The Lions Of The Siren Analysis

Statues are powerful, three-dimensional forms of art that can represent a broad range of figures and legends. Statues are visually appealing and naturalistic, and are used as gifts, memorials and emblems. The 16th century statue of the Siren, now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a prime example of a mythological legend (fig. 1). The Colonna family of Rome once used the statue as an emblem. The image of the siren was found to be on furniture, ceiling decorations and on their tombs . The Siren illustrates the ways in which Roman artists appropriated Greek culture by creating depictions of mythological figures and incorporated them into everyday life.
Sirens in ancient times often referred to any beautiful woman whose intent was to cause harm usually to men. According to Greek mythology, sirens were beautiful women who were either half-bird or half-fish creatures that lured sailors to their wreckage by singing with mesmerizing voices. Sirens

The artist beautifully incorporates all these stories with one siren representation. The original artist is actually unknown. However there are pieces of art that bear striking similarities to this siren statue. The Lions of the Vatican is one such piece that also displays very striking details that can be seen from a distance and is also of a Roman Bronze nature. A man by the name of Lodovico Del Duca made the Bronze lions in 1586. The bronze siren piece is very similar and could have been a gift to the famed Colonna family who used it as an emblem. It was also used on the family’s tombs but it was mainly a decorative piece. The symbol is likely to have influenced other designers and artists who used it as an emblem and decoration for many other pieces. However, it is seen as a possession of the Colonna family. According to researchers from the Metropolitan Museum, Stefano Colonna was quoted saying, “She defies the tempests.” This