Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 500 BCE
This mold-made terracotta antefix is a type of architectural ornamental roof tile produced around 500 BCE. Attributed to Greek or South Italian artisans from Taranto, the object stands 24.5 cm (9 5/8 in.) in height and is shaped in the likeness of a Gorgoneion, representing a disembodied Gorgon head.
The tile is nearly circular, rendered with bulging, almond-shaped eyes and an open, grinning mouth that reveals a broad tongue alongside sharp teeth or tusks. S-shaped serpents frame the face, with some standing upright above the curled hairline. Traces of applied pigment survive across the terracotta surface, indicating that it originally bore painted details.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Historically produced as roof ornaments, antefixes served both decorative and protective functions. By 1953, this example was documented in Basel, Switzerland, at Monnaies et Médailles S.A., before entering the collection of Prof. Dr. Hans Jucker and Dr. Ines Jucker in Bern. It later passed through Galerie Rhéa in Zurich before its acquisition by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Terracotta (moldmade)
- Dimensions
- height: 24.5 cm (9 5/8 in.)
Technical characteristics
- Culture recorded
- Greek / South Italian, Taranto
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Cleveland Museum of Art collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Gorgoneion Antefix (Ornamental Roof Tile)
- Museum object number
- 2021.3
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.