Getty Museum

Cameo Gem with Perseus holding the Head of Medusa set into a Ring

Date

25 B.C.–A.D. 25

Medium

Cameo: white on brown sardonyx; ring: gold

Culture

Roman

Department

Jewelry

Institution

Getty Museum

The Greek hero Perseus stands contemplating the decapitated head of the gorgon Medusa. In his left hand, he holds the *harpe*, or curved sword, that he used for the deed. The naked hero has a cloak thrown over his left arm, and he wears the winged sandals given to him by the god Hermes.According to myth, looking at the face of Medusa instantly turned the viewer to stone. This gem appears to conflate the Perseus story with another motif popular in this period, that of an actor gazing at a mask on a column. Cameos were popular among the Romans and were frequently carved with images of Greek sculptures. Gold rings of this form with an oval bezel were also popular.

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