Roman Bronze Medusa Attachment

£395.00

A fine Roman attachment cast from bronze featuring the profile of the Gorgon Medusa facing forward. Her facial features have been naturalistically rendered on her broad face. Her hair is swept away from her face and displays four snakes, each peering out into different directions. Two further snakes are visible underneath her chin. The reverse is slightly concave and unadorned. The attachment has been pierced with a small hole directly underneath Medusa’s chin. The attachment has been mounted on a custom-made stand.

Date: 1st-3rd century AD
Condition: Fine condition, patination and earthy encrustation to the surface. The piece itself measures 6.9cm height, 5.5cm width.

SOLD

According to Greek mythology, Medusa was one of three sisters in the Gorgon family. She was known in both Roman and Greek mythology. The Roman author Ovid referred to Medusa as an attractive maiden and an aspiration to many suitors. She was seduced and violated by Poseidon in Athena’s temple. (Metamorphoses, Ovid, Book IV, 753-803) Medusa was the only mortal of the sisters and her death is famous in mythology. She was beheaded by the hero Perseus and her children Chrysaor and Pegasus sprang from her head. In some myths, Medusa was a monster from birth like her sisters. They had snakes for hair, wielded the ability to turn onlookers into stone. In other versions of the myth, Medusa was the only Gorgon to have snake-hair because she was cursed by Athena because she was raped in Athena’s temple by Poseidon (the Sea god). Medusa was a popular talismanic symbol to protect the people from evils. She was considered to be a symbol of strength, as is evident from her image on military-related objects, such as shields and breastplates. Her name comes from the Greek verb “μέδω” “to guard or protect.” Which is linked to her image on military paraphernalia.

Weight 133.7 g
Dimensions W 5.5 x H 9.8 cm
Culture

Greek Mythology

Metal

Region