BA2 - Harpy Research

"Harpies were creatures employed by the higher gods to carry out the punishment of crime"

The 'harpy' is a creature from Greek Mythology who has the upper bodied form of a female human, with the lower bodied appearance of a bird. Harpies vary in look from contemporary and more traditional designs. Ancient greek artwork depicts them as being rather 'ugly' and more bird-like than a female human, whereas modern interpretations focus on the human anatomy with arms stretched out with wings attached.

Harpies themselves are known in folklore and mythology for stealing food from victims, as well as punishing those who do wrong and carrying them to the Chthonic Greek deities of Vengeance, the Erinyes (or Furies). Hence why the name 'harpy', means "snatchers" in ancient greek.

Harpies have also been known to originally be wind spirits, which isn't surprising as "a harpy was the mother of the two horses of Achilles sired by the West Wind Zephyros".

Although it is known for Harpies to look relatively "ugly" in traditional artwork, which is mostly true; very ancient pottery art depicted them as beautiful. It was only until Roman and Byzantine writers transcripted and shared 'The Eumenides' (a play written by Aeschylus around 523 BC - 456 BC), that they were considered as monsters. The most famous story involving harpies began with King Phineus of Thrace, who shared information with mortals about a prophecy given to him by Zeus. This angered Zeus greatly, so he punished Phineus by stranding him on an island full of Harpies. There was buffet of food placed out which the harpies would steal from his hands before he was about to eat anything. Phineus was eventually saved by Jason and the Argonauts, whereas the harpies were driven off by "The Boreads, sons of Boreas, the North Wind".

Different Harpies:

• Aello (Greek: Ἀελλώ)

She abducted people and tortured them while on their way to Tartarus (an abyss below Hades which is located in the Underworld, a prison who whose who will suffer for an eternity). Also known as Podarge (Greek: Ποδάργη / English Translation: "Fleet-Foot")

• Ocypete (English Translation: "Swift Wing")

One of the Harpies who was chased away from the island which Phineus was stranded. She begged for mercy from the gods when escaping the Boreads after becoming exhausted and landing on an island in the middle of the ocean. She is also known as Ocypode (English Translation: "Swift Foot").

• Celaeno (Greek: Κελαινώ / English Translation: "The Dark One")

A Harpy who was encountered by Aeneas (a Trojan hero, son of Prince Anchises and the goddess Venus) at Strophades (a group of two small Greek Islands which was inhibited by harpies). Celaeno "gave him prophecies of his coming journeys". In literature, she also is featured in the classic fantasy novel "The Last Unicorn", written by Peter S. Beagle, as well as in the 1982 film of the same name.

Learning Objectives:

LO5:

Your work demonstrates comprehensive understanding of the major historical and cultural influences on your subject and offers an insight into their influences on contemporary practice.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aello

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocypete

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podarge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celaeno

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strofades

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