G59

Greek painted pottery Gorgon mask acroterion

A moulded and painted coarse red pottery architectural revetment (acroterion) in the form of a Gorgon mask.

The Gorgons were fearsome female winged demons who were led by Medusa, their hair was a mass of writhing snakes and their stare could instantly turn a man to stone. Because Medusa's head was captured and used to man's benefit by the hero Perseus, the Gorgon mask was often used as a protective device in art and architecture.

This would have been affixed to the front of a building to conceal the apex of a roof-line, remnants of the hemispherical attachment butt on the back are still extant.

Greek, probably from Egypt, 2nd or 1st Century BC

Size: 16 x 18 cms

Fragment as shown, repair to upper right corner. The pottery is quite friable and sheds a few grains from the back.

Ex. private collection, Sussex, UK.