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Dick Osseman | profile | all galleries >> Istanbul >> Museums - Müzeler >> Istanbul archaeology museum >> 2nd Century AD >> Marsyas from Tarsos tree view | thumbnails | slideshow | map

Tyche with child | Aphrodisias pier | Consoles from Aphrodisias | Apollo 2nd C CE from Milete | DIonysos from Synnada | Artemis from Mytilene | Erotes in cockfight | Marsyas from Tarsos | Gigantomachy | Silahtarağa statuary group | Sappho or Aphrodite colossal head | Cos mosaic | Man with comedy mask | Mosaic from Birecik

Marsyas from Tarsos

The Statue of Marsyas, was found in Tarsus, a historical city in south-central Turkey. He is depicted as hung from a tree and his muscles stretched due to torture draw attention. So to say, he has a physically silent but angry expression. The original version of this special statue should have been placed to the center of a group of statues including the statue of Apollo sitting on his left side and a slave sharpening his knife in order to skin him on his right side. Marsyas, the main character of an Anatolian story, is depicted while bearing the consequences of his rivalry with Apollo, the god of music. According to the story, Marsyas claims that he plays his flute better than Apollo plays his lyre. Neither of them wins in a musical contest, but Apollo asks Marsyas to turn his instrument upside down and to add his own voice. However, Marsyas cannot meet this challenge and Apollo wins the contest. Angry because of being challenged by a mortal, Apollo skins Marsyas alive and hangs his skin to a pine tree. However, he feels sorry later, breaks his lyre and turns Marsyas into a river.

The current notice in the museum has "Roman Period". Most sources put it in the period it wopuld be a copy of, but a site about Tarsus has it, as well as the Erotes cockfight, dating from the 2nd century CE. That would fit the "Roman Period" date, so I suppose it is from then.
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 4270.jpg
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 4270.jpg
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 3642.jpg
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 3642.jpg
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 3641.jpg
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 3641.jpg
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 3641.jpg
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 3641.jpg
Istanbul Arch Museum 1515.jpg
Istanbul Arch Museum 1515.jpg
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 4270.jpg
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 4270.jpg
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 3642.jpg
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Marsyas Roman Period copy of 3rd-2nd C BCE original Tarsos 3642.jpg