Medusa, In Greek Mythology is the winged human woman with live snakes as her hair. Everyone who would look straight into her eyes would turn into a stone. Although known as a monster, the head of Medusa is often regarded as a protective amulet. Even her name means “to guard or protect”in ancient Greek.
The snake-haired gorgon is shown on the obverse of the Apollonia silver drachm coin minted in Apollonia Pontika from the 5th century. The coin’s reverse displays a crayfish and an anchor. Coins of this kind weigh 2.6 grams to 2.9 grams and have a diameter of 13.2 mm to 14 mm.
Medusa and Atlas
Each drop of blood that dripped from Medusa’s head turned into venomous serpents. The power of head was also displayed during the fight between Perseus and Titan Atlas. Certain that he could not win over Titan, Perseus took out the gorgon’s head and turned Atlas into a mountain.
On the obverse of the Australia 10 Lunar Dollar Novelty/Fantasy banknote released in 2014 depicts an astronaut and Atlas carrying the sphere on his shoulder. Atlas was punished to hold up the heavens or sky forever. The note’s reverse displays a spaceship.
Medusa and Pegasus
Medusa was a beautiful maiden then, however, after being seduced by Poseidon in the temple of Athena, the Greek goddess of war and handicrafts punished her by turning her hair to snakes. She was beheaded by the Greek hero Perseus and used her head as a weapon and later gave it to the goddess Athena.
Medusa became pregnant by Poseidon and when Perseus decapitated her, a winged divine stallion Pegasus and and winged boar Chrysaor sprang from her body. With the help of Poseidon and Athena, Pegasus was captured and tamed by Bellerophon and both had many adventures together until they died while trying to reach Olympus.
The Greek hero Bellerophon holding a torch, riding on Pegasus is shown on the reverse of the Italy 500 Lire Banknote that was issued by the Republic of Italy in 1974. The obverse depicts stylized mechanical gears and the head of the allegorical man Mercury. The 115 x 58 mm banknote contains a watermark that reveals a star in a wreath.
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