My Life as Athena: The Private Memoirs of a Greek Goddess

by Daphne Ignatius

  I circled Medusa, studying her intently. Her serpents seemed curious about me, turning their heads to follow me as I walked. Thankfully, her body was that of a normal woman so there was nothing needed there. I could focus my efforts on her head, which would be much simpler.

  Stheno spoke first. “Can you help my sister?”

  “I don’t know, but I can try.”

  “I appreciate your willingness to do so,” said Medusa, speaking for the first time. Her voice was pleasant and evenly modulated.

  “What exactly do you want changed?” I asked her.

  “My hair and eyes first. I would like normal eyes and hair.”

  I took a deep breath and placed both my hands on either side of her heads. Her snake hair immediately attacked my hands. Stung, I jerked back.

  “For Gaia’s sake, Medusa, control your serpents!” snapped Stheno. Medusa looked embarrassed. Immediately, her serpents drooped, and then straightened like ropes down to her waist. I replaced my hands on either side of her face, took a deep breath, and willed her eyes to change. Nothing happened initially, but soon her pupils began to contract, the irises lightening to a pale blue. Delighted, I smiled and withdrew my hands to let the others see. Immediately, her eyes changed back to their original state. Aphrodite gave a disappointed cry.

  “What happened?” cried Medusa, her gaze darting between her sisters and myself.

  “The change was temporary,” said Euryale flatly. “Perhaps we are asking too much.”

  “Do not lose hope yet,” I said. “Let me try again.” And try I did, but each time the change was temporary. It seemed like the change was dependent on physical touch. As soon as I withdrew, her eyes returned to what they had been—the change was a glamour, not a true physical change. A glamour took less energy to maintain, but if touch was essential, we had a real problem. Then something hit me. Yanking a couple of hairs from my head, I wrapped them around Medusa’s wrist and tried again. This time, the glamour held a minute longer.

  The hypothesis proven, Aphrodite swiftly braided a lock of my hair and snipped it at the base, making sure that the rest of my hair would disguise the bare spot. Tying the golden braid around Medusa’s wrist, we tried again. This time, Medusa’s eyes stayed a lovely aquamarine blue.

  Next, I worked on her hair. This change was more difficult, as I had to manage a bunch of live creatures that didn’t want to be managed. Medusa finally had to put them to sleep. At that point, she wound up with a mass of spiraling black locks. Aphrodite led Medusa to the bronze mirror hanging on the wall and she gasped in delight. Her sisters crowded around her, exclaiming and playing with her lustrous hair.

  “It will be up to you to keep the snakes still. The glamour won’t hold with them moving around,” I muttered, hoping that my instructions were sinking into her head. She really didn’t seem to be listening. “You will need to visit my temple daily, and have my priestess bless that braid.”

  “Sister, are you listening?” chided Euryale. “This is just a glamour, not a permanent change. You will need to work to maintain it. Once you are pregnant, you can cease and return to your true form.”

  “Oh, I will, I will,” sang Medusa, turning from the mirror to face us. At that moment, she glowed. Now that the distractions of the snakes and her eyes were out of the way, she was easily one of the most beautiful females I had ever seen.

  I had more bad news for her. “You must realize that as a glamour, the power of your eyes is unchanged. Your gaze will still turn mortals to stone, so you will still need to veil yourself when you move among them.”

  “That’s no matter. I don’t think much of mortals anyway.”

  Things must have gone well for Medusa, because the next time I saw her, she stood beside Poseidon at a council meeting. She was dressed in a dark blue peplos with a gold snake band winding around one upper arm. A gold coronet held her loosely bound hair back from her face. She looked lovely and regal, while Poseidon looked proud and happy. I approached Aphrodite to chat.

  “I must congratulate you, Aphrodite. I had no idea that things would move so quickly.”

  “Actually, I can’t take much credit,” she replied, one hand on her growing belly. “I merely threw them together, and Medusa did the rest. That girl knows what she wants, and isn’t afraid to go after it. I suspect we’ll be hearing some news shortly.”

  “Does Poseidon know?”

  Aphrodite glanced up at me. “About her Gorgon nature? I believe so. He’s a sea deity, as were her parents.”

  At that moment, a deep voice spoke from behind me. “Mother?” I turned.

  “Eric!” I gasped, throwing my arms around him in a hug and planting a kiss on his stubbly cheek. “I had no idea you were coming!”

  “Clyte and the baby are visiting her parents, so I thought that I would steal away as well to see you.” I didn’t see the glance that he threw Medusa over my shoulder, but Aphrodite did.

  Months went by without incident, and Medusa continued to visit my temple daily to maintain her glamour. I had just returned from Crete, where I had discreetly studied their latest oceangoing ship designs. I was busy committing the design on parchment for the benefit of the worthy merchants of Athens, when Lito came in from the garden to tell me that Aphrodite had come to visit. I rinsed my hands of the ink that inevitably splattered all over before heading out into the garden. Things had warmed up nicely between myself and Aphrodite, and her visit was a welcome distraction from my work.

  Aphrodite had delivered her child and was back to her glorious self. She leaned forward to sniff my white roses, her golden hair tumbling forward over green-clad shoulders. She turned at my approach, a serious look on her face.

  “Athena, I come with information that I’m not sure you will welcome,” she said. Surprised and wary, I invited her to take a seat on a nearby bench.

  “Your son, Erichthonius, has been sleeping with Medusa behind Poseidon’s back. I thought you should know.”

  “Are you certain, or is this a rumor?” I asked, plopping inelegantly next to her on the bench.

  “I’m certain. They meet most nights in the sanctuary of your Parthenon temple. It’s only a matter of time before Poseidon finds out.”

  “What are they thinking? Poseidon is dangerous! I take responsibility for Eric’s idiocy, but Medusa is your protégé!” I looked at Aphrodite angrily. Aphrodite laid a calming hand on my arm.

  “I’m sorry. I should have kept a closer eye on her, but she seemed to know what she was doing.”

  “Apparently so,” I spit out. “She has two gods on her line. This needs to end now.”

  “And discreetly so,” she reminded me. “That’s why I came to you. It’s in no one’s interest to have this affair come to light. Your son is married, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, with a newborn son. Gaia! Does he believe that the marriage vows don’t apply to him? As for Medusa, that harpy is going to get her snakes back. I’m done with her.”

  Aphrodite nodded. “Then I can leave this matter in your hands?”

  “Absolutely.” I thought hard for a moment. “Can you tell Poseidon to come to my temple an hour after midnight?” Aphrodite looked taken aback.

  “Is that wise? Wouldn’t it be better to warn them off, and let things continue with Poseidon?”

  “He’s going to see her true self eventually. There is no escaping that.”

  I went to the Parthenon after the daily throngs had left and the acolytes had closed the main doors. The cavernous sanctuary was faintly lit by a few flickering torches. My massive statue stood at one end, its head and shoulders lost in the darkness. I picked a location where I had a good view of the entire hall, and transformed myself into a large potted plant. No one ever notices a plant.

  Hours went by as I waited for the lovers to appear. Eric arrived first, slipping through the heavy oak doors, swathed in a voluminous cloak. He positioned himself in the shadows, very much as I had. I regarded him silently. I loved him dearly, but I was shocked that he had betra
yed his solemn vow as quickly and easily as it appeared. I thought I had raised him to regard his honor as sacrosanct. Was this a trait that he’d inherited from his grandfather? I had encouraged Zeus to get to know his adopted grandson, but perhaps I had let them get too close. And the sheer stupidity of cuckolding Poseidon! Easily the god with the most unpredictable temper, he was not one to cross.

  A few moments later, another shrouded figure slipped into the sanctuary. Eric started towards her as she threw herself into his eager arms. I watched coldly for a moment as they kissed deeply before I transformed back into my normal form. They sprang apart in shock as I strode forward from the shadows.

  “This is dishonorable. You are betraying Poseidon,” I said, staring at Medusa before turning my icy gaze on my son. “And you are betraying your marriage vows. Worst of all, you are meeting in my temple. Did you seriously think I would condone your behavior?”

  “Mother,” Eric started to try to explain. I cut him off.

  “Go, Eric. Go back to your wife and son. Medusa is not for you.”

  Medusa’s eyes narrowed. “This does not concern you.”

  I turned my eyes on her, regarding her for a moment. “Really? Do you not stand here in that form because of my will? Does he know what you are?”

  “You mean, do I know that she is a Gorgon?” Eric said. “Of course—I knew the moment I touched her.”

  “All right, then—there is no need for the deception to continue.” I reached forward and grasped her snake armband, which shattered at my touch. Tied beneath it was the braid of golden hair that had come from my head. The braid held for a moment before it disintegrated into a shower of dust. The glamour faded instantly, leaving me to face the hatred pouring from Medusa’s reptilian eyes. Eric flinched at the sight, but held his ground.

  “Leave with her then, if that’s your will,” I said. “The two of you will be pursued by Poseidon to the end of your days. Your wife and child will be left unprotected. Clyte will be forcibly wed to the next ruler of Athens to ensure continuity—a ruler in whose best interest it would be to have your son disappear forever.” Eric blanched as my words hit home. “Just how many have to suffer for your lust?”

  “So you will go back to your wife and just abandon me?” ground out Medusa. “What about our baby?”

  “What?” I gasped. Medusa turned her triumphant glance on me.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  Eric looked thunderstruck. I took my opportunity, flinging myself upon her and pinning her arms to her sides. Her snakes attacked my face and shoulders, but I simply transformed my skin into scaly plates that easily resisted their tiny fangs. “Touch her! Is she telling the truth?” Medusa had just made her biggest mistake: My son had inherited his father’s ability to tell truth from lies. Eric grabbed her hand and focused. His face slowly turned thunderous, his arm dropping back to his side.

  “She is pregnant, but she believes it is Poseidon’s,” he said. He turned to face me. “I’m sorry, Mother. You’re right. I’ve put Clyte and the baby at risk and I am ashamed for it.” He raised his palms towards me. “I will have nothing else to do with her.”

  Medusa cried out and curled over my clasped arms, reaching for him. Until that moment, I had believed she was just playing, keeping her options open. But the pain in her voice was undeniable. Still, I hardened my heart against it.

  I held on to Medusa, holding her back as my son walked to the doors and out of her life. Only then did I release her. She folded to the ground, weeping.

  “Why?” she sobbed, looking up at me through her golden eyes.

  “Because a Gorgon has no place in my son’s life,” I answered. “You have what you wanted: A child and the continuation of your line. Poseidon will be here shortly to get you. There is no need for him to know anything about this. If you are wise, you will keep your mouth shut and go on with your life. But not in this city. I give you one day to get out.”

  I turned away and faded into the darkness, leaving her curled on the cold marble floor behind me. Her legend says that Poseidon raped her in my temple and I punished her for it by turning her into a Gorgon. The truth may have been a little sadder.

  Medusa did have her vengeance against me. A week later, my head priestess and two of her acolytes were found in the sanctuary of my temple, frozen into attitudes of horror. Still, I had the final word when I gave Perseus the brilliant shield that he used to end her mortal life.

  The Age of Heroes

  The Bronze Age gave way to the Age of Heroes: Of Perseus, Heracles, Jason, Achilles, and Odysseus. Perseus was the prototype, the result of a dalliance between my father and Danae, a princess of Argos. For all his faults, Zeus always claimed his offspring and ensured that they did well. So, when Perseus was sent by his king on a suicide mission to kill Medusa, Zeus got involved. Or rather, Zeus got everyone involved.

  Perseus had grown into a handsome and principled young man, so we immortals were happy to help keep him safe. Zeus gave him an adamantine sword that was unbreakable. Hades lent his helm, which turned its wearer invisible. I gave Perseus my personal shield, which Hephaestus had polished to a high shine. I also warned Perseus that he was never to look at Medusa directly, but rather look at her reflection on the inside of the shield to aim his blow.

  Sure enough, Perseus was able to slay Medusa and earned himself a princess to wed. The problem was that Medusa’s head was still dangerous after death, and he grew concerned that his children might accidentally find it and turn themselves to stone. After learning that Medusa had offended me, he made a gift of her head to me. I thanked him prettily, although I had absolutely no desire to have any contact with such a grisly thing. The legends have it that I attached it to my aegis where it could turn my foes to stone, but I did no such thing. In truth, I put Medusa’s head in a small chest and had my owl, Glaukos, deliver it to her sisters as a final gesture of respect.

  Next came Heracles, another half-mortal son of Zeus. His mother, Alcmene, was renowned as a great beauty, but I suspect she might have been rather dim because her son was more brawn than brain. His early life was a series of misadventures, first when he slew his music tutor with a lyre after the poor man reprimanded him, and second when he went mad and killed his own children. Needless to say, I had no desire to champion such a beast.

  In penance for killing his children, Heracles was tasked with ten labors by his rival Eurystheus. If he completed them on his own, he would be cleansed of his sin and would earn the possibility of entering Elysium. The only problem was that not even Zeus believed Heracles could make it alone.

  Zeus summoned me to his villa one day. Weary of Hera’s resentment, Zeus had moved to his own villa on the other side of Olympus. I, for one, was grateful because it meant an end to those infernal family meals. I sat down with Zeus in his garden as his servants brought out wine and a simple repast. After some idle chitchat, Zeus got to the point.

  “Heracles could use your guidance as he attempts these challenges,” he began.

  “I can’t think of anyone less deserving of my help,” I replied.

  “Athena, he’s your half-brother,” said Zeus. “He’s family. You helped Perseus, after all.”

  “Perseus was smart and independent. Heracles is a thug. What kind of idiot accidentally kills their own children? The Furies should have driven him to suicide to avenge those poor boys.”

  “You know perfectly well that he was driven temporarily insane by Hera. It wasn’t his fault.”

  “Nevertheless, I don’t think he’s worthy. Get Hermes or Ares to champion him. He’s more their style.”

  “Athena, you are mistaking this as a request,” said Zeus. “It’s not. This is an order from your king.”

  I stiffened. “In that case, my king,” I responded sarcastically, “I will see what I can do.”

  Needless to say, I wasn’t in the best mood when I drove my chariot down to Earth to find Heracles. He had already been assigned his first task, which was to kill the Nemean lion, a terrib
le man-eater who had been terrorizing the region around the town of Nemea. He had been successful on his own, tracking the lion to its den and choking it to death with his massive arms. He was busy trying to skin it when I finally found him outside the lion’s den.

  “Hail, Heracles,” I said as I drew the team to a halt. “Congratulations on your first success! Our father has sent me to aid you in your labors.”

  Heracles looked over his shoulder at me and grunted in welcome. My heart sank as I regarded him. Heavy and muscled with hair everywhere, he depressed me on sight. Nevertheless, I descended from the chariot and watched him as he tried to stab his hunting knife into the skin of the animal.

  “What are you about?” I asked. “Why do you need the skin?”

  “Eurystheus won’t take my word about completing a task,” he replied, still working away with his knife. “He wants to see proof. I will either need to take the skin to him, or carry the damnable beast, rotting all the way.”

  Suddenly, Heracles swore violently, lifted the dead body, and flung it at a nearby rock in frustration. The lion slid down the face of the rock. My eyes narrowed. I walked over to get a closer look.

  “Look.” I turned to face Heracles, pointing to some new scratches on the rock face. “The lion’s claws did those. How strange.”

  I knelt in the dirt to examine the beast’s claws. “Gaia! I think its claws are made of diamonds!”

  Heracles squatted beside me to take a look. “Amazing! They must be worth quite a bit.”

  “I’m sure. You’ll be able to trade them for food and shelter as you proceed with your other challenges. But more importantly, you’ll be able to use them to slice the lion’s skin from its flesh.”

  “I wonder if there is anything special about its teeth,” Heracles mused, pulling the jaws of the lion apart. The stench from its innards made me pull away.

  “No,” he muttered in disappointment. “Just teeth.”

  I got to my feet, dusting myself off. “Well, there is nothing more I can do here. Eurystheus will want the skin as a gift when he sees it. Don’t give it to him. The skin is unique. It’s much lighter than your armor, but equally as tough. I think it will serve you well in the years to come.”