Stheno
Stheno was the eldest of the Gorgons, vicious female monsters with brass hands, sharp fangs and "hair" made of living venomous snakes.
Description[]
Stheno tends to be depicted as a thin gorgon monster with red snakes curling around her head instead of hair. Earlier accounts, however, describe her as having a scaly head, a boar's tusks, bronzed hands, a protruding tongue, glaring eyes and a snake around the waist as a belt.
When the Gorgon Medusa was beheaded by Perseus, Stheno and Euryale tried to kill him, but failed due to his use of Hades' cap, becoming invisible.
Overview[]
The daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, Stheno was born in the caverns beneath Mount Olympus. She and her sister Euryale were both immortal, and the third sister, Medusa, was mortal.
Of the three Gorgons, she was known to be the most independent and ferocious, having killed more men than both of her sisters combined. Despite her reputation she cares for her sisters especially Medusa which is quite evident when she came to her defense during her judgment by Athena. Stheno demanded that Poseidon pay for his crimes but Athena shut her down for even if she did move against the sea god it would incite a terrible conflict between them.
Stheno then pleaded for Athena to help Medusa and relieve her of the pain and trauma she endured from Poseidon. Moved by Stheno's defense and affection for Medusa, Athena compromised and used her powers to transform her into a Gorgon like her sisters, ensuring that no man would ever again look upon her with lustful tendencies.