Why Medusa is our mascot

You may be wondering why Toil & Trouble’s mascot is Medusa. In Greek Mythology, Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, sisters of the Graeae, Echidna, and Ladon, described as “dreadful and fearsome beasts.” but what is it about her likeness that WE resonate with?

Medusa speaks to us because we see her symbolism of sustainability and protection as allegorical of protecting our vulnerable planet - part of the ethos of a plant-based diet. Defying the perception of sustainable eating as restrictive, we rebel by bringing atmospheric dining and nightlife together with plant-based eating. We are providing you with elegant and satisfying food while walking lightly on the planet, protecting our community and our vulnerable environment. 

We choose to reclaim Medusa from her cave and give her pride of place at Toil & Trouble.

But what is Medusa’s story?

… Medusa – the only mortal among the Gorgon sisters – was also distinguished from them by the fact that she alone was born with a beautiful face. Ovid especially praises the glory of her hair, “most wonderful of all her charms.” The great sea god Poseidon seems to have shared this admiration, for once he couldn’t resist the temptation and impregnated Medusa in a temple of Athena. Enraged, the virgin goddess transformed Medusa’s enchanting hair into a coil of serpents, turning the youngest Gorgon into the monster we described above.

Soon after this, trying to get rid of Perseus, Polydectes, the king of Seriphos, sent the great hero on a quest which he believed must be his final one. “Fetch me the head of Medusa,” commanded Polydectes. With the help of Athena and Hermes, and after compelling the Graeae for Medusa’s whereabouts, Perseus finally reached the fabled land of the Gorgons, located either in the far west, beyond the outer Ocean, or in the midst of it, on the rocky island of Sarpedon. Medusa was asleep and Perseus, using the reflection in Athena’s bronze shield as a guide (so as to not look directly at the Gorgons and be turned into stone), managed to cut off her head with his sickle.

Source: https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Creatures/Medusa/medusa.html

Perseus then uses the head of Medusa as a weapon to turn his enemies to stone.

So far, so very, very ancient Greek Mythology.

On the one hand, you could look at Medusa as a victim. Raped by one god, turned into a monster by another, cursed to kill any mortal who might seek her company or whose company she might seek.

But there’s another side to this. The name “Medusa” is thought to come from an ancient Greek verb “medein,” which means to guard or to protect. 

Medusa is seen as a monster, but her head often appears as a  protective amulet to keep the evil away. Medusa’s Head: A Symbol of Protection in Ancient Greece - Greek Mythology

“Medusa’s head has been used as a protective amulet since ancient times. Known as the “Gorgoneion,” it was often depicted on shields, armor, and buildings. It served as a protective symbol, warding off evil spirits and enemies. The image of Medusa became synonymous with safety, as it was believed to intimidate those with malicious intent.”

As so many things in life, Medusa is a complex duality - beauty and horror, mortality and immortality, vulnerability and protection.