shield

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Object Type
Museum number: 1880,1216.1
Description: Copper alloy shield decorated with incised figures of lions and bulls; the concentric friezes are laid out with the lions and bulls changing direction and base line, so that when the shield is upright no animal is upside down, inscription in Urartian cuneiform of Rusa, son of Erimena. This was one of several fragmentary shields which may have decorated the façade of the temple.
Authority
Cultures/periods
Production date: 650BC (c.)
Excavator/field collector: Excavated by: Emilius Clayton; Excavated by: Dr G C Raynolds; Excavated by: Hormuzd Rassam
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: Toprakkale
Materials
Technique
Dimensions: Diameter: 85.20 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Part of 1880,1216.3
Bibliographic references: Sigrist M et al 1996a / Catalogue of the Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum, II; Barnett 1950a / The Excavations of the British Museum at Toprak Kale near Van (p.13, pl.X.1); Budge 1922a / A guide to the Babylonian and Assyrian antiquities. (p.169); König F W 1955a / Handbuch der chaldischen Inschriften (133e, pp.26,162, pl.99); Perrot G & Chipiez C 1884a / Histoire de l'art dans l'antiquite, II Chaldee et Assyria (p.756, fig.415); Azarpay G 1968a / Urartian art and artifacts: a chronological study. (pl.56 & 57, a,b); Bossert H T 1942a / Altanatolien: Kunst und Handwerk in Kleinasien (p.315); Coogan M D et al 1994a / Scripture and other artifacts: Essays in the Bible and archaeology in honor of Philip J. King (pp.286-295)
Location: On display (G54/dc6/sB)
Exhibition history: Exhibited 1991 28 May-7 Oct, Israel, Jerusalem, The Israel Museum, 'Urartu, A metal working centre in the first millennium BC'
Subjects: wild cat/big cat; cattle
Associated names: Named in inscription: Rusa III; Named in inscription: Erimena
Associated places: Named in inscription: Van (city)
Acquisition date: 1880
Department: Middle East
Registration number: 1880,1216.1
Conservation

Free entry

Opening hours