Anatolian Silver Work

Fig. 1 - Figure of a Priest

     The ancient civilizations in Turkey produced some great silver work. Here are a number of pieces from different time periods. Some (fig. 1 to 3) are in the Penn Museum and the
others (figures 4 and 5) are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Fig. 2 - Detail of a Silver Statuette of a Priest

     The first object (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) is a silver statuette of a priest that dates from around 800 - 700 B. C. It was found in Bayidir in a tumulus burial. Note the rather large eyes of the priest, something I have seen in Sumerian votive statues (usually made of alabaster) as well.

     Figure 3 is an Omphalus (drinking) bowl dating to somewhere between 800 and 700 B. C. and is from the same tumulus (tumulus D) burial as the statuette of the priest.

Fig. 3 Silver Drinking Bowl from Bayidir, Tumulus D

Fig. 4 - Hittite Silver Drinking Rhyton in the form of a Stag

     The Silver Rhytons are from the Hittite Period in Turkey and date to about 1400 - 1300 B. C. Figure 4 shows a rhyton in the form of a stag. The antlers and handle were added separately and the owner drank from the rear of the Rhyton. The frieze at the rear of  the object show a god and a goddess separated by an incense burner, with three men also being shown making offerings to the deities. The bull Rhyton may represent the god Teshub. The eyes and brows of the bull were once inlaid.

Fig. 5 - Hittite Silver Drinking Rhyton