Medusa Materials: shell, jet Size of the cameo: 2 1/4 x 1 7/8 Size of the brooch: 3 x 2 5/8 Date: 1880. Condition: mint. It is not only one of the most beautiful cameos I have ever seen, but also an unbelievable piece of Victorian jewellery and extremely rare in this combination of two top-notch masterpieces: - a highly detailed, crisp Medusa's head carved by a true artist - set in a beautiful frame which is sculpted out of one! piece of jet This is an incredible work of art and a highly desirable collector's piece. The Myth of Medusa: Medusa was the daughter of Phorkys and Keto. Together with her two immortal sisters Stheno and Euryale they were called the three Gorgons. Medusa was the only mortal of the three Gorgons. Medusa originally had gorgeous looks and very beautiful hair. Unfortunately Poseidon desired her and raped her in Athena's temple. That enraged Athena so much that she turned Medusa into an ugly monster and her hair into hissing snakes. Enraged by Poseidon's abuse and Athena's unjust punishment from now on she used her powerful petrifying gaze to turn her male enemies to stone. Perseus - with the help of Athena, Hermes and other Gods - later killed her. By using a shield as a mirror he avoids looking at her and Perseus decapitates Medusa with his sword. In death Medusa gives life to Pegasus, the winged horse and Chrysaor, the golden bladed giant who is born from her bleeding neck. Both were conceived when Poseidon raped her. Medusa's powerful magical blood was drained from her body and given to Asclepios, who became a great healer. Used from her right vein it heals and nourishes life and can even raise the dead, from her left it kills. Perseus delivered Medusa's head to Athena. It was wrought onto the center of Athena's aegis.