Object Description
An Old Babylonian, fired clay plaque, depicting a rearing lion attacking a kneeling warrior. The wild animal is depicted on it’s hind legs, with an elongated body and rounded head. Its ferocious jaw snarls as it attacks, its front paws placed on the warrior’s head and chest, pushing him to his knees. The man braces his weight on his left hand, leaning back. He drives a sword or dagger into the belly of the animal. The scene is stylistic in its depiction but the theme and its occupants are clearly defined. Whilst the scene is simple, the artists has used the space available masterly, with the length of the lion filling three of the four corners of the plaque. The final corner is filled by the kneeling man, completing the composition without any awkward space left. The back of the plaque is unworked.
Date: Circa 1900 – 1500 BC