Medusa

A free-swimming cnidarian with a bell-shaped body and tentacles.

In Greek mythology

The name Medusa comes from a creature in Greek mythology. Medusa was one of the gorgons. Legend said she was the fairest of the beautiful Gorgon sisters- yet also the vainest. By means of deflating Medusa's ego, the goddess Athena changed the belle's gorgeous golden tresses into a mass of lethal snakes. Nevertheless, Medusa still continued to spend hours in front of the mirror, even though suitors shied away, because she was possesing 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 lokked at them straight in the eyes, s/he would turn to stone. Over the years spent alone in their new domain, they eventually evolved into monsters: long, yellow fangs, clammy skin, and monstrous size. After many brave heroes had been reduced to statues by her lethat glare, Medusa was eventually slain by Perseus, who avoided looking at her eyes by in stead observing her through her reflection in Athena's shiny sheild. He succedded in beheading the monster, and, when she died, Pegasus, the winged horse, flew out of her neck.