Ulysses resists the songs of the Sirens
Fresco of the Third style from Pompeii.50—75 CE.
48 × 48 × 2 cm. Inv. No. 1867,0508.1354.London, British Museum
Ulysses resists the songs of the Sirens.
Fresco of the Third style from Pompeii.
50—75 CE.
48 × 48 × 2 cm.
50—75 CE.
48 × 48 × 2 cm.
Inv. No. 1867,0508.1354.
London, British Museum.
Origin:
From Pompeii. Acquired in 1867 as part of the collection of Duke Louis de Blacas d’Aulps (1815—1866).
Description:
Panel from a painted wall: Ulysses resists the songs of the Sirens. Ulysses is tied to the mast of his ship. The Sirens perch on high rocks, with the bones of earlier victims around them. The painting shows one siren playing the twin pipes, another the lyre, and the third presumably singing. This painting is a companion to 1867.5-8.1355.
Condition: Some damage, in the form of graffiti along the bottom of the surround, had already been inflicted on this panel by the time it was removed from the wall.
This panel formed part of a wall of a villa at Pompeii, which was painted in the so-called third style, where central panels showing landscapes, still life such as fruit and fish, or mythological scenes, were framed by elongated frames of columns, candelabra and floral motifs. Evidently cut from the wall some time in the nineteenth century, this panel has lost its original archaeological context.
Literature:
Hinks R. P., Catalogue of the Greek, Etruscan & Roman Paintings & Mosaics in the British Museum: Paintings, London, The British Museum Press, 1933, 27.
Credits:
(cc) 2019. Photo, text: The British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
Keywords: ζωγραφικήί pictura ars picturae painting pittura malerei peinture φρεσκογραφία τοιχογραφία νωπογραφία wall fresco frescos frescoes opera parietale murale opere parietali murali affresco affreschi freskomalerei frischmalerei wandmalerei fresko fresken fresque fresques pintura mural ρωμαϊκές roman romana romano romani römisch römische römisches römischen römischer romain romaine romains romaines iii third style terzo stile pompeiano dritten stil troisième πομπηία pompeii pompeian pompei pompeji pompeianischen pompejanischen pompéi pompéien ελληνική μυθολογία mythologia graeca greek mythology mitologia greca griechische mythologie grecque ὀδυσσεύς ὀδυσεύς οδυσσέας odysseus odisseo σειρήν σειρῆνες σειρήνα σειρήνες sirena siren sirens sirene sirenen sirène sirènes ρωμαϊκή ulysses ulixes ulisse ulysse musical instrument strumento musicale musikinstrument de musique μουσικό όργανο tibia tibiae double flute aulos aulòs αὐλός αυλός lyra lyre lira λύρα cantus singing canto singen gesang chantant τραγουδώντας navis warship galley galleys nave da guerra galea galera kriegsschiff galeere navire guerre galère πολεμικό πλοίο γαλέρα oarsman oarsmen oarsmans vogatore vogatori ruderer rameur κωπηλάτης prora prow bow skeleton scheletro skelett squelette tied legato angebundener attaché graffiti graffito γκράφιτι resists the songs of from collection duke louis blacas d’aulps inv no 1867 0508 1354
