Medusa tattoos are getting famous on TikTok. Let’s see What is Medusa tattoo trend? and the Meaning Behind the TikTok trend in detail
A new fad for Medusa tattoos has emerged on TikTok.
TikTok is a center for many different trends.
Sometimes they are just commonplace trends, and other times it seems like a revolution.
The current trend of Medusa tattoos is comparable.
On TikTok and other social media platforms, this movement has also gained a lot of traction.
As more individuals seek to understand the cause of this tendency.
On TikTok, the hashtag #medusatattoo has received over 114 million views.
While some tattoo artists dismiss them as “overplayed and uninspired,” others find solace in the poignant tales they represent.
Why a Medusa tattoo is more than just a stylish tattoo is explained here.
Meaning of Medusa tattoo
Medusa’s tattoos can symbolize female power, and she is seen as a feminist symbol. That is not the only purpose associated with the snake-haired maiden, though; she is also linked to the ideas of freedom and transformation, or evil and jealousy.
Who is Medusa in greek myth?
Medusa was “the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
She was occasionally shown as being extremely lovely, in contrast to the Gorgons, and was typically depicted as a winged female monster with a snake-covered head of hair.
The ancient tale claimed that the head of the mortal Medusa, whom Perseus beheaded, had the power to transform anybody who gazed upon it into stone.
Athena received the head and hid it in her shield.
Poseidon sexually raped and impregnated Medusa in the revered temple of Athena, according to Ovid’s later and well-known recounting of the story in Metamorphoses.
Medusa was changed into a snake-headed monster that turned witnesses to stone by Athena in retaliation.
This is the version of the story that inspired TikTok users to get tattooed.
Detailed Story of Medusa:
According to the Medusa Legend, Medusa was once a stunning, celibate priestess of Athena who was cursed for breaking her vow.
Although some versions of her mythology claim she interacted with an Olympian or goddess, she is not regarded as either.
Athena punished Medusa for having a romance with the sea god Poseidon.
She transformed Medusa into a horrible hag, turning her skin green and turning her hair into writhing snakes.
Medusa turned everybody who looked at her into stone.
Perseus, a legendary figure, was tasked with slaying Medusa.
By facing the Gorgon’s reflection in his highly polished shield, he was able to beat her and cut off her head.
Later, he turned foes to stone by using her head as a weapon.
Athena’s armor and her shield both bore depictions of Medusa’s head.
Lineage
Medusa, one of the three Gorgon sisters, was the only one not endowed with immortality.
Stheno and Euryale were the other two sisters.
Some accounts identify Gaia as Medusa’s mother, while others identify Phorcys and Ceto as the parents of the three Gorgons.
She was reportedly born at sea, according to popular belief.
According to the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, Medusa resided close to the Hesperides in the Western Ocean, close to Sarpedon.
Her home, according to the historian Herodotus, was Libya.
.Despite having lied to Poseidon, she is typically seen as single.
According to one story, she wed Perseus.
She is credited with giving birth to Chrysaor, the golden sword’s protagonist, and Pegasus, the winged horse, as a result of her relationship with Poseidon.
According to other legends, her two offspring emerged from her severed head.
In Temple Lore
In ancient times, she did not have any known temples. It is said that the Artemis temple in Corfu depicts Medusa in an archaic form. She is shown as a symbol of fertility dressed in a belt of intertwined snakes.
In modern times, her carved image adorns a rock off the coast of the popular Red Beach outside of Matala, Crete. Also, the flag and emblem of Sicily feature her head.
In Art and Written Works
Throughout ancient Greece, there are several references to the Medusa myth by ancient Greek writers Hyginus, Hesiod, Aeschylus, Dionysios Skytobrachion, Herodotus, and Roman authors Ovid and Pindar.
When she is depicted in art, usually only her head is shown. She has a broad face, occasionally with tusks, and snakes for hair.
In some imagery, she has fangs, a forked tongue, and bulging eyes.
While Medusa is usually considered to be ugly, one myth states that it was her great beauty, not her ugliness, that paralyzed all observers.
Her “monstrous” form is believed by some scholars to represent a partially-decomposed human skull with teeth beginning to show through the decaying lips.
The image of Medusa was thought to be protecting. Ancient statuary, bronze shields, and vessels have depictions of Medusa. Famous artists that have been inspired by Medusa and the heroic Perseus story include Leonardo da Vinci, Benvenuto Cellini, Peter Paul Rubens, Gialorenzo Bernini, Pablo Picasso, and Auguste Rodin, and Salvador Dali.
In Pop Culture
The snake-headed, terrifying image of Medusa is immediately recognizable in popular culture. The Medusa myth has enjoyed a renaissance since the story was featured in the “Clash of the Titans” movies in 1981 and 2010, and “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” also in 2010, where Medusa is portrayed by actress Uma Thurman.
In addition to the silver screen, the mythical figure appears as a character in TV, books, cartoons, video games, and role-playing games, usually as an opponent. Also, the character has been memorialized in songs by UB40, Annie Lennox, and the band Anthrax.
The mark of designer and fashion icon Versace is a Medusa head. According to the design house, it was chosen because she represents beauty, art, and philosophy.
Why do people get tattoos of Medusa?
The viral trend of Medusa tattoos shows users getting a tattoo of Medusa on their bodies.
However, for those who don’t know about Medusa, she was a female Greek mythological character. Who as per Met Museum, stands as a symbol for protection against evil.
The look of the Medusa thus hints at that.
Women who have endured sexual assault have grown to love the Medusa tattoo.
They are eliminating the notion that being victimized calls for them to be cursed or punished by taking back their Medusa identity.
That’s why many individuals got this tattoo; if they were victims, it would be like empowering yourself and regaining your power, @waytooshey said in a video.
Medusa by tattoo artist sean_loco done at loco_tattoo from Gold Coast via Instagram #blackandgreytattoo #medusatattoo pic.twitter.com/m357UvAhys
— Tattoo Connect (@TattooConnectAu) September 6, 2021
As per certain claims, Medusa was supposed to be a se*ual assault victim. Hence, the tattoo of her stands for the support and power of the se*ual assault survivors in the present time. Also, it stands for showing support against victim blaming and shaming.
Tik Tok user’s reactions:
The Medusa tattoo craze has received tremendous user support.
The Medusa tattoo, on the other hand, depicts a woman who is bad and has had her hair transformed into poisonous snakes.
Additionally, it was thought that evil would drive out other evil.
As a result, there are numerous videos on TikTok featuring users displaying their Medusa tattoos.
Medusa “She’ll turn any man to stone”
.
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.#mythology #medusatattoo #medusa #greekmythology #greek #tattooartist #tattoosleeve #snakes pic.twitter.com/oezFOh1yk5— Ricky West (@RickyWestTattoo) September 15, 2020
Some of the users have even conveyed their stories of some encounters with evil. Alongside showing their now Medusa tattoo to repel that evil. Certainly, the tattoo fad has become more like a campaign against evil be it in form of any abuse or attack.
Medusa tattoos, a symbol of taking back their power and inverting the narrative of a female being punished or blamed after surviving sexual assault. pic.twitter.com/LWApQciVRt
— ᴊ ᴇ ᴍ (@_zjemma) August 16, 2022
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Lavanya (Senior Editor) is a full-time content writer with almost 5 years of experience and a part-time teacher. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. As a lifelong learner, She is constantly curious about learning new things and passionate about sharing knowledge with people through her writing and teaching.