This year Mattel out-did themselves again by releasing in their Gold-Label Collection this marvelously beautiful doll Barbie as Medusa.

"Barbie doll as Medusa wears a green corset and chiffon fish-tail skirt. She has long auburn curls, golden snake arm-cuffs and necklace, foretelling of what she is to become."

You can admire this magical doll all you want, this beauty won't turn you to stone. And I doubt Perseus would want to decapitate her in this lovely state. But keep her away from the little girls who might want her head, she is expensive!

This is a fine example of how Barbie is more than just a rubber doll with big boobs. This collectible Barbie is a work of art. I love that this one makes a reference to Greek mythology. It's an intriguing juxtaposition when you think about it. Barbie is the epitome of vacuous femininity and Medusa is the ultimate expression of female fury and it's power in the world.

I find it interesting that Mattel would choose such a controversial character from literature to embody their glamour girl. Is it possible that the makers don't know the story? Don't they know that Medusa, who was a priestess at the temple of Athena, was raped by Poseidon? And that Athena, angry that Medusa had been raped in her temple, punished her by transforming her beautiful hair into serpents and made her face so hideous to behold that a mere look would turn a man to stone.

Whatever their reasoning for putting out this doll, she is nonetheless beautiful. A great addition to any serious Barbie collection.