#antefix
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durotrigesdig.bsky.social
Snakes on a roof!

A ceramic antefix (covering one of the end imbrices of a tiled roof) with the features of Medusa (to ward off evil)

A lovely little detail from a reconstruction #Roman building at Avalon Archaeology near Shapwick in #Somerset

📷 Aug 2026

#TilesOnTuesday 🐍
Ceramic antefix at the edge of a reconstruction Roman tiled roof with the face of Medusa
September 1, 2026 at 7:13 AM
malcolmstoneman.bsky.social
👀 Grosvenor Museum #Chester

Antefix fragments with LEG XX & decorated with a boar, symbol of the Twentieth Legion Valeria Victrix.

The museum believes V. V. stood for Valiant and Victorious, probably awarded to the legion after they helped defeat #Boudicca AD61

#Roman #Archaeology
#TilesOnTuesday
Two fragments of the triangular tiles known as antefix which terminated the end of curved tiles on a roof.
December 2, 2025 at 7:51 AM
anthonymajanlahti.bsky.social
Found in an #Esquiline pit, this #Silenus antefix of c. 500 BCE was imported from #Veii, while the roof tiles were local, and both were painted locally. This was state patronage under the #Tarquins: importing high-end Etruscan art to augment local work. #ReliefWednesday #AncientBluesky 🏺
ANTEFIX OF SILENUS, C. 530-500 BCE. CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS This terracotta antefix of a Silenus was excavated from a sacred pit or favissa near Sant'Antonio Abate on the Esquiline. Mineral analysis reveals this piece was made from a mold using clay from Veii, proving it was a high-status import from Etruria, while the roof tiles found alongside it were fashioned from local sources, but both were painted locally, a sign of the itinerant groups of artisans moving easily between Etruscan and Latial towns. Patronage likely came from the Tarquin kings, who were happy to import high-quality terracotta art to decorate a local temple in the Esquiline's archaic sacred landscape. Nearby stood the temple of Libitina, a death goddess, conveniently near the vast Esquiline necropolis, home to burials of both rich and poor. Functionally, the antefix capped convex tiles to protect the timber edifice. On the roofline, this wild Dionysian figure alternated with female Mænad heads. The wide-eyed Silenus served an apotropaic function, glaring down to frighten away spirits, whilst the welcoming Mænads offered an inviting presence, broadcasting a unified message: let evil stay away, let joy approach.
August 5, 2026 at 4:43 PM
cmagreekroman.bsky.social
Antefix with Satyr Face https://clevelandart.org/art/1926.552
Antefix with Satyr Face
September 26, 2026 at 6:20 PM
museumofloot.bsky.social
A new case contributed by Alli Getz.

In 2012, the Dallas Museum of Art returned 6 looted antiquities with links to known traffickers Edoardo Almagià and Gianfranco Becchina, including this 6th-century BCE Etruscan antefix head linked to Giacomo Medici.
March 30, 2026 at 10:26 PM
alisabokulich.bsky.social
Etruscan Museum of Chiusi 🏺
Architectural terracottas. 1 Matrix of an antefix from Marcianella, with modern plaster cast (2" century B.C.). Closeup of concave mold of a face that appears to switch to convex Architectural terracottas. 1 Matrix of an antefix from Marcianella, with modern plaster cast (2" century B.C.). With cast next to mold.
July 27, 2025 at 5:39 AM
sistoryhistory.bsky.social
This #FindsFriday I’ll mainly be channelling this wonderful Medusa antefix (roof adornment).
Thought to ward off evil forces and protect the building💥

Terracotta, Taranto 550-500 B.C.E.

📸 Us, Allard Pierson Museum. Amsterdam.

#Archaeology #AncientBluesky #Roman #Classicsbluesky #AncientRome
April 2, 2026 at 9:12 AM
lindsaypowell.bsky.social
A replica of a complete 'antefix' of Legio XX Valeria Victrix I made for a school project years ago.
Photo is my own.
A replica of a complete 'antefix' of Legio XX Valeria Victrix I made for a school project years ago. Photo is my own.
January 23, 2026 at 7:46 PM
cmagreekroman.bsky.social
Antefix with Satyr Face https://clevelandart.org/art/1926.552
Antefix with Satyr Face
October 14, 2024 at 9:33 AM
romanbritain.bsky.social
Moulded antefix tile from #Roman #Colchester depicts the head of #Medusa.

The tile was inserted into the bottom row of roof tiles in order to provide a decorative trim. It was probably made locally.

#RomanBritain
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
March 13, 2026 at 9:01 AM
anthonymajanlahti.bsky.social
#ReliefWednesday takes us to the town of #Gabii, 18 km east of #Rome, where this splendid #antefix was found. This is #Typhon, vengeful son of Mother Earth and enemy of the #Olympian gods, done in a #Latial style identical to work found from the same period in Rome. #AncientBluesky 🏺
ANTEFIX OF TYPHON, C6 CE. BATHS OF DIOCLETIAN This spectacular painted terracotta antefix comes from an archaic temple in Gabii, a site 18 km east along the via Prenestina which had been an independent Latial town until it was conquered by the Romans under the last legendary king, Tarquinius Superbus. This antefix was found in a destruction level more or less contemporary with the foundation of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE, so it may be slightly older than the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. It represents the ur-monster Typhon, child of Gaia and Tartarus, utterly terrifying, born to punish the gods for the destruction of the Giants. His numerous progeny included the Sphinx and Cerberus. Here he looks very humanoid, with a black-bearded face, huge bat ears, a hairy torso, and wings.
September 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
sistoryhistory.bsky.social
#FindsFriday - a marvellous Pan antefix (roof adornment) was thought to ward off evil forces and protect the building through his fierce, furrowed appearance 🏛️

Terracotta

📸 Us, Allard Pierson Museum. Amsterdam.

#Archaeology #AncientBluesky #Roman #Classicsbluesky #AncientRome #AncientGreece #Pan
July 24, 2026 at 8:00 AM
annaplexis.bsky.social

Antefix Fingerless mittens. The pattern is now available four languages: English, German, Danish and Greek on Ravelry and Payhip 🧶

www.ravelry.com/patterns/lib... #knitting
January 13, 2025 at 10:39 AM
colmuseums.bsky.social
In ancient myth, Medusa’s snaky hair was said to turn people to stone. The Romans used her image, like this antefix tile, to keep evil at bay and protect their homes.

This Halloween season, we’re exploring the myths behind the monsters.
Weathered terracotta antefix fragment with a frontal Gorgon mask. The reddish clay tile is dome‑shaped with rough, broken edges. The face has deep‑set eyes, straight nose and full lips; strands of hair sweep up into a central tuft. Curled snakes frame the face on both sides and along the lower edge. The surface shows patches of erosion and earthy staining, photographed on a white background.
October 22, 2025 at 7:02 AM
richardosgood.bsky.social
Roman 20th legion tile antefix with their running boar motif - on display at St Fagans museum near Cardiff #findsfriday 🐗
Triangular orange tile with a running boar facing to the right at the bottom and letters LEG XX above. This refers to the 20th Legion whose symbol was indeed a boar
April 4, 2025 at 12:58 PM
chapps.bsky.social
This terracotta antefix dates to the 2nd or 3rd c. CE, and was found at Holt, Clwyd, Wales. It can be seen at the #BritishMuseum in London. More information below. 🏺 2/

flic.kr/p/2rGxgX8
flic.kr
November 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
chapps.bsky.social
Imagine seeing a Roman building in ancient Wales, the tiled roof lined with antefixes proudly proclaiming the presence of the Legio XX Valeria Victrix with their name and symbol, the wild boar. The Twentieth was among the legions involved with the construction of Hadrian's Wall. 🏺 1/

📸 me
Tall triangular-shaped orangish terracotta antefix with stamped decoration: the letters LEG XX, a running boar, and a tall pole with a shield attached at the top, lances radiating out of the top.
November 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
A terracotta antefix with the head of Medusa, the snake-haired creature whose sight turns everyone to stone.
Medusa’s head was a popular motif and used to ward off any evil.
Antifixes were used to conceal the ends of the tiles that ran along the edge of roofs. Ca. 480 BC

📷 me

🏺
A circular terracotta relief featuring a face with a wide grin and its tongue sticking out. The face is framed by wavy, snake-like hair.
March 4, 2026 at 10:32 AM
cmagreekroman.bsky.social
Antefix with Satyr Face https://clevelandart.org/art/1926.551
Antefix with Satyr Face
September 13, 2026 at 10:40 AM
alexdecampi.bsky.social
Look at this 4th cen BC Greek antefix, proof that our ancestors also appreciated A Very Good Boy. 13/10 would pet
A terracotta sculpture of a the head and neck of a herding/shepherd type dog, seen from the front, with his head tilted and one ear up as of he has just been asked, “who’s a good boy then?!” and he’s thinking, “is it me?! could it be me?!!” The same sculpture as described in previous, but seen from the side. The dog is very good and I would like to pet him, 13/10 ancient fella
November 19, 2025 at 3:37 PM
theduncanmackay.bsky.social
Stunning little tile antefix of the XX legion, with its running boar emblem, found in Holt, Clwyd. These were a decorative feature that ran along the eaves of tiled roofs. Now in the BM.
(By the way, @pottedhistory.bsky.social does a fantastic reproduction of one of these.)
#FindsFriday
A triangular ceramic tile featuring a running boar and LEG XX for the 20th Legion.
March 14, 2025 at 11:27 AM
northumberart.bsky.social
With the antefix created here in Northumberland by @pottedhistory.bsky.social / @potsofhistory.bsky.social- as were all the replica pots in the villa and museum.
March 30, 2026 at 2:25 PM
chapps.bsky.social
I love those! It’s rare to see a depiction of Medusa from the classical era with a halo of snakes. In fact, the first one reminds me of this Etruscan terracotta antefix of Medusa from Veii. 🏺

In the National Etruscan Museum, Villa Giulia, Rome. 📸 me

flic.kr/p/2qBKdNh
Etruscan antefix depicting the head of Medusa
Etruscan polychrome terracotta antefix depicting the head of Medusa - one of the Gorgons - with a large floral nimbus, her head surrounded by snakes, and her tongue hanging out between two sets of fan...
flic.kr
May 15, 2026 at 2:08 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
A terracotta antefix with the head of Medusa, the snake-haired creature whose sight turns everyone to stone. Medusa’s head was a popular motif and used to ward off any evil.
Antifixes were used to conceal the ends of the tiles that ran along the edge of roofs. Ca. 480 BC

📷 me

🏺
A circular terracotta relief featuring a face with a wide grin and its tongue sticking out. The face is framed by wavy, snake-like hair.
March 4, 2025 at 7:29 AM
anthonymajanlahti.bsky.social
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 🏺
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.
March 26, 2025 at 11:25 PM