Greek gold relief with the head of the Gorgon.Hellenistic 4th-3rd century

A Greek gold relief with the head of the Gorgon.

Hellenistic, 4th-3rd century BC.

Measures 1.1 x 1cm.

Weighs 0.3 grams.

Provenance: Private English Collection, formed between the late 1970’s - early 1990’s.

A gold ring applied with a similar relief is in the collection of the British Museum, Registration number: 1859,1129.42

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1859-1129-42

In Greek art, the head of the Gorgon Medusa—known as the Gorgoneion—evolved from a grotesque, apotropaic symbol to a more humanised and even beautiful figure. During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, Medusa became a symbol of dangerous beauty, her snake hair stylised and her face often idealised. Throughout these transformations, her image retained protective and symbolic power, appearing on temples, armour, jewellery, and household items.