MEDUSA, one of the three Gorgons, daughter of Ceto and a sea-god named Phoreus. Neptune being in love with her, forced her in the temple of Minerva; upon which that goddess changed her hair (which was extremely fair) into serpents, the sight of which turned the beholders into stones: but Perseus, armed with Mercury's ax, with which he killed Argus, cut off Medusa's head, from whose blood sprang Pegasus and Chrysaor. Minerva is represented bearing the picture of Medusa's head on her shield, to terrify her enemies.