ticketsMember | Make a donation

Sickle sword

ca. 1307–1275 BCE
Not on view
This curved sword bears the cuneiform inscription "Palace of Adad-nirari, king of the universe, son of Arik-den-ili, king of Assyria, son of Enlil-nirari, king of Assyria," indicating that it was the property of the Middle Assyrian king Adad-nirari I (r. 1307–1275 B.C.). The inscription appears in three places on the sword: on both sides of the blade and along its (noncutting) edge. Also on both sides of the blade is an engraving of an antelope reclining on some sort of platform.
Curved swords appear frequently in Mesopotamian art as symbols of authority, often in the hands of gods and kings. It is therefore likely that this sword was used by Adad-nirari, not necessarily in battle, but in ceremonies as an emblem of his royal power.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sickle sword
  • Period: Middle Assyrian
  • Date: ca. 1307–1275 BCE
  • Geography: Northern Mesopotamia
  • Culture: Assyrian
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Dimensions: 2 13/16 × 21 1/16 × 1/2 in. (7.2 × 53.5 × 1.2 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1911
  • Object Number: 11.166.1
  • Curatorial Department: Ancient West Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Pendants and beads, Gold, Babylonian
Pendants and beads
Babylonian
ca. 18th–17th century BCE
Enthroned deity, Bronze, gold foil, Canaanite
Enthroned deity
Canaanite
ca. 14th–13th century BCE
Helmet with divine figures beneath a bird with outstretched wings, Bronze, gold foil over bitumen, Elamite
Helmet with divine figures beneath a bird with outstretched wings
Elamite
ca. 1500–1100 BCE
Seated goddess with a child, Gold, Hittite
Seated goddess with a child
Hittite
ca. 14th–13th century BCE
Vessel terminating in the forepart of a stag, Silver, gold inlay, Hittite
Vessel terminating in the forepart of a stag
Hittite
ca. 14th–13th century BCE

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.