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Roof Piuse: The Face Of A Gorgoneion

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A roof tile from Greece, this piece shows a gorgoneion—the face of a gorgon. It is made from terracotta, and has the accession number 10.210.44 from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its dimensions are H. 6 3/4 in., W. 9 5/8 in. The tile is shaped like a half-oval. The gorgon has a hairline made of 10 oval sections along the forehead. It has a wide mouth and is sticking out its tongue. It also has four large teeth, with stick up and down beyond the range of the gorgoneion’s lips. The gorgon has two oval-shaped ears, and a prominent nose, along with large, pupil-less eyes. The tile is mostly intact, except for a piece along the top of the oval and through part of the hairline which has broken away. It is circa 580-570 BCE, and is from Greece.

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