Judging by its iconographic features, this figure is a depiction of a Siren. A woman's head and torso are combined with the wings of a bird. From below the knees the legs and talons of a bird appear. Beneath the feet is a small rock or ground motif; in ancient art Sirens are most often associated with rocky shores. The figure's calm, near-frontal stance resembles the Siren depictions found on grave stelae and ceramics of the Late Classical and Hellenistic periods.
Who is the Siren? In ancient Greek mythology Sirens are mythological beings with the head of a woman and the body of a bird. With their enchanting song they draw sailors to themselves. Their most famous appearance is in the Odyssey, where Odysseus has himself bound to the mast of his ship in order to listen to the Sirens' song. In ancient Greek art they were not only "seductive" beings, but were also used as symbols associated with death, the journey of the soul and the other world. For this reason they are frequently seen on funerary monuments as well.
Style: Executed on terra sigillata, this work conveys the ancient iconography with grace. The white dotted ornaments on the wings, the fine folds of the drapery, the vegetal, rumi-like decoration on the outer border and the spiral frieze together lend the composition both an ancient and a decorative character.
This piece was reproduced using the terra sigillata technique, remaining faithful to the original ancient example.