Contest frieze

Download image: 
between 1894 B.C. and 1595 B.C.
hematite
26 x 13.5 mm
Morgan Seal 362
Provenance: 
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes: 

"... while the arrangement of the Old Babylonian contests is similar to that used in the earlier period, the introduction of new figures, especially in 359-369, indicates that such ontests had acquire new significance. The new figures include a goat seated upright on a knoll and attacked by a lion or lion-griffin or both, and a man on one knee at the mercy of similar assailants." Porada, CANES, p. 44

Summary: 

Bull-man fighting lion; nude bearded hero on one knee, poised on back of second lion and holding third lion behind his head; man on one knee on knoll, with lion-griffin attacking.

Place: 
Southern Mesopotamia.
Classification: 
Department: