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Greece, Etruria & Rome · c. 800 BCE – 500 CE

Gorgoneion (Medusa head)

Meaning

The gorgoneion is Medusa's severed head, whose gaze turned onlookers to stone. Perseus gave it to Athena, who set it on her aegis. It is the ultimate eye that looks back, a face so terrible that it petrifies evil. Over time it changed from a grinning, tusked monster to a beautiful, tragic woman.

Intent

It was placed on shields, breastplates, doors, roof tiles, drinking cups, jewellery and floors to repel enemies, evil spirits and the evil eye. Worn as a pendant, it made the wearer untouchable to harm.

Significance

It is one of the most widespread apotropaic images of antiquity and survives today in Sicily's flag (the trinacria), in Versace's logo and in modern art. It shows the principle of fighting evil with a greater terror.

History

The gorgoneion appears in Greek art in the 8th–7th centuries BCE, flourishes in the Archaic period (c. 600–480 BCE) with the grotesque type, and turns to the 'beautiful' Medusa from the 5th century BCE. Romans used it widely, and it passed into Byzantine and Renaissance art.

Making yours
Pendants 2–5 cm, often repoussé gold or cast bronze. Frontal face with snakes knotted under the chin, sometimes winged.
Greece, Etruria & Rome: the tradition

Greeks called amulets periapta or phylakteria, 'things tied on' and 'protectors'; Romans said amuletum or ligatura. Both cultures feared the envious glance, baskania in Greek and invidia or fascinatio in Latin, and answered it with laughter, shock and the power of images: the Gorgon's face, the phallus, the crescent moon. Children, brides, soldiers and livestock were the most protected. Graeco-Egyptian magicians of the Roman Empire engraved gems and gold foils with divine names and signs, forming a written magic that passed to Byzantium, Islam and medieval Europe. Pliny the Elder's Natural History (77 CE) records hundreds of amuletic stones, plants and animal parts, and became the source book for later lapidaries.

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Black-Figure Eye Cup: Iris and Satyrs (A, B); Gorgoneion (I)Black-Figure Eye Cup: Iris and Satyrs (A, B); Gorgoneion (I)Greek, Attic · c. 520–510 BCEGorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)Greek / South Italian, Taranto · c. 500 BCELa Gorgone (The Gorgon)La Gorgone (The Gorgon)Paris · ca. 1865Head of MedusaHead of Medusacameo 1840–50, mount ca. 1860Gorgoneion PlaqueGorgoneion PlaqueGreek / South Italian · c. 525–475 BCEGold Gorgon Head from the Cuirass (Breastplate) of Philip II of Macedon tomb at Aigai, Vergina Greece 4th century BCEGold Gorgon Head from the Cuirass (Breastplate) of Philip II of Macedon tomb at Aigai, Vergina Greece 4th century BCE4th century BCEGorgoneion Plaque with Incised Figure of a Dancing SatyrGorgoneion Plaque with Incised Figure of a Dancing SatyrGreek / South Italian · c. 525–475 BCELead ornament in the form of a gorgoneion (gorgon's face)Lead ornament in the form of a gorgoneion (gorgon's face)6th–5th century B.C.Gold pendant in the form of a gorgoneion (Gorgon's face)Gold pendant in the form of a gorgoneion (Gorgon's face)circa 450 B.C.Head of a Medusa (?)Head of a Medusa (?)mid-16th centuryRoundel, medallion with head of MedusaRoundel, medallion with head of Medusa5th century B.C.Gold pendant in the form of a gorgoneion (Gorgon's face)Gold pendant in the form of a gorgoneion (Gorgon's face)circa 450 B.C.Jasper intaglio: Head of MedusaJasper intaglio: Head of Medusaca. 2nd–3rd century A.D.Cameo glass disk with Medusa headCameo glass disk with Medusa head1 st century AD date QS:P571,+050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Emesa necropolis - tomb 1 - Medusa ornament 03314Emesa necropolis - tomb 1 - Medusa ornament 03314Glass paste gorgoneion CdM ParisGlass paste gorgoneion CdM ParisGlittica romana, medusa, sardonice, III sec dc.Glittica romana, medusa, sardonice, III sec dc.Medusa, Cameo in sardonyx, Rome, I-IIth centuryMedusa, Cameo in sardonyx, Rome, I-IIth centuryMedusa. Citrine intaglio. 17-18 centuriesMedusa. Citrine intaglio. 17-18 centuriesMedusa (2713352207)Medusa (2713352207)Medusa Cameo Petescia Berlin Altes MuseumMedusa Cameo Petescia Berlin Altes MuseumMedusa head plaque (silver), Roman Empire, c. 100 CEMedusa head plaque (silver), Roman Empire, c. 100 CEYorkshire Museum, York (Eboracum) (7685663688)Yorkshire Museum, York (Eboracum) (7685663688)Ceinturon d'uniforme, 1Ceinturon d'uniforme, 1Etruria, oreficerie del periodo arcaico, VI secolo ac., fibula a disco con gorgoneionEtruria, oreficerie del periodo arcaico, VI secolo ac., fibula a disco con gorgoneionCircular pendant of Medusa made of JetCircular pendant of Medusa made of JetMedusaMedusaTesoro di petescia (rieti), 50 ac-20 dc ca. cammeo montato su anello 02 medusaTesoro di petescia (rieti), 50 ac-20 dc ca. cammeo montato su anello 02 medusaCameo with head of Medusa - Landesmuseum (Zurich)Cameo with head of Medusa - Landesmuseum (Zurich)Cammeo con gorgoneion, calcedonio, I-II sec dcCammeo con gorgoneion, calcedonio, I-II sec dcGorgon pendantGorgon pendantGorgoneion Wilhelm Lucas von Cranach 1902 Berlin 24112018 1Gorgoneion Wilhelm Lucas von Cranach 1902 Berlin 24112018 1Pendant in the form of a Gorgoneion eye charmPendant in the form of a Gorgoneion eye charmTesta di medusa in oro, III-I sec ac. ca 2Testa di medusa in oro, III-I sec ac. ca 2Wilhelm Lucas von Cranach - GorgoneionWilhelm Lucas von Cranach - GorgoneionAncient Greece Gold Ornament (27973908453)Ancient Greece Gold Ornament (27973908453)Arte romana, pamphilos, medusa su ametistaArte romana, pamphilos, medusa su ametistaEllenismo, ornamenti d'oro di provenienza incerta, III-II sec ac.Ellenismo, ornamenti d'oro di provenienza incerta, III-II sec ac.Glass phalera Medusa Archéologie nationale 02042018Glass phalera Medusa Archéologie nationale 02042018Gold jewellery, head of Medusa, 200-300 AD, AM AgrigentoGold jewellery, head of Medusa, 200-300 AD, AM AgrigentoMedusa Cameo Petescia Berlin Altes Museum 27042018 2Medusa Cameo Petescia Berlin Altes Museum 27042018 2012 arte ellenistica, testa di medusa, III sec ac., restaurata in oro nel xv-xvi sec.012 arte ellenistica, testa di medusa, III sec ac., restaurata in oro nel xv-xvi sec.041 arte romana, nereide e scudo con gorgoneion, calcedonio su altro frondo, III sec.041 arte romana, nereide e scudo con gorgoneion, calcedonio su altro frondo, III sec.067 arte romana, testa di medusa di profilo, I sec. ac. ca067 arte romana, testa di medusa di profilo, I sec. ac. ca068 arte romana, testa di medusa di profilo, scambiata spesso per psiche, calcedonio, I sec ac. ca.068 arte romana, testa di medusa di profilo, scambiata spesso per psiche, calcedonio, I sec ac. ca.069 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, xvi sec. ca, calcedonio069 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, xvi sec. ca, calcedonio070 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, xvi sec. ca, calcedonio070 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, xvi sec. ca, calcedonio071 erte pseudoantica, testa di medusa, calcedonio, xvii sec.071 erte pseudoantica, testa di medusa, calcedonio, xvii sec.072 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, xvi-xvii sec.072 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, xvi-xvii sec.073 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, xvi sec. ca, calcedonio073 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, xvi sec. ca, calcedonio074 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, calcedonio, xvi-xvii sec.074 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, calcedonio, xvi-xvii sec.075 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, calcedonio, xvi-xvii sec.075 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, calcedonio, xvi-xvii sec.076 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, calcedonio, xvi-xvii sec.076 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa, calcedonio, xvi-xvii sec.078 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa di tre quarti, xvi sec, calcedonio078 artista rinascimentale, testa di medusa di tre quarti, xvi sec, calcedonio1967.2.1094 Médaillon - Gorgone (Musée de Die)1967.2.1094 Médaillon - Gorgone (Musée de Die)Glittica romana, medusa, sardonice, II-III sec dc.Glittica romana, medusa, sardonice, II-III sec dc.Gorgoneion Wilhelm Lucas von Cranach 1902 Berlin 24112018 2Gorgoneion Wilhelm Lucas von Cranach 1902 Berlin 24112018 2Medusa. Cameo in chalcedony. 1st century ADMedusa. Cameo in chalcedony. 1st century ADCammeo con gorgoneion, I-II sec dc caCammeo con gorgoneion, I-II sec dc caOval Medusa pendant made of JetOval Medusa pendant made of Jet

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