Archaeologists in Sicily discovered what they believe to be an ancient Roman mask mold depicting the iconic Medusa, a symbol rich in meanings, according to National Geographic. The mask mold was unearthed under the direction of Roberto Sciarratta from the Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park during excavations in the so-called House 18.
House 18, a building dating from the late Republican period of the late 2nd century BCE, was converted into an artistic workshop specializing in the production of masks. In the last years of its use, around the early 1st century BCE, the structure underwent modifications reflecting a process of adaptation culminating in the creation of a space dedicated to artistic production.
Archaeologists discovered many molds for the production of masks in the same environment, verifying the importance of this artisanal activity in Finziade, as reported by Gizmodo.
Medusa, in Greek mythology, was one of the three Gorgons who, with her frightful gaze, turned anyone who looked at her to stone. Her image was frequently used in antiquity as a protective charm, often depicted on amulets, decorative objects, mosaics, columns, and coins to ward off evil. Medusa symbolized both danger and protection.
The mask mold, found in a building believed to have been used as a mask workshop, depicted Medusa with a stern face surrounded by wild, thick strands of hair, according to Archaeology Magazine.
Finziade, also known as Phintias, was an ancient Greek colony founded in 282 BCE by Phintias, the tyrant of Agrigento, and was crucial for trade, cultural exchange, and artisanal activities before being conquered by Rome. The city, located near modern-day Licata in southwestern Sicily, offered a strategic position for monitoring coastal ports and navigation along the Salso River, known in antiquity as Himera Meridionalis, according to National Geographic.
Roman Sicily, located at a strategic point in the Mediterranean, was a cultural melting pot where Greek, Roman, and local influences interacted.
"House 18 in the archaeological site of Finziade is an exciting example of how residential infrastructures were reused for commercial or industrial purposes during periods of social and economic changes," reported Enikos.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.