Lyre Fragment
Bull Head
| Object Number: | B17694B |
|---|---|
| Current Location: |
Middle East Galleries Currently 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 |
| 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 |
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.
Current & Past Exhibitions:
| Ancient Mesopotamia: The Royal Tombs of Ur (1983 - 1998) | View Objects in Exhibition |
| Iraq's Ancient Past: Rediscovering Ur's Royal Cemetery ( Oct 2009 - Jan 2017) | View Objects in Exhibition |
| Middle East Galleries (21 Apr 2018) | View Objects in Exhibition |
Bibliography:
| [Book] Dorling Kindersley Limited. 2014. History of the World in 1,000 Objects.. London. Dorling Kindersley Limited. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: Frontis Piece | View Objects related to this Actual Citation |
| [Book] Quick, Jennifer. 2004. Magnificent Objects from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.. Philadelphia. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. ed. 1st. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: 149 | View Objects related to this Actual Citation |
| [Catalogue, Exhibition] Aruz, Joan. 2003. Art of the First Cities: The Third Millenium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus.. New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: 105 | View Objects related to this Actual Citation |
| [Article] Adams, Liliana O. 2003. "Sumerian Harps from Ur". The American Harp Journal. The American Harp Society, Inc. Vol. 19. no. 3. pg. 9-13 Actual Citation | View Objects related to this Actual Citation |
| [Book] de Schauensee, Maude. 2002. Two Lyres from Ur.. Philadelphia. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. pg. 125 Actual Citation | View Objects related to this Actual Citation |
| [Catalogue] Horne, Lee C., and Zettler, Richard L. 1998. Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur.. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: Pages 53-57/Figure 3 | View Objects related to this Actual Citation |
| [Catalogue, Collection] 1965. Guide to the Collections, The University Museum.. Philadelphia. The University Museum. pg. 1-167 Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: p. 10 | View Objects related to this Actual Citation |
| [Book] Polin, Claire C. 07 Apr 1954. Gifts of Jubal: Musical Instruments from the Ancient East.. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: plate I | View Objects related to this Actual Citation |
| [Book] Galpin, Francis W. 1937. The Music of the Sumerians and their Immediate Sucessors the Babylonian and Assyrians.. Cambridge University Press. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: Plate VIII:2 | View Objects related to this Actual Citation |
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