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Line 1: − A free-swimming cnidarian with a bell-shaped body and tentacles.<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. ''Exploring Creation With Biology''. Apologia+ − Educational Ministries, Inc. 1998</ref>+ − ==In Greek mythology== − The name ''Medusa'' comes from a creature in Greek mythology. Medusa was one of the [[gorgon]]s. Instead of hair, she had a tangle of live snakes. And any human who dared to look directly at a her face would be instantly turned to stone. The evil King Polydectes assigned the hero Perseus the task of killing Medusa and bringing him her severed head. Polydectes expected Perseus to be killed. But Perseus avoided being turned to stone by polishing his shield until it acted as a mirror, and fighting Medusa by looking at her reflected image and never looking at her directly. + − <references/>+
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[[Image:Medusa.gif|thumb|250px|Medusa]]
'''Medusa''' in [[Greek mythology]] was one of the [[Gorgon]]s. Legends said that she was the fairest of the beautiful Gorgon sisters- yet also the [[vanity|vain]]est. By means of deflating Medusa's [[ego]], the [[goddess]] [[Athena]] changed the belle's gorgeous golden tresses into a mass of lethal [[snake]]s. Nevertheless, Medusa still continued to spend hours in front of the [[mirror]], even though suitors shied away, because she was possessing of many more attractive qualities as well. Outraged at Medusa's [[narcissism]], Athena decided to punish all of the Gorgon sisters. She exiled them to a deserted, isolated island. Then she put an additional curse on them: if a mortal ever looked at them straight in the eyes, s/he would turn to stone. Over the years spent alone in their new domain, they eventually turned into [[monster]]s, with characteristics such as long, yellow [[fang]]s, clammy skin, and monstrous size. After many brave heroes had been reduced to statues by her lethal glare, Medusa was eventually slain by [[Perseus]], who avoided looking at her eyes by instead observing her through her reflection in Athena's reflective [[shield]]. He succeeded in beheading the monster, and, when she died, [[Pegasus]], the winged horse, flew out of her neck.
==References==
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Greek Mythology]]