Medusa’s Sisters: Stheno and Euryale Tale Retold
Oh, you think Medusa's the only one worth mentioning? Think again! Welcome to the real terror behind the myth—Stheno and Euryale, the original nightmare fuel that got overshadowed by their sister. And who said Medusa was the only one to be feared? Please, take a seat, and let me enlighten you.
First of all, let’s talk about Stheno. The woman’s got a temper that could make a volcano look like a kiddie pool! She was the eldest of the Gorgon sisters, and guess what? She was immortal. Not a single person could kill her. That's right, not even her own father, the sea god Phorcys—though I’m sure he probably regretted that after she tore apart a few towns. Forget Medusa’s "turn people to stone" gig—Stheno was far worse. If you messed with her, she'd rip you to pieces and laugh while doing it. No remorse. Just pure rage.
Then there’s Euryale. The middle child, who was cursed with terrifyingly loud shrieks. I mean, can you imagine being stuck in a cave with this banshee screeching nonstop? While Medusa’s got the whole beauty turned to monster deal going on, and Stheno was a one-woman wrecking crew, Euryale was the emotional wreckage. Her cry could literally split mountains. Sounds like a party, right? She might not have had the same fearsome powers as her sisters, but she sure made a lasting impression with that screech of hers.
Together, these sisters made sure that Medusa was just the icing on the cake of the terror that was the Gorgon trio. But let me tell you, if you came across one of these sisters back in the day, you were as good as dead. Why? Because no one—NO ONE—could ever get close enough to take them out. Forget Perseus and his shiny shield. You’d need a miracle to survive an encounter with any of these three, let alone two of them on a good day.
So the next time someone mentions Medusa, remember, she wasn’t doing this all on her own. Stheno and Euryale were the true terror—Medusa was just a slight variation on an already dangerous theme.
➡ The Takeaway
Stheno and Euryale, now that’s a horror show. Immortal, shrieking, bloodthirsty creatures who didn’t need to rely on any "gaze" to bring ruin. Medusa may have been the most famous Gorgon, but it’s the other two that made the real messes. Medusa got her spotlight, but she had some seriously deadly backup. So, next time you think about monsters, remember the Gorgons weren’t a one-woman show.
