Artwork Page for Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)

Details / Information for Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)

Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)

c. 500 BCE

Greek / South Italian, Taranto

Medium
Terracotta (moldmade)
Measurements
height: 24.5 cm (9 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 2021.3
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
102D Pre-Roman
Print
?

Did You Know?

The Gorgoneion represents the decapitated head of Medusa, most famous of the three Gorgon sisters.

Description

This mold-made terracotta antefix, a type of ornamental roof tile, takes the form of a Gorgoneion, a disembodied Gorgon head. Nearly circular in shape, it features bulging, almond-shaped eyes and a grinning mouth with wide tongue and sharp teeth or tusks. S-shaped serpents surround the head, some standing tall. Traces of pigment suggest a more vivid original appearance, perhaps considered both terrifying and protective.
Light brown ornamental roof tile shaped as a circular Gorgon head, a woman with snakes for hair, arranged around the tile in "s" shapes. The Gorgon has almond-shaped eyes and a wide mouth with bared, sharp teeth and her tongue sticking out. Tight hair coils arc over her forehead in two rows before yielding to the snakes, some broken away at the top of her head.

Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)

c. 500 BCE

Greek / South Italian, Taranto

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.