Figurine With Wings and Lyre (300 – 100 BCE)

The terracotta Figurine with wings and lyre, dating back to the 3rd-1st Century BC, originates from Greece, specifically Myrina, during the Hellenistic period. This particular figurine, standing at 16.9 cm or 6 5/8 inches with her arm raised, sheds light on the artistic and religious practices of the time.

Myrina was an ancient Greek city situated on the western coast of the island of Lemnos in the Aegean Sea, near the coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Named after the legendary Amazon queen Myrina, the city held cultural and historical significance, being mentioned by ancient writers like Herodotus as one of Lemnos’ principal cities.

Terracotta figurines were ubiquitous objects in ancient Greek society, serving various purposes from household decorations to religious offerings. The Tanagra figurines, emerging in the last quarter of the fourth century B.C., marked a shift in the production of terracotta art, characterized by their naturalistic features and depiction of everyday life.

Its production involved a meticulous process of molding, with separate molds used for different parts of the body to achieve various poses and gestures. After firing in a kiln, the figurine was adorned with a white slip and painted with naturalistic colors such as red, orange, pink, and purple.

This terracotta figurine currently resides in The Cleveland Museum of Art, gifted by Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade. Its journey from ancient Greece to its current location underscores its significance as a cultural artifact and testament to ancient artistic practices.