What are jellyfish and what artistic fields did they influence?
Jellyfish are marine animals that move through the waters propelled by the contractions of their body. Many have long poisonous tentacles. And, why deny it, more than one person has had their Sunday at the beach ruined. But the truth is that, despite their poison, jellyfish fascinate us. Its colors and shapes are so varied that they have been used a lot in different artistic fields..
The term jellyfish has different meanings. In the Sanskrit language, for example, it is said Medha and means sovereign. While in Greek it is said Metis. And if any culture has been impregnated by jellyfish It was the Greek one. The legends told stories that had as their protagonist a woman with snake hair.
With sharp tongues that covered their entire head to protect and defend it. As if it were a jellyfish with its poisonous tentacles. In fact, we can see a representation of this legend in the Munich museum. Rondanini’s famous jellyfish It represents the face of a woman covered by poisonous snakes. And the Greeks were the precursors of that woman Medusa who had many similarities with the animal.
But it has not only reached the world of sculpture. Jellyfish are also present in cinema or fashion. The figure of Medusa has been interpreted on the big screen by renowned actresses such as Uma Thurman in the movie Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. And in fashion we can see this figure in the iconic fashion brand Versace, where the stylized Medusa logo symbolizes her griffe. But we have more examples in the world of entertainment and, of course, body art.
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What does the jellyfish tattoo mean?
The meaning of jellyfish tattoos
We have already seen that the jellyfish They have not left almost any culture indifferent. They are legendary animals that have crossed any type of time border. As it could not be otherwise, they have also reached the body art. Medusa tattoos have come a long way, especially since her appearance in movies and television. The terrified face of Medusa decorates the body of many people, who usually choose large areas of the body in order to have a more striking and larger design.
That woman’s face jellyfish It helps guide us through our fears and concerns. It represents the strength and courage to move forward and to make difficult decisions. It defends us and gives us strength for any adversity. It is closely related to feminism and female empowerment. And let us remember that in Greek mythology men must have had a lot of caution about looking at Medusa’s face. For those who dared to look at his face would die instantly. A symbol of strength and energy, a symbol of the feminist revolt.