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Medusa, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Medusa mədo͞oˈsə [key], in Greek mythology, most famous of the three monstrous Gorgon sisters. She was once a beautiful woman, but she offended Athena, who changed her hair into snakes and made he...

Perseus, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Perseus pûrˈsēəs, –so͝os [key], in Greek mythology, son of Zeus and Danaë. His grandfather, Acrisius, had been warned by an oracle that his grandson would kill him and therefore put Perseus an...

Pegasus, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Pegasus, in Greek mythology, winged horse that carries the thunderbolt of Zeus. He sprang full-grown from the neck of the dying Gorgon Medusa. With a slash of his hoof, he created the Hippocrene, a sa...

medusa, in zoology

(Encyclopedia)medusa, in zoology, scientific name for the jellyfish, i.e., the free-swimming stage of various animals in the phylum Cnidaria. See polyp and medusa. ...

Harpy, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Harpy, in Greek mythology, winged women with sharp claws who snatched food, objects, or people.

Iapetus, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Iapetus, in Greek mythology, a Titan. By the nymph Clymene he fathered Atlas, Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Menoetius.

Ganymede, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Ganymede, in Greek mythology, a youth of great beauty. He was carried off by Zeus to be cupbearer to the gods.

Argos, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Argos, in Greek mythology: see Argus. ...

Alexander, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Alexander, in Greek mythology: see Paris. ...

Pasiphaë, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Pasiphaë, in Greek mythology: see Minos. ...