Pendant in the form of a dog
Not on view
This cast bronze pendant is in the form of a dog. It has a long snout, pointed ears, a tubular body and a raised tail. A thick suspension loop connects the back of its head with its shoulders.
This pendant was excavated at Surkh Dum, a settlement site in Luristan in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran. It was part of a large hoard of objects buried beneath a doorjamb in a structure interpreted as a sanctuary; thus the objects were probably offerings made for a god. Indeed, in Mesopotamia dogs were often associated with specific gods. But it is unknown whether this dog had a secular or a sacred purpose, or both.
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