Preserved Head of Medusa

One of mythology's most well-known artifacts.

Appearance
A blindfolded woman's head that has been perfectly preserved. It's hair is made of poisonous snakes that writhe around when the head is active.

Creation
While the myth may have fudged a few details, the end result is the same. The artifact was in the posession of a young Greek woman who's name happened to be Medusa. She used it to kill anyone who trespassed on her island. The famed hero Perseus eventually decapitated her, taking the artifact back home with him. Presenting it to the statue of Athena in the Greek Parthenon, the head was instantaneously preserved.

Collection
Unknown. Presumably still in Athens.

Abilities
The head still posesses its famed ability to turn any poor soul who gazes at its face into stone. However, the ability is not permanent, and can be reversed within a certain time frame. If the artifact is 'presented' to the statue of Athena within a month and a half from the moment the blindfold was removed, all petrified victims will be restored. The Parthenon in Tenessee will work fine, since the original one is missing.