Mosaics depicting the Gorgon Medusa found in a 2nd-century Roman villa

While excavating the villa of the ancient Roman emperors in Italy, archaeologists discovered something unexpected: two

mosaics depicting the Greek mythological Gorgon Medusa, whose hair was made of snakes and whose gaze turned people into stone.

According to legend, Medusa was not born a monster,but a girl whose beauty was difficult to compete with. Poseidon fell in love with a beautiful gorgon and forcibly took possession of her right in the temple of Athena. For some reason, the gods were angry with Medusa, and not Poseidon, for desecrating the temple and ordered Athena to punish her. She turned the gorgon's hair into snakes and made her face so terrible that just one glance turned the beholder into stone.

Researchers discovered a mosaic in a roundroom in the Villa of the Antonines, so named because it was used by members of the Antonine dynasty, who ruled the Roman Empire from 138 to 193 AD.

Antonina (lat.Antonini, in honor of the agnomen Antoninus Pius) is the third Roman imperial dynasty from the beginning of the principate, ruling from 96 to 192. The first representative was Mark Coccei Nerva; all other representatives, with the exception of him, came from the provincial nobility.

The mosaics likely date back to the second century AD, scientists said during a presentation at the annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America in New Orleans.

Researchers have discovered a mosaic of Medusain two niches carved into the round room in the villa—one in the northwestern part of the room, and the other in the southeastern part. There were also two more niches in the room, but no mosaic remains were found in them.

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