Seeing oneself

Medusa is a creature from Greek mythology that would turn men to stone the moment they looked at her. She was said to be monstrous, her hair a tangle of hissing snakes.
Perseus slayed Medusa by using a polished shield as a mirror to strike his decapitating blow. Hence the famous image of Perseus holding up the head of Medusa.
In some ancient tellings, Medusa was a beautiful maiden who was made monstrous after being raped by sea god Poseidon within the goddess Athena's temple.