Why were Medusa and her sisters cursed?

Medusa and her sisters, known as the Gorgon sisters, were cursed by the goddess Athena. According to mythology, Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden, but after being violated by Poseidon in Athena's temple, the goddess punished her by transforming her into a monster with snakes for hair. This curse turned Medusa into a figure who could turn anyone who looked at her into stone, reflecting the themes of punishment and transformation in Greek mythology.