CIRCA 8TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

AN URARTIAN BRONZE VOTIVE PLAQUE
CIRCA 8TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.
Of hammered sheet bronze, probably depicting the storm god, Teisheba, enthroned wearing a long cloak and sun disc crown, holding three thunderbolts in his left hand, a bull seated beneath the throne, before him four worshippers, wearing fringed cloaks, hands raised in supplication, various items in the field including rayed sun, crescent moon, calf head, eyes and winged sun disc, with four attachment holes
3¾ x 3½ in. (9.5 x 8.9 cm.)

Provenance

The Thétis Collection, Geneva, Switzerland; acquired prior to 1970.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

For discussion of similar plaques cf. R.D. Barnett, Urartu, in J. Boardman et al. eds, The Cambridge Ancient History, vol.III, pt 1, Cambridge, 1982, ch. 8.

A large number of similar figurative votive plaques are known, the most significant group was found at Giyimli in 1971. The majority are rectangular or square depicting one or more figures, often supplicants before a god. There is a suggestion that some plaques were originally belt fittings before being used as offerings. CF. O. A. Tasyürek, 'The Urartian Bronze Hoard from Giyimli', Expedition 19:4, 1977, p. 12-20.

More from Antiquities

View All