Lyre Fragment
Bull Head
B17694B
Location: On Display in the Middle East Galleries
From: Iraq | Ur
Curatorial Section: Near Eastern
| Object Number | B17694B |
| Current Location | Middle East Galleries - On Display |
| Provenience | Iraq | Ur |
| Archaeology Area | PG 789 |
| Date Made | ca. 2450 BCE |
| Section | Near Eastern |
| Materials | Gold | Shell | Lapis Lazuli | Bitumen | Silver |
| Iconography | Bull Head |
| Description | Gold and Lapis head of the Great Lyre. Eyes of head are either Conus or Strombus CBS Register: Bull's gold head, and shell inlay plaques. Harp of the king. Reconstructed. PG 789 (A is the Plaque, B is the Head) Bull's head in sheet gold with lapis beard found in grave 789 of the Royal Cemetery at Ur. There is a great deal of detail in the bull’s eyes, snout, and the curls of its beard, which represents the power of the king as well as the god Shamash. It was originally affixed to the front of a wooden lyre, the decayed remains of which were somewhat apparent in the soil when excavated. |
| Length | 40 cm |
| Width | 25 cm |
| Depth | 19 cm |
| Credit Line | British Museum/University Museum Expedition to Ur, Iraq, 1928 |
| Other Number | U.10556 - Field No SF |
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