ROME – The sculptural group “Orpheus and the Mermaids”, which was stolen in 1970s, returned to Italy from the United States of America, as a result of complex investigation. A ceremonial unveiling of the sculptures and a press conference took place on Sept. 17 at the Museum of Salvated Art, inside the Roman National Museum.

 “Orpheus and the Mermaids” was stolen in 1970s from an archaeological site in Taranto and then purchased by The Paul Getty Museum in Malibu in Los Angeles. As a result of the complex investigation conducted in Italy and abroad by Carabinieri of the Archeology Section of the Operational Department of the Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor of Taranto, in collaboration with the District Attorney's Office in Manhattan and Homeland Security Investigations, the sculptures were brought to homeland.

 “Another important return of an extraordinary masterpiece of art that had been illegally stolen from the patrimony of the Italian state. As we have now defined, after the passage to the Museum of Salvated Art, the sculptural group will return to the territory from which it was stolen, in Taranto, and will therefore enter the heritage of the National Archaeological Museum of the city,” said during the press conference the Minister of Culture, Dario Franceschini.

 The almost life-size terracotta group is dated back to the end of 4^th century BC. The ancient sculptures depicts a mythical singer, Orpheus, whose voice could tame even Cerberus, the wild, three-headed dog of the underworld, and two Sirens, terrifying mythological creatures with such a charming voice that it maddened the mariners passing by. According to the myth, Orpheus defeated the Mermaids during the journey of the Argonauts, by covering the seductive voice of the sirens with his singing, which allowed the sailors to continue their journey.

 Orpheus's victory over the Mermaids symbolically represents the triumph of musical harmony, a concept of Pythagorean philosophical and political thought, particularly widespread in the cities of Magna Graecia. The sculptures were created in this Western Greek environment, more precisely in an atelier in Taranto, where it was  discovered.

 “The sculptural group represents an ancient myth and may have decorated the tomb of an Orphic mystery adept who, by living a pure life, provided his soul with an afterlife. The mermaids, who look at Orpheus, are not as we imagine them today, that is, women with fish bodies. They are represented as hybrid figures of woman and bird, according to the most ancient iconography,” explained General Director of Museums, Massimo Osanna.

 “Orpheus and the Mermaids” will become a part of the permanent collection of the Archeological Museum of Taranto.

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