Gorgoneion

As Gorgoneion (Greek Γοργόνειον ) is defined as the severed by Perseus the Gorgon Medusa head, therefore Gorgon Medusa's head or called, which as petrifying bugbear offset by the Greek legend Athena in the middle of her Aegis, and as such carries on its label.

As evil repelling magical protection and terrors ( apotropaion / bugbear ) it adorns manifold weapons of all kinds, cars, boats, horse jewelry, city walls, amulets, garments, furniture, sarcophagi, etc.

History of development

History can be proved that the original type, an en face ( mask-like ) formed demonic grimace face with his tongue sticking out and boar's teeth as early as the Phoenician art occurs ( Besa - type ), not covered by Greek artists before the 7th century BC and was gradually transformed.

Archaic type

In the archaic art exists essentially really just a type of Gorgoneions, the course has countless variations. Initially, makes the presentation still little or no use of snakes, but seemingly more often with a chin beard, even with undoubted female Gorgons in full figure. The oldest representations of this archaic type can be found in the analogous border winged Gorgon. Although snakes as an attribute lacking in the oldest Gorgonendarstellungen, but found very quickly input, much faster and more general than they were connected with the grotesque face the Gorgoneion. First, as a snake belt and each with a snake in each hand.

Among the oldest surviving Gorgoneion probably heard of Asia Minor - Electrum Stater, discovered during excavations in Parium, which is set in the 7th century BC. The essential features of the basic type are the breitverzogene mouth that can see the teeth, the powerful jaws, the protruding tongue, the bug-eyed, mostly very large eyes and the more or less circular overall shape of the mask, of which usually only the chin comes out below some. In general, the canines are large as that of predators. The hairs are ordered (except for a few exceptions ) to smooth the forehead, be it in curls or wavy games. Where the Gorgoneion appears in a round (ie name on coins and in the interior of shells), as is the indication of hair limited to the surrounding forehead. But otherwise maintain on the sides wide braided hair to fall. The ears are often decorated with circular earrings.

Middle type

Between the archaic ( ugly ) type and the later type occurs beautiful BC, the mean type as a transition towards the middle of the 5th century. He is much less grotesque and menacing, everything seems exaggerated, is mitigated here to a far lesser degree more natural. At this time the Gorgon had lost his tusks and snakes were rather stylized. It does not appear quite as often as in the archaic period, but it has also lost its conversion to tectonic, decorative character. It does not cover more large front brick and shields. Does it happen on a shield, so it fills the same not quite out, but only appears small in the middle. It disappears from the interior of the Attic shells, is rare on bronze handles and the half figure no longer appears. In contrast, the Gorgoneion now receives through the Attic art attained power a more exclusive, more definite relationship to Athena, which it had not before.

The beautiful type

Had the previous type, the grotesque, the old Distorted Although significantly mitigated, but in this moderate form but retained so that here is completely gone. From the mouths of the last remnant of that has given broad warping and the face is pure impeccable beauty. The characterization is done only by the expression, by the formation of hair and often, but not always, identified by the ingredient of snakes. We can distinguish within this type of two series that followed also historically. When a face is peaceful. This type is already towards the end of the 5th century ( For example, the severed head of Medusa in the hand of Perseus on the Attic the end of the 5th century vase belonging Annali dell ' Inst 1881, tav. F, without distortion, straight hair specially adapted without any external markings) and is in the 4th. But walked the new type long periods near the middle still in use until it became the rule. Towards the end of the 4th century often occur wings as a new element to the Gorgoneion that were certainly associated sporadic early as the 5th century with the same.

The later art of the second row, the ( pathetic ) type is formed in the 3rd century and since then, there, are solidified in agony, twisted wonderfully beautiful woman face pathetic ( Medusa Rondanini in the Munich Glyptothek see Figure, the relief of the so-called Medusa Ludovisi can be considered only as a head of some dying heroine [A ]), where in place of the hair durchzüngelnden snakes finally enters the confused fluttering hair itself. The wings are the rule here.

Another transformation of the Gorgoneions to mention - with one of the most imaginative creations of Hellenic art - the transformation into a sea creature. The cold horror of the sea flood was the leading idea here. Her eyes, large and round, same with her cold stares which the fish. All kinds of marine plant and animals is used on the face and in the hair.

Due to a black- shell of Laconia, around 565 BC

Silver Didrachme of Athens, about 520 BC

Wood carving on a door trim ( by Thomas Regnaudin, Paris ca 1660)

Roman floor mosaic in Palencia.