Janyne Langlois
Staff Writer
Content Warning: This article contains a mention of SA and spoilers for episode 3 and 4 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians
“Athena was everything to me. I worshiped her, I prayed to her. I made offerings… She never answered. Not even an omen to suggest she appreciated my love.
I wasn’t like you, sweetheart. I was you.”
~ Medusa, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Season 1 Episode 3, “We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium”
Over the years, the Percy Jackson series has garnered a lot of fans. With the first book being released on June 28, 2005, and the movie being released in 2011, Percy Jackson has taken the nation by storm. And just recently, Disney Plus released the new Percy Jackson series with a two-episode premiere on December 20, 2023.
While watching the show, I noticed a parallel between Medusa and Annabeth. But to start off, let me tell you the story of Medusa.
The story of Medusa. According to Greek Mythology, Medusa was a priestess for Athena. She devoted all her time and love to praising Athena. Then one day, a very powerful God came in and “broke the silence,” as Medusa- played by Jessica Parker Kennedy- stated in Episode 3. That god was Poseidon, the God of the Sea. He took advantage of Medusa and ripped her of her innocence. So, Medusa called upon the goddess Athena- the goddess she’s been praying to her whole life- for help.
But Athena didn’t help her, she punished her. She blamed Medusa for “letting” Poseidon come in and take advantage of her. So, Athena cursed her, turning her into a gorgon, giving her snakes for hair and a stare that turns people into stone.
Annabeth Chase. Annabeth- played by Leah Sava Jefferies- is a half-blood (more commonly known as demigods). She is the daughter of the goddess Athena and was chosen to go on a quest with Grover Underwood, played by Aryan Simhadri, and Percy Jackson, who is played by Walker Scobell. Annabeth loves her mother and defends and praises her at all costs. Just like Medusa had. Annabeth even goes on to call Medusa a liar when she says Athena cursed her. Annabeth says that Medusa was rightfully punished for disrespecting Athena.
Now, fast forwarding to later in the episode, Percy manages to cut off Medusa’s head with the help of Grover and Annabeth. Then Percy mails the head to the gods in Olympus. Then later down the line (in episode 4), the trio get attacked by the Mother of Monsters, Echidna and her Chimera. So, Annabeth takes them to an Athenian Temple, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Then she starts to explain some traits of the building when she says, “It’s 630 feet wide, 630 feet tall, each side is balanced perfectly against the other. The arch is held up by symmetry. It’s held up by math.” Then Annabeth says, “This is how you show Athena your love. A monument to the power of perfection.” As the trio hideout in the Arch, Annabeth reassures them that they’ll be safe there. That her mother will protect them, and no monsters could get in.
But she was wrong.
Echidna and her Chimera came after the trio, so Annabeth took them to the altar, the highest point of the archway, thinking Athena would protect them. But she didn’t. Athena let Echidna and Chimera in. All because Athena was upset with Annabeth. Annabeth was punished for Medusa’s head being sent to Olympus- she was punished because Athena felt embarrassed. Percy didn’t understand why Annabeth was being punished for something he did; but just the fact that Annabeth went along with it and let Percy do that was enough of a reason for Athena to punish her.
History repeated itself. Annabeth now understood what happened to Medusa, for she was living through it herself. Her mother, whom she’s loved and praised her whole life, was punishing her due to her own embarrassment. And there was nothing Annabeth could do about it.
