Clay Fired, fired clay
1000-500 BCE
Iraq, West Asia, West Asia
Vorderasiatisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient Mesopotamia
Theme
Ancient Societies
Subtheme
Frailties of childhood
Case Title
Will the child servive?
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
Babylon, Merkes (ancient Babylon), Iraq
Measurements
11.5 x 4.6 cm
Accession Number
VA Bab 00570
Description
The myth of demons stealing your child expresses the universal fear of infant illness and death – so everywhere, children wore protective amulets. In Mesopotamia, Lamashtu was the dreaded lion-headed and donkey-toothed demon. To hold Lamashtu at bay, families kept an amulet with her image or of Pazuzu, the demon that attacked her.
