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| Item Number: |
0UVI5 |
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| Category: |
Roman |
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| Period: |
Roman Provincial |
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| Date: |
c. 2nd-3rd Century A.D. |
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| Material: |
Onyx |
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| Height: |
3/4" (1.9cm) |
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| Display Stand: |
Not Available |
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| Price: |
$ 3200 (USD) |
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| Status: |
Available |
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| Description: |
The oval stone carved in two layers, white on dark gray, carved with a head of Medusa in three-quarter view, with snakes radiating from her thick curly hair.
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| Provenance: |
Swiss Art Market.
London Art Market, 1993.
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| Condition: |
Nose damaged in antiquity. A very nice example.
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| Keywords: |
Medusa: One of three sisters, daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, whom Athena changed into a Gorgon as a punishment for desecrating her temple by sleeping with Poseidon. Some say that Poseidon raped her, while others say that she willingly had intercourse with him in Athena's sanctuary. When Athena became aware of these activities going on in her temple, she became enraged. It may have been jealousy that provoked Athena to turn Medusa from a beautiful woman into a gorgon, with serpent hair and so frightening that no living creature could behold her look without being turned into stone. Medusa was killed in her sleep by Perseus with aid from Athena and Hermes. From Medusa's blood sprang two children by Poseidon; Pegasus and Chrysaor.
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