The Harpy Tomb is a marble chamber from a pillar tomb that stands in the abandoned city of Xanthos, capital of ancient Lycia, a region of southwestern Anatolia in what is now Turkey. Built in the Persian Achaemenid Empire,[1] and dating to approximately 480–470 BC, the chamber topped a tall pillar and was decorated with marble panels carved in bas-relief. The tomb was built for an Iranian prince or governor of Xanthus,[2] perhaps Kybernis.
The marble chamber is carved in the Greek Archaic style. Along with much other material in Xanthos it is heavily influenced by Greek art, but there are also indications of non-Greek influence in the carvings. The reliefs are reminiscent of reliefs at Persepolis.[2][1] The monument takes its name from the four carved female winged figures, resembling Harpies. The identities of the carved figures and the meaning of the scenes depicted are uncertain, but it is generally now agreed that the winged creatures are not Harpies. The Lycians absorbed much of Greek mythology into their own culture and the scenes may represent Greek deities, but it is also possible they are unknown Lycian deities. An alternative interpretation is that they represent scenes of judgement in the afterlife and scenes of supplication to Lycian rulers.
The carvings were removed from the tomb in the 19th century by archaeologist Charles Fellows and taken to England. Fellows visited Lycia in 1838 and reported finding the remains of a culture that until then was virtually unknown to Europeans. After obtaining permission from the Turkish authorities to remove stone artefacts from the region, Fellows collected a large amount of material from Xanthos under commission from the British Museum in London, where the reliefs are now on display. According to Melanie Michailidis, though bearing a "Greek appearance", the Harpy Tomb, the Nereid Monument and the Tomb of Payava were built according main Zoroastrian criteria "by being composed of thick stone, raised on plinths off the ground, and having single windowless chambers".[3]
356806°N 29.317972°E / 36.356806; 29.317972 The HarpyTomb is a marble chamber from a pillar tomb that stands in the abandoned city of Xanthos, capital...
Melanie Michailidis, though bearing a "Greek appearance", the Tomb of Payava, the HarpyTomb and the Nereid Monument were built according to the main Zoroastrian...
Lycian inaugurated as the first local ruler under the Achaemenids. The HarpyTomb, which is located on the Acropolis, was likely made in c. 480–470 BCE...
Nereid Monument, the Tomb of Payava, and the original sculptures of the HarpyTomb are exhibited in the British Museum. The HarpyTomb itself is located...
though bearing a "Greek appearance", the Nereid Monument, the HarpyTomb and the Tomb of Payava were built in accordance with main Zoroastrian criteria...
Lycian fleet in the Battle of Salamis, but he may be commemorated by the HarpyTomb. According to this theory, Cybernis was the KUB of the first coin legends...
domination of the Achaemenid Empire. He is best known through his tomb, the HarpyTomb, the decorative remains of which are now in the British Museum. According...
incorporated pillars into tomb structures. Examples of such edifices are found in Lycia in Anatolia (e.g., the HarpyTomb at Xanthos), and the medieval...
or pillar was originally topped by a tomb, most certainly belonging to Kheriga, in a way similar to the HarpyTomb. The top most likely fell down during...
a tomb was unheard of in mainland Greece. According to Melanie Michailidis, though bearing a "Greek appearance", the Nereid Monument, the HarpyTomb and...
Lion Tomb, (550–500 BC) HarpyTomb, (480–470 BC) Nereid Monument, partial reconstruction of a large and elaborate Lykian tomb, (390–380 BC) Tomb of Merehi...
may be seen today in the British Museum. They include reliefs from the HarpyTomb and the Nereid Monument, amongst many others. In 1841, he published An...
mausolea are distinct via their tower designs, a notable example being the HarpyTomb, built circa 480–470 BC. Approaching the Late Republic, the new diversity...
as the eyes, lips, and nose, to similar facial features found in the HarpyTomb (480–470 BCE) relief from Xanthos in Lycia. American curator Edward Robinson...
Susa Tomb of Cyrus Persian column Naqsh-e Rostam Ka'ba-ye Zartosht Mausoleum at Halicarnassus Tombs at Xanthos HarpyTomb Nereid Monument Tomb of Payava...
Frank go to Ella the harpy and Tyson the cyclops, who are recreating the Sibylline Books. They get a prophecy regarding Tarquin's tomb. They go to the camp...
The harbour of Antiphellus, with the Island of Castelorizo - BM - The HarpyTomb, Xanthus - BM - The Islands of Calymnus and Leros - BM - The Lycian coast...
and sink their ships. In Virgil's "Aeneid", the name "Harpy" appears. According to legend, a harpy is a bird with a woman's face, flying faster than the...
Michelangelo created the tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino, which is located in the Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy. The tomb is a sculptural...
kids, goblin guards) River ("toitles," "Wheel O' Luck," dark knights) Harpy (harpy, demon guards) Throne room (Beezelbub) Retrospective reviews of Pinball...
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