Face of the Demon Humbaba

Illustration

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
by
published on 26 February 2018
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Face of the Demon Humbaba Download Full Size Image

Face of the demon Humbaba (Huwawa), a monster featured and slaughtered in the Epic of Gilgamesh, from Sippar, Southern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq, Old Babylonian Period, 1800-1600 BCE.

This example of his features was used in the interpretation of omens. The convolutions of the mask represent the intestines of a sheep examined for divination. There are five lines of cuneiform inscription on the back of this mask (not shown).

The British Museum, London.

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2018, February 26). Face of the Demon Humbaba. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8103/face-of-the-demon-humbaba/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Face of the Demon Humbaba." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 26, 2018. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8103/face-of-the-demon-humbaba/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Face of the Demon Humbaba." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 26 Feb 2018. Web. 22 Feb 2025.

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