Athenian shield with Medusa head

Ancient Greek hoplite Athenian shield, bearing the fearsome Medusa.

Medusa also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Those who gazed into her eyes would turn to stone.

The shield, aspis in Greek, was carried by Greek infantry (hoplites) of various periods and is often referred to as a hoplon.

A hoplon shield was a deeply dished shield made of wood. Some shields had a thin sheet of bronze on the outer face, often just around the rim. In some periods, the convention was to decorate the aspis; in others, it was usually left plain.

The shield comes with a marble stand and it is not a full size shield.