History Hit goes on a remarkable journey with classicist Natalie Haynes to the beautiful Greek island of Corfu, to discover the truth behind the myth of Medusa: a woman who both beguiles and terrifies us.

In the second and final episode, we explore Medusa’s tragic death at the hands of Perseus; how she was killed and what happens to her in the immediate aftermath. Taking a look at the ancient writers who followed our first known account of the myth, we trace the evolution of the Medusa myth, and see how the story has been added to and adapted over time.

Natalie also examines how artists have portrayed Medusa, from antiquity to the modern day. From ancient mosaics and vases discovered right across the Mediterranean, to dramatic Renaissance paintings and sculptures, all the way to stop-motion movies from the twentieth century, Medusa’s image is everywhere. Natalie encourages us to take a closer look at the depictions we’ve become familiar with, and reimagine Medusa stripped of some of the classic tropes.
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To learn more about the archaic Temple of Artemis, and the stunning pediment that gives us one of our earliest images of Medusa, check out: https://archaeologicalmuseums.gr/en/museum/5df34af3deca5e2d79e8c162/archaeological-museum-of-kerkyra

For more from Natalie Haynes, rock star mythologist (Washington Post), visit: https://nataliehaynes.com/. In her most recent novel ‘Stoneblind’ (longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023 and an immediate Sunday Times bestseller), Natalie brings Medusa's story to life as you've never seen her before. There's also a wonderful chapter about Medusa, and about lots of other misunderstood women from Greek mythology, in Natalie’s book, ‘Pandora's Jar’.