Wandering Monsters - Hellenic Horrors

[D'karr]

In some cases, going back to the source wouldn't be a bad thing. But in some cases, the D&D monster is nothing like the original (such as the gorgon). In those cases, I hope they keep what the D&D creature has evolved into.

Not too long ago, I watched a Jason and the Argonauts mini-series. I believe Jason London played the titular Jason, but I can't recall - my argonauts all get muddled. In this mini-series there was a creature very reminiscent of the D&D gorgon, which Jason had to defeat as part of his tests.

It's been a very long time since I read the original myth, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the "gorgon."

 

[pemerton]

I believe that the D&D gorgon appears in mediaeval bestiaries. As best I understand it, it is a variant on the catoblepas (ie a large quadraped that takes things down by breathing foul fumes at them).

 

[Li Shenron]

In some cases, going back to the source wouldn't be a bad thing. But in some cases, the D&D monster is nothing like the original (such as the gorgon). In those cases, I hope they keep what the D&D creature has evolved into.

If it has a strong D&D tradition, then yes.

D&D zombies are IMHO the best example. They are NOT like zombies in horror movies, mostly because they don't eat people and don't create spawn. I'll definitely leave D&D zombies as D&D zombies. (I am not sure what is the original zombies in voodoo folklore, but I have the feeling that they are more similar to D&D zombies than movie zombies)

IIRC "gorgons" in greek folklore are what we in D&D call "medusas", while Medusa was just the personal name of one individual greek gorgon. We don't need to change or rename the D&D gorgon at all, but I think we should really do some cosmetic change to the D&D medusas. IIRC in folklore they had normal women faces, except for the hair of course, not snake-like faces, and this is a missed opportunities for having a medusa disguised as a normal human by covering her hair. I would also put a line saying that medusas are sometimes called gorgons, when there is no chance for misunderstanding.

 

[Klaus]

If it has a strong D&D tradition, then yes.

D&D zombies are IMHO the best example. They are NOT like zombies in horror movies, mostly because they don't eat people and don't create spawn. I'll definitely leave D&D zombies as D&D zombies. (I am not sure what is the original zombies in voodoo folklore, but I have the feeling that they are more similar to D&D zombies than movie zombies)

IIRC "gorgons" in greek folklore are what we in D&D call "medusas", while Medusa was just the personal name of one individual greek gorgon. We don't need to change or rename the D&D gorgon at all, but I think we should really do some cosmetic change to the D&D medusas. IIRC in folklore they had normal women faces, except for the hair of course, not snake-like faces, and this is a missed opportunities for having a medusa disguised as a normal human by covering her hair. I would also put a line saying that medusas are sometimes called gorgons, when there is no chance for misunderstanding.

Haitian folklore zombie is a living person, entranced into mindless slavery by a houngan. Zombies in African folklore is even more different (for one, they get larger as you get closer to them).

Gorgons in Greek mythology was very unlike what you describe. They had hideous, orc-like faces, with tusks and glowing red eyes. Medusa was the only mortal gorgon, and the only one with a human-like body. Her two immortal sisters had the lower bodies of snakes and were also winged.