Gorrigan is inspired by two ancient and mythical female figures. Morrigan is a Celtic goddess of death and battle. Medusa is a well-known Greek character, but storytellers have been unfair to her. She was beautiful, and she was raped by Poseidon, and then his wife, Athena, took her anger out on Medusa, turning her hair to snakes. Pregnant, she is slain by Perseus, who had a lot of help from Athena and others. Her severed head was then taken about and used to kill other people.