The Gorgon Medusa was found in Crimea: archaeologists discovered ancient gold jewelry depicting the mythical vixen

The set consists of a fragmented necklace, earrings in the form of a lion biting its tail, and a large gold pendant

The Crimean peninsula, the first mention of which is found in ancient Greek myths, often pleases “seekers treasures» with precious finds. This time, archaeologists in one of the crypts of the Kyz-Aul necropolis found a gold necklace, earring and pendant with the image of the mythical Gorgon Medusa.

Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

Ancient necropolis of Kyz-Aul — ancient monument, where in the period from the 1st century BC. e. to 1st century AD e. Representatives of the upper class of Bosporan society were buried. Here archaeologists found gold jewelry, including a large pendant made in the 1st-2nd centuries AD, depicting the mythical monster Medusa the Gorgon, as well as a fragmented necklace and earrings in the form of a lion biting its tail.

How said archaeologist Oleg Markov, the image of a monster with a woman’s face and snakes instead of hair was popular among the Roman military aristocracy. Probably, the drawing acted as a talisman, because it was even placed on the armor of the Roman emperors: Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius.

«Although the artifact was deformed, the face of the Gorgon Medusa was clearly visible on the pendant. Apparently, this thing served as a talisman for its owner during his lifetime,” — Markov noted.