Terracotta antefix with the head of Medusa

This terracotta fragment shows the stylized, frontal face of Medusa, characterized by wide, staring eyes and a protruding tongue. The remnant of architectural ceramic preserves traces of dark paint used to define the facial features and hair, typical of decorative roof ornaments from the archaic period.

As an apotropaic image, the Gorgoneion represents the ancient belief in using terrifying faces to ward off evil or malevolent spirits. This concept of the 'evil eye' and protective imagery persisted into Renaissance esoteric thought, where such classical motifs were frequently integrated into architecture and talismanic theory.