In
Greek mythology, a
Gorgon (; plural:
Gorgons,
Gorgon/
Gorgo) is a female creature. The name derives from the ancient Greek word
gorgós, which means "dreadful", and appears to come from the same root as the Sanskrit word "garg" which is defined as a guttural sound, similar to the growling of a beast, thus possibly originating as an
onomatopoeia. While descriptions of Gorgons vary across Greek literature and occur in the earliest examples of Greek literature, the term commonly refers to any of three sisters who had hair made of living, venomous snakes, as well as a horrifying visage that
turned those who beheld her to stone. Traditionally, while two of the Gorgons were immortal,
Stheno and
Euryale, their sister
Medusa was not, and she was slain by the demigod and hero
Perseus.
