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A grinning gorgon sticks out her tongue on the back of this bronze hand mirror from southern Italy. The mirror dates to about 500–480 B.C., when Greek colonies controlled southern Italy. Measuring 5-7/8; inches across, the repoussé, or hammered, relief of the Gorgon Medusa was made separately from the highly polished, reflective surface on the opposite side. The metal support, or tang, at the base once held a handle, probably made of ivory or wood. The monster, with characteristic ugly round face, serpents for hair and wispy beard, provides a clever subject for a mirror: According to Greek mythology, […]