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Source Description
Medusa, the only mortal among the three terrifying winged Gorgon sisters, could turn humans into stone. In early Greece, she was usually depicted with wings on her head, her face surrounded by snakes, with long fangs, and her tongue sticking out, all of which suggests her monstrous character. In later times, her features softened, and she was portrayed as a calm, beautiful woman. Medusa heads, intended to avert evil, were used as decorative elements on a large variety of items, such as vessels, statues, armor, and sarcophagi.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
12294
label
Medusa
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
12294
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Medusa
description
Medusa, the only mortal among the three terrifying winged Gorgon sisters, could turn humans into stone. In early Greece, she was usually depicted with wings on her head, her face surrounded by snakes, with long fangs, and her tongue sticking out, all of which suggests her monstrous character. In later times, her features softened, and she was portrayed as a calm, beautiful woman. Medusa heads, intended to avert evil, were used as decorative elements on a large variety of items, such as vessels, statues, armor, and sarcophagi.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
1st century CE
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Metal
appliqué (visual works)
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm)
Source extras
med
bronze
creator_ids
6191
collection_ids
ROM
exhibition_ids
2177
2121
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
b449202470264774