Sunday, October 9, 2016

Metsopotamian Dogs in Art

 
The land between the rivers, Mesopotamia has dogs made from clay, or mud, cooked to high temperatures which have survived until today.  I found these images that I think are interesting from mud.






Old Babylonian Terracotta Relief Plaque: Mastiff walking right
(Mesopotamia; 1800-1600 BC; L 3.25 inches)

Mesopotamian Terracotta Dog with Kassite Cross
  1800-1600 BC; 11 inches


This stone Votive dog statuette dedicated by a physician from Lagash to the goddess Ninisina, ‘for the life of Sumu-El’, king of Larsa (1894–1866 BC).  Votive statues are about prayers of thanksgiving, and have large eyes which symbolize eternal wakefulness.