This piece is one of a kind
Dimensions: 29 x 18 x 22 cm
The tale of the Pleiades is one of the oldest in existence, versions have been told all over the world. Writing from 3rd Century BCE, Greek Poet Aratus of Soli named the constellation the Seven Sisters but he reports that only 6 are visible to the naked eye, with the narrative reflecting this; every account tells of one of the sisters disappearing. Using this information, this myth has been dated back to a time when there were seven stars visible to the naked eye, before one dimmed, at least 100,000 years ago.
In the Greek version of the myth, Pleione is walking through the countryside with her daughters, when they were spotted by Orion, a giant so big that it was said he could walk on the sea floor, and his head would still be above the water. Orion chased after the women, and for seven years they ran from him. Eventually they asked Zeus for help, who agree to help them, since their father, Atlas, was busy holding up the heavens. Zeus turned them into doves, but since Orion was a great hunter, he could still track them down, and so Zeus immortalised them, turning them into stars.
Orion would, over time, also be placed in the night sky by Zeus as well, since he continued to cause trouble on Earth, notably with Artemis and Apollo. This meant the hunt continued through the cosmos. Earth’s rotation gives the impression that Orion is chasing the Pleaides across the night sky.
This antique box features six drawers. Spread over the box are seven doves in various states of flight. Dotted amongst them are lab-grown diamond stars, in the form of Nebra Discs, which is the oldest visual representation of the constellation, dating 3600 years old. On either side, depictions of Orion, just out of sight- he wades through the ocean and the skies, in constant chase of the sisters. Orion is in constant motion; parts of him swing, hinting that he could reach out at any moment to grab his prey. Through interacting with the box, you are contributing to the myth; opening a drawer may put one of the doves in his sight, whilst closing it again puts the sister out of harm’s way.
The tale of the Pleiades is one of the oldest in existence, versions have been told all over the world. Writing from 3rd Century BCE, Greek Poet Aratus of Soli named the constellation the Seven Sisters but he reports that only 6 are visible to the naked eye, with the narrative reflecting this; every account tells of one of the sisters disappearing. Using this information, this myth has been dated back to a time when there were seven stars visible to the naked eye, before one dimmed, at least 100,000 years ago.
In the Greek version of the myth, Pleione is walking through the countryside with her daughters, when they were spotted by Orion, a giant so big that it was said he could walk on the sea floor, and his head would still be above the water. Orion chased after the women, and for seven years they ran from him. Eventually they asked Zeus for help, who agree to help them, since their father, Atlas, was busy holding up the heavens. Zeus turned them into doves, but since Orion was a great hunter, he could still track them down, and so Zeus immortalised them, turning them into stars.
Orion would, over time, also be placed in the night sky by Zeus as well, since he continued to cause trouble on Earth, notably with Artemis and Apollo. This meant the hunt continued through the cosmos. Earth’s rotation gives the impression that Orion is chasing the Pleaides across the night sky.
This antique box features six drawers. Spread over the box are seven doves in various states of flight. Dotted amongst them are lab-grown diamond stars, in the form of Nebra Discs, which is the oldest visual representation of the constellation, dating 3600 years old. On either side, depictions of Orion, just out of sight- he wades through the ocean and the skies, in constant chase of the sisters. Orion is in constant motion; parts of him swing, hinting that he could reach out at any moment to grab his prey. Through interacting with the box, you are contributing to the myth; opening a drawer may put one of the doves in his sight, whilst closing it again puts the sister out of harm’s way.
This piece is one of a kind
Dimensions: 29 x 18 x 22 cm