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Protective deity with the head of a griffin
Near Eastern, Mesopotamian, Assyrian
Neo-Assyrian Period
10th–9th century B.C.
Medium/Technique
Silver
Dimensions
Legacy dimension: H: 5.3 cm W: 1.9 cm x D: .8 cm
Credit Line
Morris and Louise Rosenthal Fund
Accession Number1990.247
CollectionsAncient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East
ClassificationsFurniture
DescriptionThis object was likely mounted on a small piece of furniture. It would have formed part of a frieze of related protective spirits similar to the large reliefs to your left. It may represent a bird-headed apkallu (antediluvian sage).
Provenance1990, sold by Emmanuel Tiliakos, Alexander Fine Art, Winchester, MA, to the MFA. (Accession Date: May 23, 1990)