"Harpy" Tomb, c. 480 BC

The so-called “Harpy Tomb” was found in Xanthos, Lycia and dates to around 480 BC.

Ever since its discovery and the removal of its friezes to Britain (casts now take their place on the original monument), the interpretation of its decoration has been the subject of intense scholarly debate. The winged figures on the north and south sides from which the tomb takes its name may be Sirens, harpies, or neither: see C. Draycott, 'Bird-women in the Harpy Monument from Xanthos', Essays... Eleni Hatzivassiliou (2008), 145-53.

The influences acting upon these reliefs are clearly diverse, as is the case with much Lycian art. In addition to male figures closely resembling archaic kouroi on the west side, we might note a Corinthian helmet on the North side, and there are interesting parallels with Achaemenid "reception" scenes.  See further C. Draycott, 'Dynastic Definitions: differentiating status claims in the archaic pillar tomb reliefs of Lycia', in Anatolian Iron Ages 6 (2007), 103-134. 

Further images of the reliefs and their details can be found on the British Museum website along with an in-depth description of the four scenes.