Journal - Comune di Monteleone di Spoleto

V.2 Central panel, back
pattern. each half of the shield carries one device: a gorgoneion
in the upper part and the face of a panther in the
lower. The Gorgon’s hair is parted in the middle, and three
locks are arranged behind the ears. These flow down the
sides of the head to where the woman’s and the warrior’s
hands hold the shield, hence the locks are not the same
length on the two sides. The very ends of the single locks are
caught in rings and terminate in a knot. The chin and cheeks
are framed by a beard with flamelike incisions. The eyelashes
and eyebrows are finished with tracing. Two groups of
three incised lines on the nose represent wrinkles; the eyes
and mouth were originally completed with ivory inlays that
were themselves inlaid with other materials. The panther in
the lower part of the shield is shown full face. it is very
stylized and its nose abuts the edge of the shield. The fur
on the forehead is parted into two clumps containing a serried
pattern of large, irregularly flattened oblong rings filled
with tiny punched dots bordered by double traced lines; two
V.3 Central panel. drawing by Paul Bollo, 1903
circular dotted protuberances indicate the warts; the very
pronounced double swellings under the eyes and the whiskers
on either side of the nose are created by a pattern of
long, petal-shaped forms in relief finished with tiny punched
dots. The eyelashes and eyebrows are finished with tracing.
The eyes were originally completed with ivory inlays that,
in turn, were inlaid with other materials to differentiate the
irises and the pupils. 1
The Corinthian helmet faces right and is surmounted
by a ram’s head supporting a crest. The lower edge and
cheekpieces show the same pattern as the one incised on
the borders of the warrior’s greaves. a palmette is traced in
the rear corner of the eye opening; there is a lotus flower
where the neck guard meets the cheekpiece. The anatomy
of the ram’s head is executed in detailed relief; its eyelashes
and eyebrow are finished with tracing, as is the nose area,
with its fine, dotted pattern. The fleece of the ram’s long
neck has imbricated, pendant curly locks executed in relief.
The Monteleone Chariot V: Catalogue 67