Early Victorian Medusa Cameo Brooch

Near them their sisters three, the Gorgons, winged With snakes for hair—hatred of mortal man - 'Prometheus Bound', Aeschylus An early Victorian era shell cameo brooch depicting Medusa. The round section of Bull's Mouth shell is wonderfully detailed, the Gorgon sister rendered in profile with snakes tied at her throat and wings drooping down. Set in a simple bezel brooch mount, circa 1840. The myth of Medusa is one of the most well known of the ancient lores, she shines as a beacon through the annals of time, and a powerful symbol akin to the modern evil eye. A dangerous threat to ward off even more dangerous threats. Once a beautiful priestess of Athena, she caught the eye of Poseidon, god of the sea, who sought to seduce her but when she rejected him he raped and impregnated her in the temple of Athena. Enraged by this act of sacrilege, Athena turned Medusa into a monster with snakes for hair and gaze that turned men to stone. Most (male) tellings of this story describe Athena as punishing Medusa for being victim of rape but I prefer a different reading, as explored by Glenys Livingstone and Trista Hendren in ‘Re-visioning Medusa’. Perhaps it wasn’t a punishment. Perhaps Athena was taking all the trauma, all the fear, all the anger and rage, and transforming it into fierce protective energy. Medusa becomes the embodiment of female rage in the face of patriarchy and male violence. She serves as a reminder for women not to deny our righteous rage, it can be powerful, protective, even life-saving in a society that expects our meekness. After Medusa was slain by Perseus and her head delivered to Athena, she made from it her aegis (shield or armour, depending on which source you read): "a fearsome thing with a surface of gold like scaly snake-skin, and the linked serpents and the Gorgon herself upon the goddess’s breast—a severed head rolling its eyes" - Virgil’s Aeneid (Day-Lewie's translation). Indeed, even now, the phrase "under someone's aegis" means under the protection of a powerful or benevolent source. Era: Victorian, circa 1840 Stone: Bull's Mouth Shell Size: 3.6cm diameter Marks: None, tests as base metal Condition: Great antique condition