Athena gave some of Medusa’s blood to Asclepius for medical use.
According to mythological traditions reported by later writers, Medusa’s blood had different properties depending on which side of her body it came from. Blood from one side could kill, while blood from the other side was associated with healing or restoring life. Athena collected the blood after Perseus had beheaded Medusa and gave it to Asclepius, the divine healer.
Asclepius was the son of Apollo and became the most famous physician in Greek mythology. His healing abilities were so extraordinary that Zeus eventually struck him with lightning, fearing that mortals might escape death altogether.
This episode is separate from the better-known image of Medusa’s head on Athena’s aegis. Both traditions connect Medusa’s remains with divine protection, danger, and healing.