Head of Medusa

Baroque oil painting of the decapitated head of Medusa with the snakes of her hair, an amphisbaena and other creatures surrounding it from 1618 (68.5 x 118 cm)

Medusa’s head lays on the ground immediately after she is decapitated by Perseus, with the snakes of her hair all around her. All but two of the snakes are nonvenomous European grass snakes, possibly a stylistic choice that intends to depict Medusa herself as non-violent and undeserving of her fate. Rubens’ work also depicts an amphisbaena (two-head reptile) below Medusa’s head, corresponding to the myth that these creatures are born from her blood.