In Homer’s Iliad, whose shield bears a terrifying Gorgon’s head?

In Homer’s Iliad, Agamemnon’s shield bears a terrifying Gorgon’s head.

The description appears during the catalogue of Agamemnon’s armor in Book 11. The Gorgon image is presented as a frightening emblem, emphasizing the king’s formidable appearance as he prepares for battle.

This passage is an early literary example of the Gorgon functioning as a protective or terrifying device on armor. It does not describe Perseus killing Medusa; the Iliad’s reference belongs to the wider symbolic tradition surrounding the Gorgon head.

A common mix-up is attributing the shield to Perseus, since Medusa’s head is closely associated with his equipment and later with Athena’s aegis. Homer instead places the Gorgon image on Agamemnon’s shield.