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See also Gorgon for a complete list of references to clarify differences between these closely named or closely related articles. |
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| Gorgons | |
| Aliases: | Gorgon |
| Continuity: | Greek mythology |
| Category: | Terrestrial |
| Status: | Existing |
| Homeworld: | Earth |
| Body type: | Near-human |
| Lifespan: | Immortal |
| Limbs: | 2-4 |
| Eyes: | 2 |
| Fingers: | 10 |
| Toes: | 0-10 |
| Special adaptations: | Bed of snakes for hair. Sometimes reptilian features |
| Prey: | Humans |
Gorgons are supernatural creatures that hail from Greek myth. They are typically portrayed as that of a youthful and beautiful maiden, but whose hair is actually a bed of snakes, and whose slightest gaze can turn any human being into solid stone. Some representations in modern media have elected to emphasize a gorgon's more monstrous appearance by giving them more reptilians features such as green scaly skin, snake-like eyes and fangs.
The most famous gorgon of all, in both myth and fiction is Medusa - the gorgon who was beheaded by the Greek hero Perseus. This version of Medusa was popularized by way of stop motion animation (courtesy of Ray Harryhausen) in the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans, as well as its less memorable 2010 remake.
Gorgons have surprisingly made few appearances in horror fiction, but one notable film in the 1964 movie The Gorgon by Hammer Film Productions. In the film, British actress Prudence Hyman played the role of Megaera - the main villain of the piece. In "The Gawkers" vignette from V/H/S/99, a gorgon named Sandra is discovered by her voyeuristic teenage neighbors, much to their literal everlasting regret.
In comics, a gorgon named Marlene Blackgar moved to San Francisco and stirred up trouble for Jack Russell, who himself, was a werewolf. Two sister gorgons, Allie and Thenno Grimm were the main antagonists of Dark Shadows: Book Two, published by Innovation Comics in 1993. In DC Comics continuity, a gorgon named Myrra Rhodes served as one of a special detachment of the United States Army known as the Creature Commandos. She was known by her code name "Medusa" (though she was not the actual figure of Greek legend).
A rare example of a male gorgon is Ajax Petropolus, who was a teenage student who made recurring appearances on the Wednesday streaming series on Netflix. Another male gorgon is Deuce Gorgon from the Monster High franchise. Another male gorgon is Noah Ophis from the CW Network television series Supernatural.
Gorgons of Note[]
| Character | Film/Series |
|---|---|
| Ajax Petropolus | Wednesday |
| Allie Grimm | Dark Shadows |
| Deuce Gorgon | Monster High |
| Megaera | Hammer Horror |
| Myrra Rhodes | DC Universe |
| Noah Ophis | Supernatural |
| Sandra | V/H/S/99 |
| Thenno Grimm | Dark Shadows |
| Viperine Gorgon | Monster High |
Appearances[]
Gorgons in film[]
- Gorgon, The
- Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
- V/H/S/99
Gorgons in television[]
- Blood Ties: Stone Cold
- Gravedale High: Long Day's Gurney Into Night
Gorgons in comics[]
- Creature Commandos 1
- Creature Commandos 2
- Creature Commandos 3
- Creature Commandos 4
- Creature Commandos 5
- Creature Commandos 6
- Creature Commandos 7
- Creature Commandos 8
- Dark Shadows Vol 3 2
- Dark Shadows Vol 3 3
- Dark Shadows Vol 3 4
- Marvel Spotlight 4
- New Teen Titans 25
- New Teen Titans 26
- Werewolf by Night 1
- Weird War Tales 110
- Weird War Tales 111
- Weird War Tales 112
- Weird War Tales 113
- Weird War Tales 114
- Weird War Tales 115
- Weird War Tales 116
- Weird War Tales 117
- Weird War Tales 118
- Weird War Tales 119
- Weird War Tales 120
- Weird War Tales 121
- Weird War Tales 122
- Weird War Tales 123
- Weird War Tales 124
Gorgons in shorts[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- Homer, the author of the oldest known work of European literature, speaks only of one Gorgon, whose head is represented in the Iliad as fixed in the centre of the aegis of Athena:
About her shoulders she flung the tasselled aegis, fraught with terror ... and therein is the head of the dread monster, the Gorgon, dread and awful ...
- In addition to Medusa, there were also her two sisters featured in Greek myth; Euryale and Stheno. Both of these gorgons were immortal whereas Medusa was not.
- Actress Emily Sweet played a gorgon known as Sandra in "The Gawkers" vignette from V/H/S/99.
- In Marvel Comics, there is a character named Gorgon Petragon, who is a member of the Inhumans. However, he is not a gorgon.
- Another member of the Inhumans is a character named Medusa. Though she does have living hair, aka trichokinesis, she too is not a gorgon.
Related categories[]
External Links[]
- Gorgons at Wikipedia
- Gorgons at the Villains Wiki
- Gorgons at the Monster High Wiki
- Gorgons at the Supernatural Wiki
- Gorgons at The Addams Family Wiki
Gallery[]
