Decorative boss ca. 8th century B.C. Assyrian This curved object, carved from a thick piece of shell and decorated with small circles and dots, was part of a group of 18 similar pieces found in a well in the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud. They were probably thrown into the well when the palace was sacked, in 614 B.C. and then again two years later. Their function is mysterious. All were pierced in the center and in some examples a nail remained in the central hole, which must have fastened the shell to a backing in some other material, perhaps wood. Other objects found in the same well can be identified as horse trappings, such as the small shell ornaments and studs also in the Metropolitan Museums collection (54.117.16-.19). These were probably part of a leather harness, which disintegrated in the well sludge. Horses in the reliefs of the palace of Sargon II at Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad) are represented with similar double-fan shaped ornaments on their bridles,

Brand: PL Photography Limited
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Decorative boss ca. 8th century B.C. Assyrian This curved object, carved from a thick piece of shell and decorated with small circles and dots, was part of a group of 18 similar pieces found in a well in the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud. They were probably thrown into the well when the palace was sacked, in 614 B.C. and then again two years later. Their function is mysterious. All were pierced in the center and in some examples a nail remained in the central hole, which must have fastened the shell to a backing in some other material, perhaps wood. Other objects found in the same well can be identified as horse trappings, such as the small shell ornaments and studs also in the Metropolitan Museums collection (54.117.16-.19). These were probably part of a leather harness, which disintegrated in the well sludge. Horses in the reliefs of the palace of Sargon II at Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad) are represented with similar double-fan shaped ornaments on their bridles,

SuperStock offers millions of photos, videos, and stock assets to creatives around the world. This image of Decorative boss ca. 8th century B.C. Assyrian This curved object, carved from a thick piece of shell and decorated with small circles and dots, was part of a group of 18 similar pieces found in a well in the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud. They were probably thrown into the well when the palace was sacked, in 614 B.C. and then again two years later. Their function is mysterious. All were pierced in the center and in some examples a nail remained in the central hole, which must have fastened the shell to a backing in some other material, perhaps wood. Other objects found in the same well can be identified as horse trappings, such as the small shell ornaments and studs also in the Metropolitan Museums collection (54.117.16-.19). These were probably part of a leather harness, which disintegrated in the well sludge. Horses in the reliefs of the palace of Sargon II at Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad) are represented with similar double-fan shaped ornaments on their bridles, by Piemags/PL Photography Limited is available for licensing today.

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