Object in Focus: The Queen of the Night - Softcover

Collon, Dominique

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714150436 ISBN 13: 9780714150437

Publisher: British Museum Press, 2005

Synopsis

A concise and beautifully designed book exploring the symbolism behind an exquisite Ancient Babylonian plaque found in southern Iraq. This spectacular terracotta plaque was the principal acquisition for the British Museum's 250th anniversary, and in 2004 was exhibited in various museums around the UK. Made between 1800 and 1859 BC, it is made from baked straw-tempered clay and modelled in high relief. It probably stood in a shrine and could represent the demoness Lilitu, known in the Bible as Lilith, or a Mesopotamian goddess. The figure wears the horned headdress characteristic of a Mesopotamian deity, and holds a rod and ring of justice, symbols of her divinity. Her long multi-coloured wings hang downwards, indicating that she is a goddess of the Underworld. The book explores the history and symbolism behind this beautiful and highly unusual relief.

About this title

About the Author

Dominique Collon had special responsibility for the Queen of the Night as curator of the Mesopotamian collections in the British Museum. She was also curator of the Anatolian collections, and of seals of the Ancient Near East. She is the author of Ancient Near Eastern Art, First Impressions: Cylinder Seals in the Ancient Near East, Interpreting the Past: Near Eastern Seals and two catalogues of the cylinder seals in the British Museum's collection.

Edition details

• Publisher: British Museum Press
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0714150436
• ISBN 13: 9780714150437
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48