The Story of Medusa
Once upon a time
there lived a mortal priestess named Medusa. She served in Athena's temple, a place of stone and ritual, set apart from the dangers of the world.
Those who lived within its walls believed the rules mattered. That devotion would be met with protection.
That the gods would honor what they demanded.
Medusa believed this.
She cleaned the marble floors, and guarded the space where others came seeking refuge.
Her life was narrow but purposeful, shaped by promises she trusted.
Then Poseidon entered the temple.
He did not ask. He did not wait.
He took what was not his to take.
Inside the very sanctuary meant to keep harm out.
When the god of the sea left, Medusa was left behind, shattered in the place that was supposed to protect her.
Athena returned and saw what had been done.
But the punishment did not fall on the god who violated her sanctuary. Poseidon was powerful, beyond reproach.
What he had done was treated as inevitable, something no one would challenge.
Instead, Athena turned to Medusa.
Athena didn't protect her.
She punished her instead.
Medusa's hair became living snakes. Her face was made unbearable to look upon. Her gaze was cursed, so that any who met it would turn to stone.
So Medusa fled.
She went to the edge of the world, into isolation, because being unseen was safer than being known.
Alone in a cave, she lived with a curse she never asked for, carrying a punishment she did not earn.
Over time, the faithful priestess was forgotten. What remained was a legend shaped by fear.
A monster.
Years later, a hero, Perseus was given a quest:
Kill the monster, kill Medusa.
The gods prepared him carefully.
Athena herself provided a polished shield, so he would never have to look at Medusa directly.
Hermes gave him a sword. Others gave guidance.
All ensured he would succeed.
Perseus found Medusa asleep.
He struck off her head.
And carried it with him, using its power to turn enemies to stone.
When his journey was done, he returned to Athena, who placed it upon her shield.
Medusa's power, once feared, once punished, was preserved and repurposed, carried forward by the very order that had cast her out.
That's the myth.
A story of sanctuaries violated and balance restored without justice.
Of power left untouched, while its consequences are displaced.
Of a woman erased, and a distorted version of her remembered instead.
This is how systems endure.
They protect what is powerful. They punish what has been harmed. And they reuse the damage they refuse to repair.
Project Medusa is how we fight back against a system that has failed to protect, failed to learn, and failed to change.
It is a collective act of reclaiming power, not just for us, but for every survivor who deserves a system that does better.
