Achaemenid empire - objects

Cyrus cylinder

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Harpy tomb (N side)

• 480BC, pillar tomb in Xanthos, 8.87m tall

  • Might be the tomb of Kybernis (aided at Salamis)

  • Slabs of marble = more expensive

• On the corners, find ‘Harpies’ from which the tomb is provided its name

  • Some believe they are the Egyptian ba birds that symbolise the soul (since this is a tomb)

  • And might carry small figures that represent the souls of the dead

• BUT these same separated from the central relief panels, where we find on all four sides seated figures receiving gifts from standing figures

• And many see Greek stylistic but also iconographic influence in these scenes

  • Thus here we find a Greek style warrior (like the ___) holding a hoplite shield and Corinthian helmet

  • Yet the beard we find seems out of place - may be Persian? Like on the audience relief

  • Yet is this an audience scene? Interesting that they are both holding the ‘gift’ if so, as this creates impression of balance and equality between the two

Harpy tomb (_ side)

• Some believe this to be a cultic scene, in which chthonic deities are provided offerings as part of funerary cult

• Yet deities rarely appear on funerary monuments

  • Cockerels are not only votive offering, but also one of love (eg. Mnasitheos stele !)

  • And the elder man here (with his beard, lion-footed throne and entourage) seems more closely associated with a king = like an audience scene !

  • Quite similar stylisation to the bearded figure on the Siren Gable of Building G on Xanthian acropolis

• Genre images! Not intended to replicate appearance of the family

Harpy tomb (_ side)

• Similar scene here but with only women, and most likely do not see any women on the other three sides

  • Does this suggest social isolation of the sexes?

• Woman to the left seated and pouring a libation from a phiale

  • While to the right is another seated woman approached by three identical girls

  • Appear very similar to archaic Greek korai eg. the red shoes kore from the Acropolis

  • Also do not appear to be providing offerings (although hold egg, pomegranate and flower) as the first girl holds nothing and covers her face with her himation = nubile daughter?

• Does this scene complete the articulation of the ‘noble house’?

  • Shift here from previous design but not WHEN the Achaemenid empire takes over, but after destructive fire on the Xanthian acropolis 480-70BC

Nereid tomb

• Built ____ in Xanthus, after Erbinna had reconquered Xanthus, Telmessus and Pinara (after it had been annexed by the leading figure of Limyra, Pericles)

  • The building concerned his own legitimacy in position of power (local concerns!)

  • 6.8 × 10.17m rectangular podium of limestone blocks, headed by marble and friezes on a small peripteral Ionic temple (‘purely Greek in concept’ …)

  • Four columns on shorter E and W facades and six along N and S sides

  • And for the first time, find free standing statues between the columns (as well the four cornered and thus diagonal capitals)

  • And use of rosettes on the anta capitals = very common in rock-cut tombs of Asia Minor

Karaburun tumulus

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