Figure of a supernatural creature

Unknown

ca. 8th–7th century BCE · Ivory · Ancient Near Eastern Art

This fragmentary creature carved in the round combines the head of a man, the forelegs of a kneeling horse, the body of a fish, and large wings. Details such as the fish scales and textured hair and beard are finely modeled, and deep cavities were carved for inlay in the eyes, eyebrows, and wing feathers, all of which are now missing. A tenon is preserved at the bottom, suggesting it was originally attached to a frame, perhaps as part of a piece of furniture. In 1946 a treasure was reportedly found at a mound near the village of Ziwiye in northwestern Iran. Objects attributed to Ziwiye are stylistically similar to Assyrian art of the eighth and seventh centuries B.C. as well as to the art of contemporary Syria, Urartu, and Scythia. Many objects of gold, silver, bronze, ivory, and ceramic have since appeared on the antiquities market with the provenance of Ziwiye, although there is no way to verify this identification.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 8th–7th century BCE

Medium

Ivory

Culture

Iran

Department

Ancient Near Eastern Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1951