The gate of the year

Two opposing faces of a magic tablet in stone (diorite), dating to the Assyrian period (VIII-VII century B.C.), now in the California Museum of Ancient Art, Beverly Hills, CA, USA. These kind of objects are usually called “Lamashtu Tablets”, from the name of the female demon which often appears on them, as in the actual case, and had the function to avert the diseases that were sent by this spirit. On the front of the tablet this demon is represented with nude breast and the head of a roaring lion, with long ears, similar to those of a donkey. She hold in her hands two double-headed snakes and she suckles at her breast two dogs. On the back of the tablet is represented a procession of figures with human bodies and animal heads, perhaps a group of demons, or celebrants personating demons who wear animal masks.

[Image: http://www.cmaa-museum.org/meso15.html]




Human-Animal Transformation

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Two opposing faces of a magic tablet in stone (diorite), dating to the Assyrian period (VIII-VII century B.C.), now in the California Museum of Ancient Art, Beverly Hills, CA, USA. These kind of objects are usually called “Lamashtu Tablets”, from the name of the female demon which often appears on them, as in the actual case, and had the function to avert the diseases that were sent by this spirit. On the front of the tablet this demon is represented with nude breast and the head of a roaring lion, with long ears, similar to those of a donkey. She hold in her hands two double-headed snakes and she suckles at her breast two dogs. On the back of the tablet is represented a procession of figures with human bodies and animal heads, perhaps a group of demons, or celebrants personating demons who wear animal masks. [Image: http://www.cmaa-museum.org/meso15.html]