According to mythologist Joseph Campbell, the story of Medusa’s murder—and, it is fair to say, that of Python—was created by invading men to justify their aggression. “Wherever the Greeks came,” he wrote, “in every valley, every isle, and every cove, there was a local manifestation of the goddess-mother.” To obtain power for themselves, they needed to cut off her head. Apollo slew Python. Perseus beheaded Medusa. The baby Hercules strangled two snakes the jealous goddess Hera sent to kill her husband’s illegitimate son. The writers of the biblical Book of Genesis ensured that snakes were seen
...more
