Medusa was a mortal seduced by Poseidon, God of the Sea, in the temple of Athena. Athena was so enraged at the sacrilege that she turned Medusa into a gorgon reptile girl, with snakes as her hair, and carrying a curse that turned all who looked at her to stone. As Medusa was of mortal origin, Perseus, using his shield as a mirror to avoid her gaze, was able to slay and behead her, From her blood sprang Pegasus, the winged horse, and the lesser-known Chrysaor, a giant winged boar.