VULCA. MEDUSA ANTEFIX, C. 510 CE. MUSEO NAZIONALE ETRUSCO DI VILLA GIULIA This truly terrifying antefix is a masterpiece of terracotta Etruscan art. It comes from the Portonaccio temple sanctuary of Menrva, the Etruscan predecessor of Minerva, at Veii, in the same complex as the famous Apollo of Veii, one of the treasures of the Villa Giulia. Apollo and Hercules are battling on the pediment, and both have been ascribed to the sculptor Vulca, along with the roof antefixes, this one included, though the museum now more cautiously describes the artist as the "Master of Apollo". Here, within a sort of stylised scallop shell that regularises the profile of the antefix, is the frightening face of the Gorgon Medusa, very much the monstrous fanged leering monster of archaic art, and nothing like the beautiful tragic woman with snakes in her hair of later Greek and Roman depictions. Other antefixes contained Maenad and Silenus heads. But this astounding piece is full of invention and skill, with much of its original polychromy intact.
For #ReliefWednesday we're being scared off by a magnificent #antefix from the roof of the gigantic temple of #Minerva at #Veii just north of #Rome. The #sculptor is thought to be #Vulca, also author of the first statue of #Capitoline #Jupiter. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺
