 Mosaic of the
head of Medusa |
Provenance: Esquiline Hill, Rome
Date: II-III century A.D.
This mosaic was discovered in 1773 under the
Caetani Palace on the Via Merulana on the Esquiline Hill in Rome. At the center is
the head of Medusa, the feminine mythological personage whose look turned men to
stone. She was eventually killed by the Greek hero Perseus. Her head was often
utilized as a decorative motif because people believed that it had “apotropaic”
value, meaning that it had the power to ward off the “evil eye.” The rest of the
mosaic is decorated with floral motifs.
Total Cost:
$65,000.00
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