Assyrian Falcon-Headed Sphinxes
by Weston Westmoreland
Title
Assyrian Falcon-Headed Sphinxes
Artist
Weston Westmoreland
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Two falcon-headed sphinxes trampling captives. Assyrian empire, Circa 9th–7th century B.C.
Inspired in Egyptian art, this sphinxes show falcon heads instead of human and are carved in an ivory plaque.
The sphinxes are trampling two fallen bearded men. These men wear long, belted and pleated robes, rest on their left elbows, and bend their legs at the knee with their heads sharply turned to the right by the paws of the sphinxes above them. This composition is associated with the triumph of the Pharaoh in Egyptian art but the meaning in Assyrian context remains unknown, since this carving was not made for an Egyptian audience.
This piece was found in Nimrud, one of the Assyrian capitals. Ram-headed sphinxes were often depicted in Egyptian art when this ivory was carved, probably by Phoenician artisans. Ram-headed sphinxes were often depicted in the Nile Valley during the Third Intermediate Period, a time that coincided with Phoenician presence in the Levant. The slender proportions of these creature are typically Phoenician, as are several elements drawn from Egyptian art including the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, the sun disk and the headdress. The plaque was probably part of a piece of furniture.
Built by the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II, the palaces and storerooms of Nimrud housed thousands of pieces of carved ivory obtained from war booty or tribute. Most of the pieces were part of furniture inlays or small boxes.
Some of them were carved in the Assyrian style, but the majority display images and styles of North Syria and the Phoenician city-states. It was usual to find Egyptian imagery in Phoenician art.
More amazing statues, sculptures and carvings at https://weston-westmoreland.pixels.com/collections/statues+sculptures+carvings
Weston Westmoreland
Uploaded
July 4th, 2019
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