Ornament with heads of roaring lions, possibly the terminal of a sword or dagger hilt
This unique limestone object formed part of a handle or hilt. The circular piercing that runs from end to end might have held the blade of a sword or dagger, or another object such as the military standards sometimes seen in Assyrian art. Many Assyrian sculptures depict swords whose hilts bear a striking resemblance to this object, with a round pommel and roaring lion heads (here two half-heads: the upper jaw of one lion forms the lower jaw of the other) where the blade would have been inserted. In this case the heads are well carved in a classic Assyrian style.
The handle originally featured considerable decoration in other materials, now largely lost. A small surviving element of decoration shows that the middle sections, separated by ridges, were once filled with mosaic tesserae in white, red, and green, together with gold foil, that formed guilloche patterns. The lion heads still retain lapis lazuli ‘warts’ above the eyes, and lapis lazuli survives at the rim of one eye. The lions’ eyes themselves would certainly have been inlaid.
The handle originally featured considerable decoration in other materials, now largely lost. A small surviving element of decoration shows that the middle sections, separated by ridges, were once filled with mosaic tesserae in white, red, and green, together with gold foil, that formed guilloche patterns. The lion heads still retain lapis lazuli ‘warts’ above the eyes, and lapis lazuli survives at the rim of one eye. The lions’ eyes themselves would certainly have been inlaid.
Artwork Details
- Title: Ornament with heads of roaring lions, possibly the terminal of a sword or dagger hilt
- Period: Neo-Assyrian
- Date: ca. 8th century BCE
- Geography: Mesopotamia, Nimrud (ancient Kalhu)
- Culture: Assyrian
- Medium: Limestone, lapis lazuli, faience inlay
- Dimensions: 3 11/16 × 1 13/16 × 1 9/16 in. (9.4 × 4.6 × 4 cm)
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1954
- Object Number: 54.117.20
- Curatorial Department: Ancient West Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Assyrian
ca. 883–859 BCE
Assyrian
ca. 883–859 BCE
Assyrian
ca. 883–859 BCE
Assyrian
ca. 883–859 BCE
Assyrian
ca. 883–859 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.