The story of Medusa:

Life as a Priestess in Athena's temple meant that Medusa agreed to a long life of solitude; she would never take a husband. This angered many men as, despite it being said that she was more beautiful than Athena herself, they could never have her.

So, Poseidon, the God of the sea, chose to rape her in the very temple she had dedicated her life to serving. Distraught and pressured by the other Gods to punish Medusa, Athena made the only decision that she could.

Athena turned Medusa's once beautiful face into an abomination that turned any who looked at it into stone. To the men who only valued Medusa from her looks, this was the worst thing Athena could have done so many claimed she had done this out of spite and jealousy.

But this was no curse at all. Medusa had already chosen a life of solitude for herself. This transformation gave her a weapon to defend herself. Something rare and unachievable for most women at the time who were treated as second class citizens with almost no legal rights.

Many women who were told this tale recognised this as a blessing and hung sculptures in her likeness above their door as a symbol of protection. They resonated with her story as many had also been the victims of sexual violence from men and were denied any form of justice.

Yet, her story does not end here. Despite isolating herself on a remote island so as to not harm anyone, men could not allow her to live. A free woman, especially one capable of defending herself, was too dangerous. Hundreds of men took treacherous journeys just to take her life.

Then, Perseus famously ended her life, decapitating her and holding her severed head up as a reminder to every woman that admired her that they would never be truly safe or free. If a man wanted to harm you and take you as his prize, not even God-given powers would protect you.

Over the years, Medusa's story has been twisted and weaponised into a cautionary tale against any woman or girl who doesn't live for the benefit of men.

And Medusa, a victim of rape and a symbol of protection, is called the monster.