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This is a Medusa mask that I created from a mold in Sicily in 2005.  Medusa, the Gorgona, and the Erinyes are a powerful group of deities in ancient Greece that had many traits in common. Medusa has become a branding and pop icon in today's world, though her image was held with respect in the ancient world.  In particular, she is the "power" behind Athina: primal wisdom and the guardian of that wisdom. As such, her face appears on the shield of Athina, as well as on the shields of Greek warriors.  Her visage was also molded into the architecture of all Greek Temples of the classical period, as a warning to all those who approached the Adytum. One may see many aspects of Hindu "Kali" and the dakinis reflected in her tradition. Though Medusa is a goddess of Wisdom (prooven by her Serpent associatioins), her sisters represent Stregnth and Universality. Triads of goddesses were common in ancient Graeco-Roman times, and
one only need to look at Triple formed Hekate and the Matronae.

From the Orphic Hymns
[after Athenakis]

nyktEriai kourai ophioplOkamoi phoberWpes
Serpent tressed terrible maidens of night

a-Idioi phoberWpes apOstrophi autokrAteirai
Everlasting, of visage repugnant and frightful, sovereign ones

lysimeleis o-istrwi blosyrai nychiai poYpotmoi
Paralyzing the limbs with  madness, hideous,  nocturnal, fateful  ones

kuanOchrwtoi anassai apastrAptousai aposswn
Black skinned queens, your eyes flash forth awesome

deinen antauge phAeos sarkophthOron a-iglen
And flesh eating darts of light

kluthi mAkaira theA kyanauges asterophyyes
Hearken blessed Thea,  jet black and - star lit

allote men prophanes, potE de skotOessa, nychauges
Now plain to see, now shadowy, now shining in the darkness

yktOs soi d'arche te teleute t'estI melousa
In the quiet gloom of night you shine with stars

a'iolOmorphe drAkaina philenthee aglaOtime
Of many forms, she-dragon - you frenzy loving, illustrious one

gymnAzousa kore phrikWde thymOn echousa
maiden vigorous,  and ill- tempered

TymbidIan polYplankton aoIdimon anthrWpoisin
Funereal and delusive in the songs of men.

harma drakonteIoisin hypozeUxasa chalinois  
You yoke  your chariot to bridled dragons

kuanEois kolpoisin enemEne aerOmorphe
ensconced in darksome hollows, and airy in form

EumenIdwn genEteira hypochthonIwn basIleia
The mother of furies, the queen of the nether world

atrome pandamAteira pemprwmEne a-isa pyrIpnous
Fearless, alltaming, destined fate, fire breathing

ennychIa polYpeire selasphOre deinokAthekte
Nocturnal, knowing, lightbringing, and irrepressable

Deous os gnWmaisin enEllaxas dEmas hagnOn 
Following Deo's scheme you changed your holy form

therOtypon thEmenos morphen dnopheroio drAkontos
into the shape of a savage and dark dragon

enkykIois dInais perI son thrOnon euAzousa
you whirl and howl round your throne in ecstacy

nykterIois te choroisin eribremEtao 'IAkchou
and in the night dances of roaring Iakkhos

kluthI mou euchomEnou chthonIa mEter BasIleia
Queen and chthonic mother, heed !

hilaon ankalEw se molein kechareOta mystais
You are summoned to come with favour and joy to the mystes!