Ep 16. Curse of Medusa

In "What on Earth?" season 4 episode 16, titled "Curse of Medusa," the team of experts dedicates an entire episode to explore one of the oldest and most famous myths in history. Medusa, the cursed gorgon with snakes for hair is still shrouded in mystery, and the show attempts to uncover the truth behind the legend.

The episode begins by introducing Medusa's story as a tale of a beautiful priestess who angers the goddess Athena and, as a result, is cursed to become a monster. The show attempts to investigate whether there is any truth to this fable and seeks out evidence that could point to the real existence of such a creature.

One of the primary focuses of this episode is to determine if there are any factual basis or evidence behind the Medusa mythology. The team of experts delves into intriguing clues such as artifacts and ancient texts, and explores various interpretations of the story that has evolved throughout history.

To start unraveling the mystery of the myth, the show examines ancient Greek sources that mention the Gorgons, of which Medusa was one. There are references to the Gorgons in Homer's "Odyssey" and Hesiod's "Theogony," and the show discusses how these Gorgons were portrayed - their snaky hair and their ability to turn people to stone - to look for clues that could confirm whether there was any truth to the myth.

Another aspect of Medusa's curse is the snakes in her hair, which have been a defining characteristic in any portrayal of the creature. The team examines the possibility of whether there are any real-life examples of humans with hair that resembles that of snakes or whether any animal could behave in a way that inspired the myth.

The team also discusses the history of Gorgoneion, the horrific face of a Gorgon that was commonly used as a protective symbol for the Greeks. They explore whether this item was created due to the real-life fear of Gorgons or whether this was just a symbol meant as a deterrent to enemies.

The show also delves into the idea of Medusa as a symbol of female power, examining how she has been interpreted differently by feminists. Some view Medusa as a feminist icon, while others see her as an example of how powerful women were feared and punished throughout history.

Throughout the episode, the team uses various techniques to decode the mystery of the myth, such as studying DNA from snakes to find any genetic anomalies that could have led to Medusa's creation. They also explore whether the myth could have originated from real-life events, such as ancient warriors wearing helmets with terrifying visages to frighten their enemies.

In addition, the show takes a look at whether the myth of Medusa could have originated from the discovery of Pteronotus parnellii, a bat that has an unusual set of fangs and bears a striking resemblance to a creature with snakes in its hair.

Throughout the episode, the experts bring forth many intriguing theories that aim to answer the question "What on Earth?" could explain the curse of Medusa. Could the real reason behind the legend be a practical joke gone wrong or a cautionary tale warning against the dangers of female sexuality? Or was the myth inspired by an actual person who became shrouded in mystery over time? To find out the answers to these questions and more, tune into "What on Earth?" season 4 episode 16, "Curse of Medusa."