Siren Playing Harp (Cithara)

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Culture Greek

Title Siren Playing Harp (Cithara)

Date 325–275 BCE

Medium Gold

Dimensions Overall: 1 7/16 in. (3.7 cm)
Weight: 0.02 lb.

Credit Line Burton Y. Berry Collection, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University

Accession Number 71.50.1

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About this Work

This exquisite sculpture is so visually powerful that it is difficult to imagine that it was created simply as an earring or necklace pendant. It is an example of the remarkable skill developed by ancient goldsmiths. The siren, part bird and part woman, was a fabulous creature endowed with lethal powers. In the story of Odysseus, sirens entice sailors to jump to their death in the sea with their irresistible song. In Hellenistic art, a number of centuries after Homer, the role of sirens became more positive and they represented the charm of music.

Provenance
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Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Siren Playing Harp (Cithara) | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=71.50.1