Cylindrical Seal With A Strange Design Discovered In Dezful (Iran)

CHN ^ | 5-28-2006

[blam]

5/28/2006 2:34:00 PM

Cylindrical Seal with a Strange Design Discovered in Dezful

Archeological excavations in Khuzestan province led to discovery of a cylindrical seal designed with a winged horse with a lion’s head and a cow’s hooves!

Tehran, 28 May 2006 (CHN) -- Archeological excavations in Sanjar Tepe in Khuzestan province resulted in discovery of a cylindrical seal with the design of a winged horse on its end. Although it is not the first time archeologists are confronted with the design of a winged horse in Iran, what makes this one special compared to the previous ones is that this winged horse has a lion’s head and a cow or a goat’s hooves, creating a strange creature which combines features of a horse, a bird, a lion, and a cow!

“A stone seal which most probably belongs to the Sassanid era (226-651 AD) was discovered during the first archeological excavation in Sanjar Tepe in Dezful. The design of a winged horse can be seen on the seal whose head is like a lion and has round hoofs like a cow or a goat. Horse was considered as a sacred animal during the Sassanid period and had a special place among the Persians of the time. We had previously found a large number of Sassanid seals with the designs of winged horses on them in other archeological sites but what makes this one unique among all the pervious ones is that it is the first time we see such a strange combination of four animals all in one. Another interesting thing about this design is that the hooves are round not cracked, although we don’t have any idea about the reason it is designed so,” said Mostafa Abdolahi, archeologist and head of Archeology Department of Azad University of Dezful.

First season of archeological excavations in Sanjar Tepe has started by the students of Dezful Azad University under the supervision of Dr. Pour Derakhshandeh. According to Abdolahi, the objects which have been discovered so far in this historical site, including clay, bronze and iron relics, were displayed in an exhibition in Khuzestan which was held during the Cultural Heritage Week (18-25 of May).

“Some models illustrating the Islamic architectural style used in the constructions of the city and colored posters from some historic monuments prepared by the students were displayed in this exhibition. In addition, some documentary movies from different archeological sites were screened in this exhibition,” said Abdolahi.

Sanjar historical Tepe is located in the city of Dezful in Khuzestan province, south of Iran, and belongs to the Elamite period (2700 BC-539 BC). The first season of archeological excavations in this historical site led to discovery of the location of Zahari, the Elamite city. “This city was located between the cities of Susa and Avan. Considering the archeological evidence found in the region, we believe that this city must have existed near the Sanjar Tepe,” added Abdolahi.

[blam]

GGG Ping.

[tlj18]

This artifact comes from a period before Iran was assaulted by Islam.

Just imagine how much better the world would be if Islam never existed. How much easier this war would be. No crazy beliefs about the 12th imam!

[edpc]

Ancient history is fascinating. I was able to visit the ruins of Rome this past March. It would be great to visit some of the sites in the Middle East, but the risks aren't worth it right now.

[truth_seeker]

Since it is NOT muslim, shouldn't they blow it up?

Their Afghan neighbors did.

[Dreagon]

If only Ghenghis Khan had finished what he started.

[isthisnickcool]

We are in big trouble if this thing is related to Manbearpig!

[Fred Hayek]

Didn't Ghenhis Khan offer to assist the Crusaders? It would have at least opened a second front against the Islamicists.

[The_Reader_David]

No, but Kublai Khan, successor to Ghenghis's Chinese holdings, sent Nestorian Christian monks to Europe to propose an alliance between Buddhists and Christians against the Muslims.

Unfortunately, they made it to Paris, rather than Constantinople, where they were warmly, though quizically, received, and their embassy came to naught.

[Right Wing Assault]

It's got a lion's head. Where do the horns come in? None of those critters have horns. They don't even mention them in the story.

[kenth]

Manbearpig's cousin?

[JimSEA]

Some of his descendants, the Tatars, Became warriors for Islam. Others, the Moghuls supplied many of the Islamic rulers of India. The Mongols took very will to some of the aspects of Jihad unfortunately for millions (most also Muslim but backing the wrong side)

[lafroste]

Cowcatpeg?

[JasonC]

Some of the early crusaders thought the pressure on Islam from the central steppe was coming from a mythical detached Christian civilization, which they spoke of as being led by "Prester John", with an eye to Revelation. But it was all myth. The mongols did smash the eastern caliphate, while still pagan. They were then stopped in battle by Egyptian forces. Islam spread rapidly through their Turkish soldier ranks after their early successes.

[JasonC]

This one is nothing, you should visit the Louvre sometime. Best collection of these artifacts in the world. Two other places with some nice pieces are the British Museum and the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, but both are pikers with a few broken bricks, compared to the Louvre. Room size pieces from ancient Assyria, etc.

[edpc]

Museums are OK, but I really liked seeing the ruins in person. Walking through the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Pantheon, Roman Forum, and Pompeii blows looking at something behind glass away. I'd like to visit Greece next. Maybe the Middle East will be safe enough to visit freely before I get too old for travel.

[JasonC]

Um, in the Louvre they aren't behind glass - some of the pieces are entire walls, frescos 20 feet high, etc. Most are "in the round", whole galleries full of statues larger than life, etc. Only small pieces are in display cases - bits of cuniform tablets or items of jewelry e.g. If Ninevah still stood you might ask for more, but it doesn't.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
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[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

This artifact comes from a period before Iran was assaulted by Islam.

I just read that on wikipedia and thought the same thing. Looking at the pics of the artwork, they were stunning. This piece will be interesting to follow to see what else they find out about it.

[Buffettfan]

[[If only Ghenghis Khan had finished what he started.]]

Or Genjis Khan as Hanoi John Kerry would pronounce it.

[B.O. Plenty]

No islam....know peace

[litehaus]

After a fashion he's still at it......The gene pool from that "tribe" is rampant thruout the present population....maybe explains some attitude towards cruelty?

[litehaus]

'Moghuls' supplied many of the Islamic rulers of India. The 'Mongols'.....Are the TWO same, but from different times and places, but essentially the same "plains horsemen/archers?"

[JimSEA]

As I understand, the Mongol empire was broken up into the Golden Horde, the White Horde, Moghulistan (where the eventual rulers of India originated), etc.. These areas could eventually not be held under the decedents of Genghis Khan and became subject to warlords (at base this was the origin of Tamerlane). It is confusingly complex. Much of the central Asian tribalism can be traced back to the breakup of the Horde (actually its return to the tribalism from which Genghis Khan united it). The Horde rolled over and destroyed many Steppe cultures in their expansion out of their mountains.

[bert]

Could be sculpturer error or perhaps modern artistic license of the period in hoof carving.

[gopheraj]

Good Lord! I really must be a redneck. LOL I read that as taters. Must be all that tater salad I made yesterday!

Some of his descendants, the Tatars,

[S0122017]

There are sculpture in China (supposedly dragons) that look just like that.

http://www.thejadetrade.com/ian/p22b.html

I think these lion-like dragons probably really are lions. Don't forget that that there are no lions in Japan and China, so pictures of them would have made an impression. Then maybe dragon-ized, the pictures might have made it back to the middle east.

[S0122017]

See? Horns, lion-body, wings.. if that ain't the same motif!

[SunkenCiv]

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[fish hawk]

Picture? How did they get a block wall into a cylindrical seal? And the front feet are Lions and the back feet are Eagle or at least bird feet (no cows hooves). No mention of the goat horns on the head. Something fishy in Denmark?

[wildbill]

One of the Mongols slaughtered everyone in Baghdad, about 750,000 estimated dead, in the 13th century because they failed to surrender to his horde.

[rdl6989]

a winged horse with a lion’s head and a cow’s hooves.

Ok, where are the Helen Thomas pics? I know they're coming!

[freedom44]

Thanks more than likely Zoroastrian.

[Ciexyz]

Mid East civilization ping.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1639878/posts?page=18#18

[Ciexyz]

The cylinder seal looks like the decorations from the walls of ancient Babylon, as I remember from my college textbook "Art of the Ancient Near East"...but then, it's been many years since my college days, hehehe.

[gleeaikin]

"How did they get a block wall into a cylindrical seal?"

I don't think the illustration was of the seal. I think they just used it to depict the kind of flying horse motif in use at the time."

regarding Chinese dragons, some think that their depiction may have been influenced by dinosaur fossil finds in the Gobi and elsewhere.