Etruscan Tufa Head of a Sphinx or Siren in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, February 2008

Tufa head of a sphinx or siren
Etruscan, probably Vulcian, ca. 550-525 BC

Accession # 24.97.10

This large head, made of volcanic stone, probably represents a sphinx or siren. Statues of both mythical creatures, usually depicted by the ancients with human female heads and winged animal or bird bodies, were often placed as guardians at the entrances to Etruscan tombs. The large winged lion on display in this gallery is a better preserved example of the same type of stone sculpture. The style of this female head, with its almond-shaped eyes, Archaic smile, and wig-like hair arrangement is strongly reminiscent of Greek, especially Ionian examples. A number of related sculptures, all associated with ancient tombs at Vulci, are in other collections. One of the closest parallels for the Museum's head is in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.