Mythological stories tell of Medusas rape by Poseidon in the temple of Athena and the fury this induces in Athena, who doesn’t blame her fellow god but blames the mortal woman, Medusa. She curses Medusa with hair of snakes and the power to turn to stone any man she looks upon.Perseus was then tasked with killing Medusa, which he did as she slept, and as he trampled on her dead body, he is seen to hold her severed head up high in victory in the famous bronze statue by Cellini. He then used her head as a weapon to turn enemies to stone (including 150 of his own wedding guests) using the power Medusa had chosen never to use in her own life.