Ancient Roman Bronze Application

Roman Bronze Appliqué – Medusa (Gorgoneion)
A decorative Roman bronze appliqué depicting the head of Medusa, a figure from Greek and Roman mythology, whose image was believed to have a protective, apotropaic function. Medusa is shown frontally, with stylized, wavy hair, which in artistic depiction can also be interpreted as snakes. Such motifs were very common in Roman times and were used as decorations on furniture, chests, armor, or horse gear. It was believed that the image of Medusa protected its owner and warded off evil. The object is made of bronze and dates from Roman times, roughly the 1st–3rd century AD.