Fragments of plaque with fantastic creatures

Unknown

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

This bronze plaque, now in three pieces, depicts two fantastic creatures in repousse. The creatures, which resemble stylized lions, face each other with their mouths open. They have long, bulbous snouts, round eyes, and spikes running down their backs which may represent manes. More of the creature on the left is preserved, including its hindquarters and the tip of its tail. A border of raised dots is visible at the top and right side of the image. This plaque was excavated at Surkh Dum, a settlement site in Luristan in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran. It was found in a structure interpreted as a sanctuary and was thus probably an offering to a god. Despite being found in Luristan, the style of the plaque is quite different from that of other Iron Age metalwork from the region, suggesting it may be an import.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 8th–7th century BCE

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Iran

Department

Ancient Near Eastern Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1943