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Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997)
Gorgons

Tagged: Theme.

In Greek Myth, the Three Gorgons – mortal Medusa and her immortal sisters Stheno and Euryale – were Monster figures: women with snakes for hair, one glimpse of whose faces converted onlookers to Statues. A marble Gorgon Mask of the sixth century BC is an early exemplar of what this encyclopedia terms the Face of Glory. The Hero Perseus escaped by looking only at Medusa's reflection in his shield, and beheaded her; his legend is retold in Clash of the Titans (1981). The petrifying gaze and Mirror defence are recurring fantasy Plot Devices. C L Moore's Science-Fantasy "Shambleau" (1933 WT) revises the Gorgon as a tentacle-haired alien psychic Vampire. [JH/DRL]



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