Antefix with a Female Head

One of a pair of disk earrings, the disk is formed of a circular gold sheet, the outer surface of which has a central This mold-made antefix takes the form of a frontal female head, with a fringe of hair falling in vertical finger-waves across her forehead. She wears a tall diadem and large disk earrings outlined in red pigment to form six-petal rosettes. In addition to her earrings, red pigment is preserved on the hair and lips, which are raised at the corners in a slight smile. The eyes and brows are outlined in black, and the skin is painted white. Part of the cover tile projects from the back of the antefix. The neck and long tresses below the ears are missing.

To shield wooden roof beams from the elements, tiles known as antefixes capped the ends, forming a line along the eaves. The tiles were often decorated with female heads representing nymphs (spirits of the natural world) or priestesses. From the same mold series as this antefix come a number of similar tiles from localities around Cerveteri, including the Temple of Hera at Vigna Parocchiale and the sanctuary at San Antonio.