Athena cursed Medusa because she held Medusa responsible for the violation of her sacred temple, even though Medusa was a victim of the sea god Poseidon's assault within the shrine.
Medusa was renowned for her beauty, which drew the attention of Poseidon, the god of the sea. To escape his pursuit, Medusa sought refuge in a temple dedicated to Athena, hoping for protection within the goddess's hallowed ground. However, Poseidon disregarded the sanctity of the space and violated Medusa there.
Following this traumatic event, Athena's response was to punish Medusa, transforming her into a monstrous gorgon with snakes for hair and a gaze that turned anyone who met it to stone. Athena's rationale for this severe punishment stemmed from two primary reasons:
- Violation of Sacred Space: Athena viewed Medusa as complicit in the defilement of her temple. The presence of such a violation within her consecrated sanctuary was seen as an affront to her divine purity and authority.
- Blame for Her Own Suffering: In a tragic twist, Athena blamed Medusa for the suffering she endured and, by extension, for the desecration of the holy site. Rather than punishing Poseidon, Athena redirected her wrath towards Medusa, turning her into a monster as a symbol of her disgrace and as a deterrent to others.
This act transformed Medusa from a beautiful priestess into a feared creature, leading to her eventual demise at the hands of Perseus.
