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The Nimrud bowls: New data from an analysis of the objects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2014

Francesca Onnis
Francesca Onnis*
Affiliation:
Université Lyon2 — Archéorient (UMR 5133), Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée, 7 rue Raulin, 69007 Lyon, France, francesca.onnis@mom.fr
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Abstract

The metal vessels known as the “Nimrud bowls” were discovered in the North-West Palace at Nimrud. Despite their clear archaeological context, the style and the iconographic themes of their decoration clearly betray that they are not the work of Assyrian craftsmen. Traditionally, they have been connected to the so-called “Phoenician bowls”. Today, a more general Levantine origin for the Nimrud bowls is proposed, although it has hitherto not been possible to determine their exact provenance. A review of the Nimrud bowls focusing specifically on their shape and decoration techniques provides new hints, hopefully contributing to a better understanding of the manufacture and function of these vessels. Furthermore, some characteristics shared by these vessels highlight the unity and homogeneity of the cluster and help to identify the manufacturers.

Keywords

Phoenicianmetal bowlsiconographyNimrudmetallurgy
Type
Research Article
Information
IRAQ , Volume 71 , 2009 , pp. 139 - 150
Copyright
Copyright © The British Institute for the Study of Iraq 2010

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