What is a Gorgon?

Image: the stones of the Gorgon's head from the front of the temple

The Gorgon's Head from the front of the Temple

 

Image: outline drawing of the Gorgon's head

 

Image: 'The owl' - a Roman cartoon character"No one is sure who the face is meant to be... Medusa is usually a woman but this face has a moustache!"

Image: 'Apulia' - a Roman cartoon character

Apulia: "This is what the front of the temple looks like.  The scary face is the god of the waters. Some people say he is Medusa, the Gorgon that Minerva has on her shield. Gorgons had snakes instead of hair and if you looked at them you turned to stone!  What do you think it looks like?"

 

"Around him are all sorts of things carved in the stone:

 

  • Victories with wings (they celebrate war victories) hold victory wreaths of oak leaves.
  • Helmets (because Minerva is a warrior goddess)
  • Tritons (they’re water gods) blowing trumpets made of shells
  • An owl (because Minerva is also the goddess of wisdom)"