Statue of a siren (NAMA 774)
The statue of a siren with inventory number 774 in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens comes from the city's ancient cemetery and is a comparatively large specimen of its kind.
The statue of the siren , a hybrid of man and bird, was found in 1863 near the Dipylon Gate on the necropolis of the ancient city of Athens, the Kerameikos . With a height of 83 centimeters, the statue made of pentelic marble is one of the larger pieces in this genre. Based on stylistic comparisons, it is dated to around 370 BC. Dated. The statue was found on the side of the grave stele of Dexileos . Sirens should function as symbolic helpers with their music in the death lament.
The statue is almost completely preserved, including the plinth . The right hand, parts of the fingers of the left hand and half of the left wing are missing, parts of the legs have been modernized. The hair is arranged in wavy strands. They are held together in a knot at the back of the head, and long, wavy braids hang up to the level of the breasts on the left and right . Under her left arm she holds a lyre made from a turtle shell . It can be assumed that the siren was holding an opening pick in the other hand . It is likely that bronze lyre pages were added to the holes in the turtle's body. Metal jewelry can also be suspected in the ear holes. Other details were probably painted on.
literature
- Nikolaos Kaltsas : Sculpture in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens , The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles 2002, ISBN 0-89236-686-9 , p. 181.
