Gorgoneion
E85746
The Gorgoneion is an ancient apotropaic emblem depicting the severed, snake-haired head of a Gorgon, widely used in Greek art and armor to ward off evil.
Aliases (1)
- Medusa head ×2
Statements (48)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
ancient Greek symbol
→
apotropaic emblem → mythological motif → |
| associatedWith |
Gorgons
→
Medusa → |
| culture |
Ancient Greece
→
|
| depicts |
severed head of a Gorgon
→
|
| etymologyFrom |
Greek word gorgos (terrible, grim)
→
|
| foundIn |
Greek coinage
→
Greek mosaics → Greek pottery decoration → Greek sculpture → Greek temple decoration → |
| hasFeature |
boar-like tusks
→
open mouth → protruding tongue → snake hair → staring eyes → |
| influenced |
Byzantine protective imagery
→
Roman decorative motifs → |
| mythologicalContext |
Greek mythology
→
|
| notableExample |
Aegis of Athena
→
|
| periodOfUse |
Archaic period of Greek art
→
Classical period of Greek art → Hellenistic period of Greek art → |
| relatedConcept |
Medusa head
→
apotropaion → |
| symbolizes |
protective power
→
terror → the power to petrify enemies → |
| usedFor |
apotropaic magic
→
protection → warding off evil → |
| usedOn |
antefixes
→
armor → coins → doorways → helmets → household objects → jewelry → metopes → shields → shields of statues → temple pediments → vases → |
| visualType |
frontal mask
→
|
| wornBy |
Athena (on her aegis)
→
Zeus (on his aegis) → |
Referenced by (3)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Versace
("Medusa head")
→
|
logo |
|
Gorgoneion
("Medusa head")
→
|
relatedConcept |
|
Athena
→
|
symbol |