Man Playing the Pipes

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Culture Phrygian

Title Man Playing the Pipes

Date 8th–7th century BCE

Medium Bronze

Dimensions Weight: 0.32 lb. (0.1 kg)
Overall (from base): 4 × 1 7/8 × 1 7/8 in. (10.2 × 4.8 × 4.8 cm)

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

Accession Number 76.34.53

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About this Work

Phrygia was a state in north-central Anatolia (modern Turkey). It is believed to be the land of the legendary King Midas—famous for his "golden touch." Phrygian artists were known for their metalwork, and this small statuette is a fine example of their skill. This standing figure wears a type of pointed cap known as a Phrygian cap, and he plays a pipe that is made from a selection of differently sized reeds. The Greeks also used this type of musical instrument and called it a "pan-pipe" after Pan, their goat-footed god of pastures and woodlands. Given the widespread pastoral associations, it is possible that this figure represents a shepherd.

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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"Man Playing the Pipes | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=76.34.53