I think of the big green monster in the sea in the original Clash Of The Titans promo images. But I see that was actually the Kraken. But immediately afterward I think of Medusa.
Which makes me wonder why I get it confused.
The first thing I thought of was Magician Humfrey’s wife. Then I thought of Gorgonzola cheese.
Now I’m hungry.
I don’t knoqw. Gorgons show up on a lot of coinage from the Greek world (much of it in Greek-controlled areas like southern Italy and Asia Minor). You can buy them in coin shops or see them on sale online. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has a big collection of them. Many of the faces on these don’t look much like what we’d call “gorgons” at all – they look like somewhat insane peoople with wild eyes and their tongues sticking out.
One reason is that Gorgoneia (that’s the technical name for Gorgon Head depictions) have been accused of being used to fill in “any round space”, and they do show up on shields, doorknobs, and round antefixes (ceramic tiles along the edges of roofs), so it’s not that surprising that they show up on coins. I dount if there’s anything much deeper than that – I don’t think they’re performing some protective or apotropaic function on the money.
Cute. I have one of Craig Swanson’s Perspicuity shirts with Gorgon Zola on it:
http://www.zazzle.com/gorgon_zola_shirt-235431545973410624
Better image of drawing:
http://www.zazzle.com/gorgon_zola_poster_or_print-228481622824999826
“We’re not sure what one looks like, so to be safe, nobody look at anything until we’re out of here.”
(yes, it was written about a basilisk and not a gorgon, but it still fits)
I think of a gorgon as a woman with snakes for hair with a petrifying gaze, who may or may not be hot, and may or may not have scaly skin.
Sorry Skald, but I gotta put in another vote for Melvin Belli
Here’s a picture, since you seem to have forgotten
http://www.70disco.com/startrek/frienang.htm
I just wanted to chime in with the obligatory Oglaf cartoon, “Snakeskin.” (NSFW – spoilered to satisfy the two-click rule.)
Would the chronology of the images support the idea that “gorgon” started off as a sort of generic term for “monster” (having its roots in “dreadful” and all), and later came to be strongly associated with a specific Gorgon? Like “dread beasts” → “the dread beast, Medusa” → “the Dread Beast”?* Or did the mix of images persist after the Medusa story was well established? (This thread finally reminded me to buy your book…now I just need to read it.)
I just want to let you know, I’m yoinking this turn of phrase and keeping it in reserve on the off-chance I get an opportunity to use it. I promise to give you credit, should the occasion arise. 
*The number of times I misplaced the letter “r” while typing this sentence is somewhat worrisome.
Quoth CalMeacham:
It’s my understanding that classical art wasn’t meant to represent a chronology. Athena’s shield has a gorgon-head on it because she or one of her favored mortals slew a gorgon. At her birth, she has her shield. You know it’s her shield because it has the gorgon-head on it, and that’s how her shield is recognized. The fact that the gorgon-slaying didn’t occur until after the depicted scene is irrelevant.
But it’s not Athena’s shield, sitting around waiting for her to use – it’s Ares’ shield, and he’s holding it as his own.
as for "not reprresenting a chronology, you’re quite right that this is often the case. There’s a black-figure pot here at the Boston MFA that has Perseus, rushing over to Athena, having just beheaded Medusa, and with her head in his kibisis (bag). But Athena clearly is wearing her aegis, with a gorgon head already on it. Sometimes the apparent contradictions in Greek vase-paintings is enough to drive you nuts.
I hadn’t heard of any etymology that derived “Gorgon” from “Dreadful”. Thalia Howe/Feldman supported the derivation from Sanskrit garj, meanimng “throat” or “swallow”, and suggests that it’s the roaring monster. I’m not so sure. The Gorgon isn’t noted, in art or myth, as a sound-making monster. If anything, it’s the Staring Monster, and there are lots of associations with eyes.
Thanks
This. I’m thinking I’m in a minority here.
Isn’t there a hooved quadruped called a gorgon in Gygax’s work? Something like that, weirdly enough.
But then I think of proper gorgons: modern hot gorgons, & an ancient carven-stone gorgon face with tusks in odd directions & her tongue sticking out.
Fair bit of variation in gorgon myths though.
I was merely highlighting my willingness to abuse innocents.
Oak and a few others have brought that up already. Assuming those are D & D cards.
I see no way those cards could have any significance to a D&D game-- D&D monsters are a lot more complicated than just two numbers (they’re a whole bunch of numbers). I’ve no clue what Maserschmidt’s cards are from.
I’m hoping this is a whoosh, but that’s Jim Gordon.
What? I don’t read the threads before posting on, “What do you think of first,” questions, & this was similar to one.
He’s Peruvian, you schmendrik.
Stop abusing the bonobos.
Considering their sexual habits, the last thing I’d call bonobos is “innocent”.