Title: Stone Bowl
Creator: Once Known
Date: 2600 – 2400 BCE
Culture: Mesopotamian
Medium: Chlorite
Dimensions: Height: 10.90-11.20 cm; Diameter: 17.80cm (rim, exterior); Diameter: 17.00cm (rim, interior); Volume: 2100.00ml
Repository: The British Museum
The bowl has two central figures who have long hair, along with cross-hatched skirts. What sets these figures apart is that one of them is wrangling with serpents, as they are both gazing at the figure almost ready to strike. This figure is also standing in the middle of two lions, with their necks looking backward ready to see the scene unfold. The next central figure on the left appears two holding onto something, might it be the tails of the serpent that the other figure is handling? Or might they be entirely new serpents? This figure appears to be kneeling on the two-humped bulls. On the right end of the scene, we also see an up-ended bull being attacked by a lion and a large bird. Other motifs that appear are a scorpion; vegetation; cubs; a crescent moon; and rosette suns.
References:
“Box: British Museum.” The British Museum. Accessed February 14, 2021. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1936-1217-2.
“Stone Bowl – Google Arts & Culture.” Google. Google. Accessed February 14, 2021. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/stone-bowl/-AFn9_QiFZ-JHA.
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