Silver medal featuring winged Medusa discovered at Roman fort near Hadrian’s Wall

An almost 1,800-year-old silver army medal that includes the snake-covered head of Medusa has been unearthed in what was as soon as the northern fringe of the Roman Empire.

Excavators found the winged gorgon on June 6 on the English archaeological website of Vindolanda, a Roman auxiliary fort that was constructed within the late first century, just a few a long time earlier than Hadrian’s Wall was constructed in A.D. 122 to defend the empire in opposition to the Picts and the Scots.

The “particular discover” is a “silver phalera (army ornament) depicting the top of Medusa,” in accordance with a Fb put up from The Vindolanda Belief, the group main the excavations. “The phalera was uncovered from a barrack flooring, courting to the Hadrianic interval of occupation.”

Associated: Stockpile of two,000-year-old gem stones present in Roman bathhouse drain

We see a hand holding the slightly corroded silver circular medal. There is dirt on it.

The hand-size Medusa medal dates to the Hadrianic interval at Vindolanda, a Roman auxiliary fort in England. (Picture credit score: The Vindolanda Belief)

Medusa — who is thought for having snakes for hair and the power to show individuals into stone with a mere look — is talked about in a number of Greek myths. In probably the most well-known story, the Greek hero Perseus beheads Medusa as she sleeps, pulling off the feat through the use of Athena’s polished protect to not directly have a look at the mortal gorgon in order that he would not be petrified, in accordance with the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork in New York Metropolis.

Roman tradition drew on Greek myths, together with Medusa’s story. Throughout the Roman age, Medusa was seen as apotropaic, which means her likeness was thought to repel evil, John Pollini, a professor of artwork historical past who makes a speciality of Greek and Roman artwork and archaeology on the College of Southern California, informed Dwell Science. Pollini was not concerned within the discover at Vindolanda.

A photo showing just Alexander on his horse from the famous Pompeii mosaic. On his breastplate is an image of Medusa.

Alexander the Nice is depicted as sporting a breastplate with the gorgon Medusa on this well-known mosaic of him from Pompeii. (Picture credit score: Picture courtesy Wikimedia, from an historic mosaic in Pompeii, Italy)

“From Greek instances on, this can be a potent apotropaic to push back dangerous issues, to maintain dangerous issues from occurring to you,” Pollini stated. Medusa’s serpent-surrounded head can be seen on Roman-era tombs, mosaics in posh villas and battle armor. For example, within the well-known first-century mosaic of Alexander the Nice from Pompeii, Alexander is depicted with the face of Medusa on his breastplate, Pollini famous.

Medusa can be featured on different Roman-era phalerae, however the particulars range. For example, the Vindolanda Medusa has wings on her head. “Typically you see her with wings, generally with out,” Pollini stated. “It most likely signifies she has the power to fly, form of like [the Roman god] Mercury has little wings on his helmet.”

We see 10 silver phalerae on display in a museum. Two of them feature Medusa.

Silver phalerae of the Roman soldier Titus Flavius Festus within the Neues Museum (of the Staatliche Museen) in Berlin. Two Medusa heads are represented within the second row of the show on both sides of a horned head of Ammon Zeus. (Picture credit score: Courtesy of John Pollini)

As a result of phalerae have been awarded for “valor in battle,” army males would connect them to straps and put on them throughout native parades, Pollini stated, noting that the invention of the Vindolanda phalera is uncommon.

“There aren’t very a lot of them, clearly, as a result of they have been a treasured steel,” he stated. “Ultimately, most of them have been most likely melted down.”

Many phalerae are present in burials, however the Vindolanda one seems to be misplaced. “This is not one thing you’d toss away,” Pollini stated.

The silver artifact is now present process conservation on the Vindolanda lab. It’s going to type a part of the 2024 exhibition of finds from the location.

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