Magna Graecia, Southern Italy, Campania, ca. 325 BCE. A black-glazed pottery guttos (oil pouring vessel) with a rounded form. It has a single, tall spout terminating in a broad rim, a ring handle attached to the upper shoulder, and a central disc, slightly concave, bearing a relief image of the head of Medusa. A guttos like this example would have been used for holding precious oil to fill lamps. Size: 4.45" L x 4.65" W x 3.75" H (11.3 cm x 11.8 cm x 9.5 cm)

Medusa is the most famous of the three gorgons from classical mythology, human women with venomous snakes for hair. The concept of the gorgon, a frightening, beast-like, female creature, is at least as old as Homer and continued to be used as a monstrous symbol throughout the Roman period, especially popular as decoration on pottery. What this says about the Classical relationship with women we can only speculate…

Provenance: private Carlton collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired between 1965 and 1980

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#125525

Foot has been repaired. Nice pigment remaining.