Molded plaque: eagle-headed apkallu
Unknown Artist
ca. 8th–7th century BCE
Medium
Ceramic, lime, bitumen
Dimensions
5.25 x 3.25 in. (13.34 x 8.26 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Reliefs
Culture & Period
Assyrian · Neo-Assyrian
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.72.6
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Ancient Near Eastern galleries, where we encounter the "Molded plaque: eagle apkallu," a captivating ceramic relief from the Neo-Assyrian period (ca. 8th–7th century BCE).ed by an unknown Assyrian artist, this small plaque (5.25 x 3.25 in.) depicts a mythical apkallu—a wise, protective spirit with the head of an eagle, human body, and often bird-like talons. These beings were revered as sages who brought civilization and divine knowledge to humanity, serving as guardians in Assyrian lore. In the mighty Neo-Assyrian Empire, known for its grand palaces and imperial might, such pl...