Gorgon Coin Earrings

Gorgon, in Greek Mythology, were the three monstrous daughters of the sea god Phorcys and his wife, Ceto. The Gorgon were terrifying, dragonlike creatures, covered with golden scales and having snakes for hair. They had huge wings and round, ugly faces; their tongues were always hanging out, and they had large, tusklike teeth. They lived on the farthest side of the western ocean, shunned because their glance turned persons to stone.

Two of the Gorgon, Stheno and Euryale, were immortal; Medusa alone could be killed. The hero Perseus, a gallant but foolish young man, volunteered to kill Medusa and bring back her head. With the help of the deities Hermes and Athena, Perseus cut off Medusa’s head. From her blood sprang the winged horse Pegasus, her son by the god Poseidon.