On the Typology of the Serpent-like Monsters Fighting Against the Hero in the Near Eastern Iconography of the 3rd — First Half 1st Millennia BC

Shelestin, Vladimir; Nemirovsky, Alexander A.; Iasenovskaia, Anastasia

doi:10.18254/S207987840017716-6

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On the Typology of the Serpent-like Monsters Fighting Against the Hero in the Near Eastern Iconography of the 3rd — First Half 1st Millennia BC

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On the Typology of the Serpent-like Monsters Fighting Against the Hero in the Near Eastern Iconography of the 3rd — First Half 1st Millennia BC

PII

S207987840017716-6-1

DOI

10.18254/S207987840017716-6

Publication type

Article

Status

Published

Authors

Vladimir Shelestin

Affiliation:
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Alexander A. Nemirovsky

Affiliation:
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Institute of World History RAS
Higher School of Economics
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Anastasia Iasenovskaia

Affiliation:
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

ISTORIYA

Edition

Abstract

The paper gives the typology of the serpent-like monster images in the art of Western Asia of 3rd — first half 1st millennia BC. We’ve studied 14 such images, beginning with the Early Dynastic seals and ending with the Neo-Babylonian amulet, by comparison of 10 parameters, and established four main types of similar monsters: 7-headed, 2-headed with 2 paws, 1-headed with 2 paws and 1-headed legless one. 7- and 1-headed monsters are typical for Mesopotamian tradition, whereas 2-headed for (Eastern) Anatolian one. The Mesopotamian monsters could get two forelegs thanks to the interactions between these traditions that opens new horizons for studying the cultural interaction between Asia Minor and Mesopotamia.

Keywords

Ancient Anatolia, Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Near East, glyptic, serpent fighting

Acknowledgment

The research presented in the article is sponsored by the Russian Science Foundation, project no 19-18-00369 “The Classical Orient: culture, world-view, tradition of research in Russia (based on the monuments in the collection of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and archive sources)”.

Received

07.11.2022

Publication date

15.03.2023

Number of characters

40201

Cite

GOST	Shelestin V., Nemirovsky A., Iasenovskaia A. On the Typology of the Serpent-like Monsters Fighting Against the Hero in the Near Eastern Iconography of the 3rd — First Half 1st Millennia BC // ISTORIYA – 2023. – V. 14. – Issue 2 (124) [Electronic resource]. URL: https://history.jes.su/S207987840017716-6-1 (circulation date: 02.05.2024). DOI: 10.18254/S207987840017716-6
MLA	Shelestin, Vladimir, Nemirovsky, Alexander A, Iasenovskaia, Anastasia "On the Typology of the Serpent-like Monsters Fighting Against the Hero in the Near Eastern Iconography of the 3rd — First Half 1st Millennia BC." ISTORIYA 14.2 (124) (2023) DOI: 10.18254/S207987840017716-6
APA	Shelestin V., Nemirovsky A., Iasenovskaia A. (2023). On the Typology of the Serpent-like Monsters Fighting Against the Hero in the Near Eastern Iconography of the 3rd — First Half 1st Millennia BC. ISTORIYA 14(2 (124)) DOI: 10.18254/S207987840017716-6

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