Medusa is the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, she was one of three Gorgon sisters, however Medusa was the only sister that was mortal. When Medusa was born she had very beautiful golden-hair and as she became older she turned into a gorgeous maiden who became a priestess of Athena and therefore she would never be married. Shortly after Medusa became a priestess of Athena, she was swiped of her feet by Poseidon, and soon after they were married. Athena viewed Medusa's marriage to Poseidon as a sin and therefore she had to be punished, Athena punished Medusa by changing her beautiful golden locks into venomous snakes, her eyes became blood-shot, and her tender white skin turned in to a horrid green shade. Medusa now looked like a monster and was no longer wanted or liked by her community, at this point her only option was to flee,so she went to Africa. It is believed that since Medusa fled to Africa, and snakes would fall off from her hair, she turned Africa in to a home for all venomous reptiles. Athena's curse not only made Medusa disgusting to look at, it also turned everything she looked at into stone, after the curse Medusa lived a life filled with misery, till Perseus killed her by showing her a mirror shield and then chopping off her head.