Ornament

ca. 9th–7th century BCE

Not on view

This small shell piece was found in a well in the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud, together with other similar shell ornaments, several of which are also in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection (54.117.16, .17, .19). They were probably thrown into the well when the palace was sacked, in 614 B.C. and then again two years later. They can be identified as horse trappings, and were probably part of a leather harness which disintegrated in the well sludge. Horses in the reliefs of the palace of Sargon II at Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad) are represented with double-fan shaped ornaments on their bridles, as in a relief in the Metropolitan Museum (33.16.1) showing a groom with two horses. Because of the close parallel with the reliefs from the palace at Dur Sharrukin, the equestrian harness elements from this well probably date to the time of Sargon in the late eighth century B.C. At this time, the Northwest Palace was primarily used for storage rather than as a royal residence.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Ornament
Period: Neo-Assyrian
Date: ca. 9th–7th century BCE
Geography: Mesopotamia, Nimrud (ancient Kalhu)
Culture: Assyrian
Medium: Shell
Dimensions: 1.06 in. (2.69 cm)
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1954
Object Number: 54.117.18
Curatorial Department: Ancient West Asian Art

More Artwork

From the same culture

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Inlays, Shell, Assyrian — Inlays
Assyrian
ca. 9th–7th century BCE

Decorative boss, Shell, Assyrian — Decorative boss
Assyrian
ca. 8th century BCE

Shell fragment, Shell, Assyrian — Shell fragment
Assyrian
ca. 9th–8th century BCE

Plaque with a striding sphinx, Shell, Assyrian — Plaque with a striding sphinx
Assyrian
ca. 8th century BCE

Plaque in the form of a tree, Shell, Assyrian — Plaque in the form of a tree
Assyrian
ca. 9th–8th century BCE

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.