The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 19, 2024
Siren
600–480 BCE
Overall: 12.7 x 18.1 x 6.7 cm (5 x 7 1/8 x 2 5/8 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1928.193
Location: 102C Greek
Description
In Greek mythology, a siren is a half-bird, half-woman creature who lured sailors to destruction by the sweetness of her song. The most famous sirens appear in the ancient Greek epic the Odyssey. The goddess of magic, Circe, warns the hero Odysseus to be wary of sirens “who beguile all mortals, any who comes their way,” and lure them to their deaths. This vessel in the shape of a siren likely held valuable perfumed oil. Its small mouth limited spillage, and a string attached to the loop on its back allowed it to hang or to hold a stopper. In the Middle Ages, sirens served as a moral warning—those who allow themselves to indulge in worldly pleasures are vulnerable to evil consequences.- Medieval Monsters: Terrors, Aliens, Wonders. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (July 7-October 6, 2019).Images of the Mind. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 7-August 30, 1987).Traditions and Revisions: Themes from the History of Sculpture. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 24-November 16, 1975).
- {{cite web|title=Siren|url=false|author=|year=600–480 BCE|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1928.193