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Source 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.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
399499
label
Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
399499
contentType
object
title
Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)
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.
date
c. 500 BCE
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q106477702
genreSpecific
Ceramic
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
height: 24.5 cm (9 5/8 in.)
cul
Greek / South Italian, Taranto
accession
2021.3
Source extras
tec
Terracotta (moldmade)
tombstone
Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile), c. 500 BCE. Greek / South Italian, Taranto. Terracotta (moldmade); height: 24.5 cm (9 5/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 2021.3
collection
GR - Greek
didYouKnow
The Gorgoneion represents the decapitated head of Medusa, most famous of the three Gorgon sisters.
citations
citation
Münzen und Medaillen A.G. <em>Monnaies d'or gauloises, grecques, romaines et byzantines ; objets d'art grecs</em>. Basel: Münzen und Medaillen, 1953.
page_number
p. 29 and pl. XI, lot 299
citation
Schefold, Karl. <em>Meisterwerke griechischer Kunst. Basel. Kunsthalle.</em> Catalogues. 1960-1961. Basel: B. Schwabe, 1960.
page_number
pp. 61, 230-231, no. V 275
citation
Vereinigung der Freunde Antiker Kunst (Switzerland), and Zentralbibliothek Solothurn. <em>Kunst der Antike aus Privatbesitz Bern-Biel-Solothurn: [Ausstellung] Zentralbibliothek Solothurn, 21. Oktober bis 3. Dezember 1967</em>. [Solothurn, Switzerland?]: [Zentralbibliothek?], 1967.
page_number
p. 137, no. 334
citation
Herdejürgen, Helga. <em>Götter, Menschen und Dämonen: Terrakotten aus Unteritalien : [Sonderausstellung im Antikenmuseum Basel, 16 April bis 20. August 1978].</em> Basel: Archäologischer Verlag, in Kommission bei Philipp von Zabern, Mainz, 1978.
page_number
p. 89, no. C4
citation
“<em>New on View</em>.” <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine </em>61, no. 3 (Summer 2021): Back cover.
page_number
Reproduced and Mentioned: Back cover.
creditline
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:59:07.559000
sourceId
399499
dept
Greek and Roman Art
coll
GR - Greek
med
Terracotta (moldmade)
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
e4cc669cc117f557