Ancient Marble Harp Figurines: The Search for a Stratified Context

Ten Cycladic marble figurines of a seated harp player, from 2700-2300 B.C., are examined from the viewpoints of archaeology, religion, musicology, and art history, in order to increase our knowledge of their use and function. The convergence of views and interpretations of such interdisciplinary app...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Music in art 1998-04, Vol.23 (1/2), p.11-18
Main Author: van Schaik, Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Art museums
Arts
Figurines
Harps
Music
Musical instruments
Musicians
National archaeology
Organology
Toy marbles
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Summary:Ten Cycladic marble figurines of a seated harp player, from 2700-2300 B.C., are examined from the viewpoints of archaeology, religion, musicology, and art history, in order to increase our knowledge of their use and function. The convergence of views and interpretations of such interdisciplinary approach provides an information on the authenticity of the harp statuettes and the role they played in the religious thinking of Aegean society during the third millennium B.C. Since the harp models may be regarded as miniature copies of existing musical instruments, they tell us about the type of instruments used and their organological characteristics, performance practice, and the state of instrument building.
ISSN:1522-7464
2169-9488