Where oh where did my Gorgon go?

There is considerbale debate among the scholars as to just where the concept of the Gorgon came from. It factors into the myth of perseus fairly largely... I mean, he goes and beheads Medusa and all... but the Gorgon's head shows up a lot of other place in greek art, with no connection to Perseus' myth. One place is on the bottom of attic wine cups, perhaps in an attempt to suggest that intoxication makes one vulnerable to bad magic.

What we're all forgetting is that the scholars are in fact people who study and not party, and are thusly largely unaware (or, only have a cursory awareness of) beer goggles. I mean, say it's the bronze age, you're hangin' out with your fellow heroes after a sucessful boar hunt or city sacking or something, and you drink a few two many attic wine cups full of wine, and you're thinking that Spartan girl that Polydictus brought to the party is lookin' pretty fine. You drain your mug of wine and BAM! Medusa, staring you right in the face. It serves to remind you that Polydictus' Spartan girl is actually not that attractive, you're just suffering from the bronze age equivalent of beer goggles.

I mean, the ancient greek culture was honour based, right? The men often gave up one wife for a better princess (Jason and Medea, anybody?) - so you've got to figure, being a little shallow is built into their lifestyle.

That's my theory. You get the ugly Gorgon's head in the bottom of your wine cup to help prevent your suave heroic self from making some poor choice you'll regret in the morning. Like becoming the husband of some spartan tramp and accidently losing your kingdom because you have spurned your wife, the former king's daughter. Or something. I'm sure you'd get banished from Attica is you made out with Polydictus' Spartan friend - breaking some sort guest-host relationship, or something.

...

Come to think of it, I kinda wish I had one of those Gorgon mugs.