Mysia, Kyzikos, Electrum Hekte, Harpy Type

Mysia, Kyzikos (c. 550-450 B.C.), Electrum Hekte. Harpy, with a human head and the body of a bird, standing left on a dotted ground line, holding a tunny by its tail in her right hand, her left hand extended to support it, rev. quadripartite incuse square, 2.64g (Von Fritze I, 74; Greenwell 97; SNG von Aulock 7278-9; Rosen 452). A superb representation of a mythological Harpy, in fine archaic style, well-centred and struck, toned, extremely fine.

Harpies were terrifying mythological creatures of half-human and half-bird form. They are generally not represented as being particularly attractive, often described as birds with the heads of maidens, and usually having arms that end in long claws on their hands. Harpies seem to have had their origins as a personification of gusting storm winds and were believed to come upon their victims swiftly, sometimes taking food or even carrying wrongdoers away to receive their punishment in Tartarus. They were creatures to be feared, and the unexplained disappearance of individuals on Earth was often attributed to the Harpies.

A well-known mythological tale to feature the Harpies is that of King Phineos of Thrace, whom Zeus blinded and left on an island with food that would be stolen by the Harpies before he could eat it. Upon the arrival of Jason and the Argonauts, King Phineos asked for their assistance in ridding himself of the winged creatures. The Boreads were set against the Harpies and managed to chase them away and promise not to bother Phineos again.

Provenance:

Ex Roma V, 23 March 2013, lot 362
Ex Gemini XII, 11 January 2015, lot 134