Gorgons
Gorgons EuropeIn Greek mythology, three frightful sisters named Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa. They had snakes for hair and to look on them turned people to stone. Medusa, who alone of the trio was mortal, had at first a beautiful form, but she was changed by Athena into a winged monster because she slept with Poseidon, the sea god. The hero Perseus slew Medusa by never looking directly at her, but only at her reflection in his shield. Later traditions placed the Gorgons in Libya.
Other winged creatures were the Harpies, usually represented as women with bird's wings, sometimes as birds with women's heads. They lived in horrible places and had an insatiable hunger, which gave their faces a pallid, pinched appearance.
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