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Details
LOT 0057
Greek Terracotta Face of a Gorgoneion
6TH-5TH CENTURY B.C.
6 1/8 in. (142 grams total, 15.5 cm including stand).
With large eyes and applied pupils, accentuated nose and open mouth with protruding tongue, hair indicated with regularly disposed lines; repaired, western Greek workmanship; mounted on a custom-made display stand.
Provenance
Ex Mr M.Q.F, Horgen, Switzerland, 1971.
with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland.
Footnotes
A Gorgoneion was a protective symbol in ancient Greek art that depicts the head of the Gorgon, a mythical creature with snakes for hair and a terrifying gaze that could turn people to stone. The Gorgoneion was believed to have the power to ward off evil and protect the person who wore it or displayed it. The image of the Gorgoneion was often used as an apotropaic symbol to ward off evil or bad luck. It was often depicted on shields, armour, or even as an architectural feature on buildings. The symbol was also sometimes used in jewellery, such as amulets or pendants, and was believed to bring good luck and protection to the wearer. The most famous depiction of the Gorgoneion is probably the one on the aegis of the goddess Athena.
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