- Provenance
- Provenance research underway.
- Label
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Mythical creatures composed of the parts of different creatures, such as this winged beast, have a long history in the art and thought of the ancient Near East. Sometimes these creatures played a positive role in the human world as protective or guardian spirits. Evil forces could also take various beastly forms, including demons, monsters, serpents, and dragons.
Zoroastrian texts mention mythical creatures with supernatural powers, such as the <u>senmurv,<e> a combination of bird and dog or lion. Winged animals (especially horses) and the <u>senmurv<e> are depicted in Sasanian art in a variety of media, including architectural stucco decoration, silver plates, patterned textiles, and engraved sealstones. In this example, the creature's pose is perfectly adapted to the circular field of the plate.
- Published References
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- Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis. Persian Myths. The Legendary Past Austin and London. pp. 21-23.
- Ann C. Gunter, Paul Jett. Ancient Iranian Metalwork in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art. Washington and Mainz, Germany, 1992. cat. 22, pp. 145-47.
- Collection Area(s)
- Ancient Near Eastern Art
- Web Resources
- Google Cultural Institute
- SI Usage Statement
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Usage Conditions Apply
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CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
Usage Conditions Apply
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
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International Image Interoperability Framework
FS-8084_25