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A Gorgoneion Earstud
CHF 1.800,-
$ 2.113£ 1.604€ 1.916
A Gorgoneion Earstud
Gold
Greek, 4th century BC
Ø: 1.3cm; Weight 0.42g
Delicately wrought in repoussé, this gold disc shows the face of a gorgon, one of the snakey-haired sisters of Medusa. As such it was considered apotropaic, having protective and even lucky powers for the wearer.
Cf. Higgins, Greek and Roman Jewellery 1961/1980, fig. 19 and 24.
Provenance: ex. an important Swiss private scholarly collection.
The Gorgoneion was often used as an apotropaic symbol, meaning it was used to ward off evil or bad luck and was often depicted on shields, armor, or even as an architectural feature on buildings. The most famous depiction of the Gorgoneion is probably the one on the aegis, a shield or breastplate worn by the goddess Athena in Greek mythology. The Gorgoneion and its scaly skin was placed at the center of the aegis, and it was believed to give the goddess the power to terrify her enemies and protect her allies.
Item reference: JE1242