Gorgon’s Head Roman Baths Bath
Another highlight of the Roman Baths in Bath, along with the gilt bronze head of Sulis Minerva, is a stone Gorgon’s head found during the building of the Pump Room in 1790.
History
The stone is part of the main pediment at the temple of Sulis Minerva, which was situated at the spring in Bath, and is thought to have been made in Gaul, due to the quality of the stone work.
The stone is part of the main pediment at the temple of Sulis Minerva
Gorgon is a female creature from Greek myth that was killed by Perseus with the help of the goddess Athena, Romanized later as Minerva, who is the central deity of the Roman temple at Bath.
The creature depicted in the sculpture is definitely male, with a beard, which has sparked debate that the image could be the water god Oceanus, or a Celtic sun god, rather than a Gorgon.
The image could be the water god Oceanus, or a Celtic sun god
The pediment as a whole is full of symbolism including images of the half men and half fish Tritons, servants of the god Neptune, a dolphin’s head, a small owl and female Victories. Specialists are still debating the full meaning of the various iconography of the pediment.
Access – Getting There
The Roman Baths (www.romanbaths.co.uk)
Abbey Church Yard
Bath
BA1 1LZ
Tel: +44 (0)1225 477785
Opening Hours
January – February
9.30 am-4.30 pm exit 5.30 pm
March – June
9 am-5 pm exit 6 pm
July – August
9 am-9 pm exit 10 pm
September – October
9 am-5 pm exit 6pm
November – December
9.30 am-4.30 pm exit 5.30 pm
Accommodation in Bath
Bath offers a range of accommodation to suit all budgets. Some recommended places to stay in Bath include the three star Holiday Inn Express Bath, the four star Hilton Bath City Hotel, and the superb, luxury five star The Gainsborough Bath Spa.
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