Gorgons

Their names were Sthenó, Euryale and Medusa (the only one who was mortal). Their sisters were the three Graies (Enyó, Pefrédó and Deinó) and their brother was Ládón (the dragon).

The gorgons had a terrifying appearance - a grinning face, animal ears, tusks for teeth, snakes for hair, wings, metal fists and scaly bodies. The sight of any one of them petrified a man.

According to Ovid's legend, Medusa (and perhaps all Gorgons) was a beautiful girl whom no man left unnoticed. But then Poseidon raped her in the sanctuary of the goddess Athena. She was angered by this dishonor and turned Medusa into a monster. Other versions state that Athena transformed her through Medusa's pride, saying she was more beautiful than the goddess herself.

Medusa was eventually killed by the hero Perseus. He could not have done this without the help of Athena (from whom he received a shield as shiny as a mirror), the nymphs (from whom he received a helmet of invisibility, winged sandals and a sack for Medusa's head) and Hermes (from whom he received a curved sword).