Richard Hernandez, better known as Tiamat Legion Medusa, has become one of the most recognisable figures in the world of extreme body modification.
He once worked in banking and had a stable career, but always felt that he was living someone else’s life. Since his youth, Hernandez had dreamed of transforming himself, but for many years he held back due to social norms and work requirements.
The turning point came after he turned 40. It was then that he realised he no longer wanted to hide his true self and decided to devote himself to transformation.
‘I was over 40 before I started living my true life as a freak… At that point, I already had 79 piercings, most of them hidden,’ Medusa admits.
From that moment on, he began a gradual process of transforming himself into a ‘dragon man.’ He got tattoos on his face and body, stylised to look like reptilian scales, split his tongue to resemble a snake’s, and had horn implants installed on his forehead.
Later, he decided to have his ears removed and his eyeballs tattooed. Each new modification brought him closer to the image he dreamed of.
Medusa spent about $80,000 on all these procedures, and he has no intention of stopping. For him, this is not just an eccentric hobby, but a philosophy and a way of self-expression.
He believes that one’s appearance should reflect one’s inner world, and in his case, that is a world of mythical creatures, power, and freedom.
Today, Tiamat actively shares his story on social media and at public events. His image inspires admiration in some and bewilderment in others, but few remain indifferent.
