gorgoneion
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A (representation of a) gorgon's head, especially that of Medusa.
noun
A theatrical mask depicting the face of a gorgon.
Example Sentences
- "The gorgoneion or "bodiless head of fright" antedates by many centuries the Gorgon with a woman's body."
- "Pausanias twice mentions a gilt-bronze aigis with the head of Medousa, or gorgoneion, at its center, placed high on the south wall of the Acropolis above the Theater of Dionysos [Figs. 4, 9]."
- "Greek drinking cups with low bowls, kylices, were used in sixth century BCE Athens with representations of the gorgoneion on the inside of the bowls and on their outsides, depictions of pairs of huge eyes—to safeguard the drinkers from the Evil Eye (see above, Illus. 6, p. 137)."
- "Even where, as on a kratēr of the Tarporley Painter, the reflection is centred and placed where we expect the gorgoneion, it appears upside-down and is thereby markedly different from the gorgoneion."
- "2000, Extract from [1840, Lewis, Donaldson (translators)], K. O. Müller, Introduction to A Scientific Study of Mythology, Burton Feldman, Robert D. Richardson (editors), The Rise of Modern Mythology, 1680-1860, Indiana University Press, page 419, On returning home, he turns Polydectes and his people to stone, and then gives the Gorgoneion to his protectress Athena, who fixes it upon her shield."
Etymology
From Ancient Greek γοργόνειον (gorgóneion), neuter of γοργόνειος (gorgóneios, “pertaining to a Gorgon”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: γοργόνειον
Inflected Forms
Synonyms
S/(93) 2 Gorgoneion