peiwan.cheng
Winged Protective Deity
1) Relief, alabaster
2) Sacred Tree
3) Northern Iran (northwest Palace of Calakh), Assayrian, Reign of Assurnasirpal II, 883-859 B.C. The relief along with many others covered the palace walls from the throne room to the lavatories. It was used to protect the King from unforeseen terrors. The winged guardians (minor deities) keep the King from harm. This relief shows the winged guardian pollinating a sacred tree. Across the middle of the relief, is a “standard” inscription that tells about the King’s conquests and achievements.
4) Protection
5) I chose this piece because there seems to be various levels of interpretation for how pollinating a tree protects the king from harm. Maybe it symbolizes the fertility of the women of the household. The King is reproducing the next generation of warriors who will add to his conquest and achievements. Or maybe it is simply the reproduction of more sacred trees and the powers it embodies will magnify to aid the King by whichever means.
Winged Protective Deity
1) Relief, alabaster
2) Sacred Tree
3) Northern Iran (northwest Palace of Calakh), Assayrian, Reign of Assurnasirpal II, 883-859 B.C. The relief along with many others covered the palace walls from the throne room to the lavatories. It was used to protect the King from unforeseen terrors. The winged guardians (minor deities) keep the King from harm. This relief shows the winged guardian pollinating a sacred tree. Across the middle of the relief, is a “standard” inscription that tells about the King’s conquests and achievements.
4) Protection
5) I chose this piece because there seems to be various levels of interpretation for how pollinating a tree protects the king from harm. Maybe it symbolizes the fertility of the women of the household. The King is reproducing the next generation of warriors who will add to his conquest and achievements. Or maybe it is simply the reproduction of more sacred trees and the powers it embodies will magnify to aid the King by whichever means.