Anzu as a Captive Before Ea

Illustration

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
by
published on 20 February 2018
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Anzu as a Captive Before Ea Download Full Size Image

This cylinder seal depicts a scene of Anzu and Ea. On the left, a bearded god wearing a horned headdress and a striped kilt holds a branch of vegetation in a cleft stick (or a plough) over his shoulder. Next to him, another and similarly attired god holds a bird-man (Anzu, who has stolen the Tablets of Destiny) with his right hand while threatening him with a dart held by his left hand. The bird-man has his hands tied up behind him while a rope encircles his neck and this rope is held by another god. The latter wears a flounced skirt and a horned headdress. All of them stand before the seated god Ea (the water-god and patron of crafts). Ea wears a flounced robe. Double streams of water flow from Ea's shoulders, on either side. Above Ea, the star symbol appears and there is a pair of fish before him. Akkadian Period, circa 2250 BCE. Precise provenance of excavation is unknown. (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 20). Anzu as a Captive Before Ea. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8130/anzu-as-a-captive-before-ea/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Anzu as a Captive Before Ea." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 20, 2018. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8130/anzu-as-a-captive-before-ea/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Anzu as a Captive Before Ea." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 20 Feb 2018. Web. 21 Feb 2025.

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