Medusa head by Gianlorenzo Bernini in Musei capitolini
Medusa is a character in Greek mythology. Her story has been told and retold by ancient and modern storytellers, writers, and artists.
The Latin poet Ovid writes in Book IV of his Metamorphoses that Poseidon had abused Medusa in the temple of Athena. The goddess was outraged, and changed Medusa into a monster with snakes for hair.