Samian Sibyl c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have an intriguing print titled "Samian Sibyl," creator unknown, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, I’m drawn to the intensity of her gaze, that sword, and the strange figures at the base, a little creepy, honestly. Curator: Indeed. The Sibyls, prophetesses of antiquity, often held both power and a sense of foreboding. Her sword perhaps a symbol of power, a tool or a metaphor for a terrible fate. Editor: It makes you think about power dynamics in ancient times, even the burden of knowledge. Did she choose this, or was it thrust upon her? Curator: That's a critical question when viewing images of powerful women through history: how much agency did they have? Editor: And that question gives this centuries-old image a modern relevance, doesn't it? A reminder that the past is never really past.