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Ancient Near East & Levant · c. 6000 BCE – 650 CE

Luristan & Iranian bronze charms

Meaning

Luristan bronzes show a hero or 'Master of Animals' gripping beasts, along with ibexes, lions, demons and goddesses. Their imagery is about controlling the wild and dangerous forces of the mountains.

Intent

Worn as pendants or pinned to clothing, and dedicated at shrines as votive pins with disc heads, they sought protection, fertility and the favour of the gods. Many come from burials and shrine deposits.

Significance

They are among the most distinctive and most forged ancient bronzes; the art market flooded with them after the 1920s. Genuine excavated pieces from Surkh Dum and other sites give them context.

History

Luristan bronzes span roughly 1500–600 BCE, peaking in the Iron Age (c. 1000–650 BCE), from the Zagros mountains of western Iran. Their makers are uncertain, perhaps Kassite or Cimmerian-related herders.

Making yours
Lost-wax bronze with thick green patina. Pins run 10–30 cm with repoussé disc heads; pendants are 3–8 cm.
Ancient Near East & Levant: the tradition

Mesopotamian protection grew out of a world crowded with named demons, each with a job: Lamashtu killed infants, the utukku haunted, fever demons struck. Exorcists (ashipu) wrote incantation series such as Maqlû and the Lamashtu texts, and amulets put those texts and images to work. Carved stone animal seals of the Uruk period (c. 3500 BCE) are among the oldest amulet-seals anywhere. In the first millennium BCE, Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian households hung Pazuzu heads and Lamashtu plaques. Phoenician traders spread Egyptianising amulets and glass faces across the Mediterranean, and in Sasanian Mesopotamia Jews, Christians and Mandaeans buried inscribed incantation bowls under their floors.

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Amulet from Parthian Empire (247 BCE–224 CE)Amulet from Parthian Empire (247 BCE–224 CE)Parthian Empire (247 BCE–224 CE) · 1–200 CEVotive PinVotive PinIran, Luristan · early 1000s BCEA brass circular amulet with engraved Arabic prayers, possibly IranA brass circular amulet with engraved Arabic prayers, possibly IranIran · 1700-1800Amulet, gold, with engraved calligraphy on each face with floral enamelled borders, Iran, dated 1211 AH (1796 Amulet, gold, with engraved calligraphy on each face with floral enamelled borders, Iran, dated 1211 AH (1796 1796Leren halssnoer met twee amulettenLeren halssnoer met twee amulettenNetherlandsArmband (bāzūband) of three amuletsArmband (bāzūband) of three amuletsIrelandAmulett in Gestalt eines WiddersAmulett in Gestalt eines WiddersKarlsruheColier filigranat (corect Colier); colier amuletăColier filigranat (corect Colier); colier amuletăAsiaJade amulet pendantJade amulet pendantIndiaAmulet (image 2 of 2)Amulet (image 2 of 2)11 th century date QS:P571,+1050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Amulet from Parthian Empire (247 BCE–224 CE)Amulet from Parthian Empire (247 BCE–224 CE)Parthian Empire (247 BCE–224 CE) · 1–200 CEAmulet, Iran, 1800-1876Amulet, Iran, 1800-1876Iran · 1800-1876Amulet, carved with Qur'an sura 114 (al-Nas)Amulet, carved with Qur'an sura 114 (al-Nas)IrelandCarnelian amulet carved with protective verses from the Qur'anCarnelian amulet carved with protective verses from the Qur'anIndiaSamartian-Persian necklace and amuletSamartian-Persian necklace and amuletNecklace and amulet: 1. century BC – 2. century AD Photo: ?Amulet quoting the Throne Verse from the Qur’anAmulet quoting the Throne Verse from the Qur’anIrelandFish amuletFish amuletca. 9th century B.C.Amulet, with design of roses bearing holy namesAmulet, with design of roses bearing holy namesIrelandIran sud-orientale, amuleto a forma di mosca, in steatite, AO 25209Iran sud-orientale, amuleto a forma di mosca, in steatite, AO 25209Khalili Collection Islamic Art tls 1911Khalili Collection Islamic Art tls 1911Luristan, amuleti, in bronzo, 1300-550 ac ca, AO 20739Luristan, amuleti, in bronzo, 1300-550 ac ca, AO 20739Brass hand, Iran, 1880-1925Brass hand, Iran, 1880-1925Magical mirror Louvre AA10Magical mirror Louvre AA10Collectie Wereldmuseum, TM-1088-41, Amulet, 'Schedelamulet', voor 1937Collectie Wereldmuseum, TM-1088-41, Amulet, 'Schedelamulet', voor 1937Giyan, amuleto a silhouette stilizzata con fori, in avorio, da tepe giyan, 2000-1000 ac ca, AO 15938Giyan, amuleto a silhouette stilizzata con fori, in avorio, da tepe giyan, 2000-1000 ac ca, AO 15938Iran sud-orientale, amuleto a forma di uccello, in steatite, AO 26072Iran sud-orientale, amuleto a forma di uccello, in steatite, AO 26072AmuletAmulet5th–3rd millennium B.C.AmuletAmulet3rd millennium B.C.AmuletAmulet5th–3rd millennium B.C.AmuletAmuletAmuletAmulet

More from Ancient Near East & Levant: Pazuzu heads & figures · Lamashtu plaques · Stamp-seal & animal amulets · Eye idols · Phoenician & Punic glass faces · Aramaic incantation bowls · Other & unsorted Ancient Near East
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Anything in the gallery can be made: any piece, any tradition, in its own material or yours, by hand from the documented original. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted before anything is made. I reply within one business day.