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Medusa
Percy Jackson's Medusa
Directed by	Chris Columbus
Written by	Rick Riordan
Screenplay by	Craig Titley
Starring	Uma Thurman
Cinematography	Stephen Goldblatt
Running time	119 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom, United States
Language	English
Budget	$95 million

Medusa
How Medusa is portrayed in Greek Mythology
Folk tale
Name	Medusa
Also known as	Medusa, youngest of the Gorgon sisters
Aarne–Thompson grouping	Riddle-tales
Mythology	Greek Mythology
Country	Greece

This article is about how cinematography, film adaptations and shows which are based on old folk tales or mythology, where the creatures are often changed to fit the storyline/screenplay.

In the movie 'Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief', Medusa's character is portrayed differently and inaccurately to original mythology. Uma Thurman's Medusa in the film has a different background story as to how she was cursed and a different relationship with Poseidon who was played by Kevin McKidd.

Medusa's Character in the Percy Jackson film adaptation

In the film adaptation Medusa poses as aunty Em who owns a shop called "Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium", the shop is actually Medusa's lair where she creates her statues. Unlike mythological stories, Medusa's statues in the film are unable to to undo the petrification which explains why she breaks them without hesitation when trying to stop Percy. In Medusa's dialogue she states that Athena was the "woman who cursed me(her)" which is factually correct to Greek mythology. In the film it is stated that Medusa "used to date" Percy's father which is inaccurate to mythological stories of their relation however different sources have different interpretations such as a simple requited seduction to sexual assault. However in the film interpretation Medusa's backstory with Percy's father was that they were previously in a relationship.

Medusa's dialogue

Although Medusa's appearance in the movie was short, her dialogue was enough to inform the audience of her role in the film.

"Well this is a fabulous surprise, it's so heartening to have such young visitors. We get so lonely here. Don't we? That's why I create my statues. They're my only company...daughter of Athena"

"You have such beautiful hair. I once had hair like that. I was courted...desired by many suitors. But that all changed...because of your mother-the woman who cursed me. Who turned me...into this!"

"They say the eyes are windows to the soul. I hope you find my eyes...attractive. So rude, not looking people in the eyes. Come on...sneak a peak."

"You make a wonderful addition to my collection. We'll be friends forever. Do you mind?"

"Sooner or later, you willopen those eyes. The temptation to look at me is too hard to resist."

"Who's that? Another demigod. I can sense you."

"Son of Poseidon. I used to date your daddy."

"I hear you have the lightning bolt. May I see it? Let me see your eyes I hear they're bluer than the Circassian sea. Open them, or my hungry babies will have to open them for you. But it would be such a pity to destroy such a young and handsome face."

"Stay with me, Percy. All you have to do is look."

"Son of Posidon!"

Different sources of Medusa's story in comparison to the film adaptation

The Wikipedia article about Medusa states that she was "originally a beautiful maiden" who was seduced by Poseidon and "had sex with her in Athena's temple". The act of seduction and sex in Athena's sacred temple resulted in Athena cursing Medusa into a "monstrous form" with "horrible snakes" in place of her hair.

A Greek mythology website states that Poseidon "couldn't resist the temptation and impregnated Medusa in a temple of Athena" as she was the only one of the Gorgon sisters who was born with admirable looks. This resulted in Athena transforming Medusa's "enchanting hair into a coil of serpents".

Some sources which tell the story of Medusa are not as censored, and instead focus on a more horrifying take of the mythology that proposes Medusa was sexually assaulted by Poseidon.

Vice News states how Medusa is a "multimodal image of intoxication, petrifaction, and luring attractiveness" due to her "snaky-tressed femme fatale, and a hideous decapitated head, spewing blood and gore.". In the Vice News page it is stated that Medusa's "beauty caught the eye of the sea god Poseidon, who proceeded to rape her in the sacred temple of Athena. Furious at the desecration of her temple, Athena transformed Medusa into a monster with the deadly capacity to turn whoever looked upon her face to stone." as she had "wild,snaky locks".

Medusa's mythological story told by Ovid was that she was "born a beautiful mortal and changed into a monster by Athena.". Ovid told the story from a perspective that Medusa was actually "raped by Poseidon in Athena’s temple so she was punished by Athena and given her hideous appearance.".

Medusa's adaptation in the "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" film states that her backstory with Poseidon was a romantic relationship rather than an affair, seduction or sexual assault. This is proven by the dialogue where Medusa expresses that she "used to date" Percy's father until Annabeth Chase's mother (Athena) "cursed" Medusa and changed her looks so that she was no longer "courted" by other men.

Medusa's appearance in the film adaptation

When she is first seen in the film, in Medusa’s lair, she is wearing a long black gothic gown that portrays her as a villain. The actress Uma Thurman interpreting the role of Medusa is presented in the film with snakes on her head, which imitates the old Greek Mythology folk tale but is not shown with her natural beautiful hair from before she was cursed by Athena. The team on the movie set brought in real snakes to help her imagine what it was like to have them on her head and help her with the acting and trying to make it as believable as possible without diverting to the classic tale. She is also given piercing grey eyes to show the audience her ability to turn people into stone with only her gaze. The make-up used for the character Medusa is very natural and does not use any abnormal make up effects, to try and look the most similar to how Medusa is described in old mythology.

Medusa's appearance in different sources

In book Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, "she wears a long black gown, and her face is a shimmering pale circle under her black veil. In disguise, her body looks normal, but once she takes the disguise off, she reveals she has green snakes instead of hair. She speaks in a Middle Eastern accent, which her son Chrysaor is seen to have inherited."