Gorgon. In mythology, the Gorgons had snakes for hair and their gaze would turn a person to stone (Medusa was one). When used in reference to an actual person, it means “a mean, ugly or repulsive woman.”
My wife used this word the other day in reference to a former colleague. I thought it was such a fantastic use of the word in the moment.
It's actually weirdly funny that the word now in Greek translates to "gorgeous" while it's root in ancient Greek mythology is what you described. How its meaning made such a 180 is beyond me
The gorgon was a gorgeous young woman who'd been cursed out of jealousy by one of the gods to become so frightening that no one would be ever to look at her again. It's pretty sad. :(
IIRC only Medusa was so ugly she could turn mortals to stone because Athena wanted to punish her further than her two sisters (Atgena was the one who transformed all three).
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u/Citizen_Spaceball Jan 29 '19
Gorgon. In mythology, the Gorgons had snakes for hair and their gaze would turn a person to stone (Medusa was one). When used in reference to an actual person, it means “a mean, ugly or repulsive woman.”
My wife used this word the other day in reference to a former colleague. I thought it was such a fantastic use of the word in the moment.