Singer for the Gods
Limestone votive figurine of a veiled girl playing a lyre. Cyprus, circa 600-475 BCE. 8-324.
Limestone figurines, such as this one of a veiled girl playing a lyre, are found in Greek sanctuaries and tombs. This one comes from Cyprus. Sculptures of lyre players aimed to please the divinities with the sweet sound of music. Depictions of the lyre appear in the sung poetry of Sappho, who lived in the same period on another Mediterranean island. The poet saw her instrument as “holy,” “divine,” and “sweet-toned.” She used it to sing of lovely young women, whose presence she summoned with her sweet-toned lyre.
-Nicole Manssourian
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