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Gorgon head (Manisa 541). (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)
Pilaster Capital with Gorgon Head
- Date
- 2nd or 3rd C. AD, Roman
- Museum
- Manisa, Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum, 541
- Museum Inventory No.
- 541
- Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
- Manisa 541
- Material
- Marble, Stone
- Object Type
- Sculpture
- Sculpture Type
- Capital, Mythological Figure
- Site
- Sardis
- Findspot
- Said to come from Sardis.
- Description
A stylized Corinthian pilaster capital, this has unusually vertical and straight tendrils, one stem on each side breaking into two curved tendrils under the simple top profile. An acanthus leaf frames each side. In the center, between the tendrils, is a large frontal female head, apparently a gorgon. The large and classical features include deep-set eyes, a somewhat crooked nose, and thick lips, set within a huge jawbone. The neck is very wide. The hair frames the face with horizontal waves at the sides, vertical ones at the top. A thick braid seems to fall at each side of the neck.
The large head on a pilaster capital of this sort is unusual. The extensive use of long drill runs, in acanthus, tendrils, and hair, indicates a date in the 2nd or 3rd C. A.D.
- Condition
Marble.
Complete, except for minor chipping at the corners.
- Dimensions
- H. 0.295; W. 0.47.
- Comments
- Unpublished. This is the same size and format as Cat. 196 (Fig. 346). Although the two are not identical, they are clearly from the same building. For generally similar type, though more sparsely decorated, cf. von Mercklin, Antike Figuralkapitelle, 118-119, no. 334 a and b, figs. 599-602.
- See Also
- Bibliography
- Author
- NHR