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Gorgons
Mask of Gorgon Medusa-1-
Characters From Greek Mythology
Nationality: Ancient Greece
Race: Monsters
Parents: Phorcys (father), Ceto (mother)
Children: Pegasus and Chrysaor (sons of Medusa)
Turtledove Appearances:
"Myth Manners' Guide to Greek Missology"
Satirical Fantasy
Type of Appearance: Direct
Occupation: Fashion Models
Thessalonica
Fantasy set in OTL(?)
Type of Appearance: Posthumous references

In Ancient Greek mythology, the Gorgons (from the Greek word for "dreadful") were three monstrous sisters who had hair of living, venomous snakes, and a horrifying gaze that turned those who beheld them to stone. Traditionally, while two of the Gorgons, Stheno and Euryale, were immortal, their sister Medusa was not, and was slain by the mythical hero Perseus.

Gorgons in "Myth Manners' Guide to Greek Missology"[]

The Gorgons - Cindy, Claudia, and Tyra - were three unnaturally beautiful women, whose charms were growing problematic for the Olympian gods. Zeus tasked Andromeda with putting a stop to them. Andromeda, while reluctant, agreed. Zeus and Hera gave Andromeda a magic shield, which would show the deformed reflection of whoever gazed into it.

After obtaining Hermes' magic sandals, Andromeda tracked the Gorgons to Italy. After using the shield against their agent, the Roman goddess Victoria, Andromeda utterly destroyed the Gorgons' self-esteem, showing them their reflection and pronouncing them as "plain, mousey, nondescript". The Gorgons agreed not to return to Greece. Andromeda suggested they should go to work for Sports Illustrated, but couldn't imagine what sport they'd be illustrating.

Literary Comment[]

These Gorgons are named for internationally famous models Cindy Crawford (American, b. 1966), Claudia Schiffer (German, b. 1970), and Tyra Banks (American, b. 1973), all known for their beauty.

Gorgons in Thessalonica[]

Perseus lived a long and happy life after defeating the Gorgons. His cap of invisibility, which was so instrumental in this task, remained in the care of Gorgonius, his 115th-generation descendant, in AD 597.

When George the shoemaker was told by Gorgonius that a box contained a magic tool that could save Thessalonica from barbarian invasion, George initially assumed it was the head of Medusa. Gorgonius replied that that was a silly idea, as the head was difficult to handle safely, and would have turned many more people to stone over the years had the family kept it. Instead, the box contained the invisibility cap.

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