Archaic II
Limestone bust of a flute-player
Representations of flute players are found in both sanctuaries and tombs in Cyprus. They would play music eternally for the divinity or the deceased. The strap around the head of the player, a phorbeia, held the flute in place and prevented the cheeks from swelling, thus helping to control the breath. Egyptian influence is evident in the smooth wig. The piece may have formed a pair with 74.51.2509. WebPub GR 2012 Cesnola: 15 3/4 × 13 3/4 × 8 3/4 in., 32 lb. (40 × 34.9 × 22.2 cm)
Date
575 - 550 BC
Accession No.
74.51.2517
Collection
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Provenance
- Golgoi-Ayios Photios, “West of the temple”
References
- Cesnola, Luigi Palma di. 1885. A Descriptive Atlas of the Cesnola Collection of Cypriote Antiquities in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Vol. 1. pl. XIII.15, Boston: James R. Osgood and Company.Myres, John L. 1914. Handbook of the Cesnola Collection of Antiquities from Cyprus. no. 1264, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Bélis, Annie. 1986. "La Phorbéia." Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique, 110(1): pp. 205, 207, fig. 4.Karageorghis, Vassos, Joan Mertens, and Marice E. Rose. 2000. Ancient Art from Cyprus: The Cesnola Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. no. 199, p. 133, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Karageorghis, Vassos. 2006. Aspects of Everyday Life in Cyprus: Iconographic Representations. no. 126, p. 148, Nicosia: Foundation Anastasios G. Leventis.Hermary, Antoine and Joan R. Mertens. 2013. The Cesnola Collection of Cypriot Art : Stone Sculpture. no. 224, p. 182, Online Publication, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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