Lion head plaque, Iron Age II, 9th century b.c.
Iran; Excavated at Hasanlu
Ivory
Technical Glossary
Iran; Excavated at Hasanlu
Ivory
.83 x 1.18 x .02 in. (2.11 x 3 x .51 cm)
Rogers Fund, 1965 (65.163.22)
This ivory plaque with a winged, snarling lion is one of several similarly decorated ivory fragments excavated at Hasanlu. The creature's mane is rendered in triangular tufts, while its wing is shown with four feathers emerging from a curved band. A dowel hole at the upper left suggests how such carved plaques were once attached to pieces of furniture or other objects. Although winged lions exist in both Assyrian and northern Syrian art, this example reflects a style of ivory carving found at Hasanlu.
