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Peter Reynaers

A beautiful Ancient Roman silver gilt appliqué depicting the hero Orpheus. He is shown side-on, seated with his arms raised playing a lyre. His head turns backwards, as though looking behind him. 

Orpheus was a hero, famed for his musical skill. The most famous story of the poet is the account of his descent into the underworld to retrieve his wife Eurydice. While walking among her people, the Cicones, in tall grass at her wedding, Eurydice was set upon by a satyr. In her efforts to escape, Eurydice suffers a fatal snake bite on her heel. Her body was discovered by Orpheus who, overcome with grief, played such sad and mournful songs that all the nymphs and gods wept. On their advice, Orpheus traveled to the underworld. His music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone, who agreed to allow Eurydice to return with him to earth on one condition: he should walk in front of her and not look back until they both had reached the upper world. He set off with Eurydice following, and, in his anxiety, as soon as he reached the upper world, he turned to look at her, forgetting that both needed to be in the upper world, and she vanished again, but now forever. 

Measurements: 2.2cm width, 2.6cm height.

Provenance: Ex London collection, pre 1990. 

1st - 4th century AD

Ancient Roman Silver Gilt Applique of Orpheus

Archaeology

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Ancient Roman Silver Gilt Applique of Orpheus

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