Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)
c. 500 BC
Maker Unknown
Greek and Roman Art
Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile), c. 500 BC. Greek/South Italian, Taranto. Terracotta (mold-made); height: 24.5 cm (9 5/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 2021.3 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. The Gorgoneion represents the decapitated head of Medusa, most famous of the three Gorgon sisters.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Ceramic
- Formatted Medium
- Terracotta (mold-made)
- Medium
- terracotta, mold-made
- Dimensions
- height: 24.5 cm (9 5/8 in.)
- Departments
- Greek and Roman Art
- Accession Number
- 2021.3
- Credit Line
- Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund
- Exhibitions
- <em>Meisterwerke Griechischer Kunst, </em>Kunsthalle Basel, Switzerland (18 June-13 September 1960)., <em>Kunst der Antike aus Privatbesitz Bern-Biel-Solothurn, </em>Zentralbibliothek Solothurn, Switzerland (21 October-3 December 1967)., <em>Götter, Menschen und Dämonen: Terrakotten aus Unteritalien, </em>Antikenmuseum Basel, Switzerland (16 April-20 August 1978)., <em>Galerie Rhéa “Hallmark", </em>Galerie Rhéa, Brussels Ancient Art Fair, Brussels, Belgium (6-10 June 2012)., <em>Galerie Rhéa “Hallmark", </em>Galerie Rhéa, TEFAF Maastricht, The Netherlands (Every March, 2012-2018).
- Rights Statement
- CC0
- Museum Location
- 102D Pre-Roman
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