The inclusion of medusa in the center implies the protection of the goddess athena who wore the gorgon s likeness on her aegis as said above.
Head of medusa attic.
The attic tradition regarded the gorgon as a monster produced by gaea the personification of earth to aid her sons against the gods.
One example is that of the flag and emblem of sicily together with the three legged trinacria.
The head of medusa is featured on some regional symbols.
With the help of a magic cap and winged shoes given to him by athena perseus became invisible and flew to the.
Medusa s severed head had the power of turning all who looked upon it into stone.
Her head is a common ornament on the handles of bronze vessels 60 11 2a b.
In ancient greek mythology medusa is a gorgon one of three hideous sisters whose appearance turns men to stone.
Heracles hercules is said to have obtained a lock of medusa s hair which possessed the same powers as the head from athena and given it to sterope the daughter of cepheus as a protection for the town of tegea against attack.
Perseus and medusa on an attic vase by marjorie j.
She is killed by the hero perseus who cuts off her head to the greeks medusa is the leader of an ancient older matriarchal religion that had to be obliterated.
When exposed to view the lock was supposed to bring on a storm which put the enemy to flight.
Either the sight of it full in the face or the look of the 2 eyes turned humans to stone.
Milne senior research fellow department of greek and roman art the attic red figured vase illustrated opposite and on pages 128 and 129 was acquired by the museum last year.
Aka gorgoneion medusa tête de méduse by rubens c.
It is an outstanding example of the style of polygnotos one of the most im portant of the vase painters active in athens.
Medusa is truly ubiquitous she is represented not only in architecture and pottery but also in metalwork.
The children of poseidon and medusa were born after pegasus sliced off medusa s head.
The circular shape and protective qualities of her countenance also lend themselves to jewelry.
Perseus fleeing away with the head of medusa.
Perseus flying away with the head of medusa while pegasos springs from her severed neck perseus son of the god zeus and the human princess danae was given the task of beheading medusa one of the three gorgons whose faces were so horrible that seeing them turned men to stone.
The hero wears a chiton winged cap and high boots and holds a sickle shaped blade harpe in his hand the gorgon s head rests in a round sack kibisis slung across his shoulder medusa lies behind him beheaded with blood flowing from the raw stump of her neck.
Attributed to pan painter beazley.
A study of greek and roman mythology.
In modern culture she represents vital sensuality and a power that is threatening to males.
Perseus decapitates the gorgon medusa.
