between 2700 B.C. and 2500 B.C.
white marble
28 x 23.5 mm
Morgan Seal 53
Provenance:
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes:
"The same desire for balanced composition determined the postures of the individual animals and humans in the frieze. The forms of the reversed animals in 53-55, 57, 58, for example, balance the outlines of the upright heroes and rampant animals... Frequently, as in 53... the human heroes are joined in their fight by a bull-man, who makes his first appearance in this age. It was thought by earlier Assyriologists that this bull-man could be identified with Enkidu, the friend of the epic hero Gilgamesh, while Gilgamesh himself was identified with the nude bearded hero with curls." Porada, CANES, p. 9-10
Summary:
Hero reversing ibex -- Lion attacked by bull-man with long weapon -- Lion reversed by bull-man -- Scorpion in field.
Place:
Southern Mesopotamia.
Period:
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Classification:
Department: