Cleveland Museum of Art

Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)

Date

c. 500 BCE

Medium

Terracotta (moldmade)

Culture

Greek / South Italian, Taranto

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.