Collection: Athens, Acropolis Museum
Title: Head of Gorgon akroterion
Context: From Athens, Acropolis
Findspot: Athens, Acropolis
Summary: Head of a Gorgon
Material: Marble
Sculpture Type: Architectural
Category: Separated fragments
Placement: Akroterion
Style: High Archaic
Technique: In-the-round
Original or Copy: Original
Date: ca. 575 BC - ca. 550 BC
Dimensions: H. 0.286 m; W. 0.196 m
Scale: Life-size
Region: Attica
Period: High Archaic
In Whole: Hekatompedon Gorgon akroterion

Subject Description: The Gorgon is shown in a frontal pose (for apotropaic effect, i.e. to ward off evil), with her tongue lolling out of her broad mouth. Her hair is bound by a narrow taenia, and is arranged in vertically and horizontally aligned globules on the crown. The hair over the forehead is arranged in scallopped waves emanating from a center part. The pupils of the wide opened eyes are indicated with incised lines. The broad nose is wrinkled (as indicated by four softly modeled horizontal lines). The Gorgon's teeth, including two ferocious, pointed molars at each corner, are revealed from between her parted lips.

Condition: Head only (complete)

Condition Description: Severly chipped, but otherwise in good condition.

Material Description: Hymettian, according to Brouskari

Associated Building: Athens, Hekatompedon

Other Notes: Brouskari and others have suggested that this may have been the central akroterion from the Hekatompedon.

Sources Used: Brouskari 1974, 30-31, fig. 20

Other Bibliography: Langlotz & Schuchhardt 1943, no. 1; Schrader in Langlotz & Schrader 1939, 319 no. 441, pl. 184; Payne 1936, 10, pl. 1; W.-H. Schuchhardt, AM 1935, 100 ff.