Antefix (end-tile) head of the Gorgon nr1 at The British Museum, London

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In ancient Greek mythology, a Gorgon was a fearsome monster, revered as a powerful deity, embodying protection from the earliest sacred concepts. Her immense power was such that anyone daring to gaze upon her would be petrified instantly, so her image was displayed in various locations, from temples to wine crater sites, to ensure her protective presence. The Gorgon wore an intimidating belt of snakes, intricately intertwined like a buckle, with each snake facing the other directly. Later myths revealed that there were three Gorgons: Medusa, Esteno, and Euryale, with Medusa being the sole mortal among them. According to legend, Medusa's hair was transformed into poisonous snakes as punishment from the goddess Athena. This iconic image gained widespread recognition, despite the Gorgon's appearance in ancient Greece's earliest written records of religious beliefs, as seen in Homer's works. The Gorgon proudly occupied the central gable of a temple on Corfu, serving as the oldest stone pediment in Greece, dating back to approximately 600 BC.