Origin: The Gorgos are figures of Greek mythology, the three daughters of Phorkus and Keto, their brothers the Graia. Eurüalé, Sztheino, and Medusa were originally beautiful maidens, but they insulted Athena Pallas, so in her anger, the goddess turned them so ugly that anyone who looked at them immediately turned to stone. They had coiled snakes instead of their hair, they stretched out their tongues like snakes, they had golden wings, and sharp teeth and their hands were made of copper. When Perseus beheaded Medusa, Pallas presented Medusa's head to Athena, who placed it on her shield, the aegis, and often used it in the battle to turn her enemies into stone. The facades of churches and sanctuaries were often decorated with gorgo-heads because it was believed to keep evil spirits away. For the same reason, the soldiers' shields were also decorated with them.
