the ability to turn anyone who gazed on her to stone. Eventually she was beheaded by Perseus, who used her head as a weapon until presenting it to Athena as a gift.