DOI Artikel:
Shannahan, John: Samarian depictions of the figure in the winged disc
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31074#0036
JOHN SHANNAHAN
34
unmatched in Achaemenid art. In reliefs, he will frequently appear with a ring
similar to that in Types 1 and 2. He may also appear with a lotus flower. The fig-
urę in the winged disc, however, is not presented holding both objects at the same
time in Achaemenid art.
Thus there were several changes madę by the Samarians to the Achaemenid
motif which render Types 1 and 2 noteworthy. The image clearly did not derive
ffom any numismatic prototype, nor from any monumental depiction. While Type
2 is comparable to one seal impression, Type 1 remains an enigma. The evidence
offered by dress omaments, however, may hołd the answer to the question of icon-
ographic precedents.
Comparatively littie of Achaemenid dress is known. Yet the similarities be-
tween Types 1 and 2 and surviving Achaemenid jewellery are impossible to ignore.
Four examples reveal the depths of the likeness. The first is a group of four-winged
pendants found in the Caucasus (Sairkhe) (PI. 3, Fig. 10)A The lower pair of wings
is almost horizontal, but the wings are splayed in a fashion reminiscent of Types
1 and 2 here. These pendants are comparable to another example: a clothing ap-
plique found in a grave at SardisA It is remarkable for its depiction of the figurę
with a taił extending łike a fifth wing below him, and curving at the tip to the right.
The third examp!e is a clothing plaque from the Oxus treasure (Pł. 3, Fig. 11)A
It bears closest resemblance to Type 1. The four wings extend identically, and the
figurę is tumed to the left, holding a lotus Tower in his left hand (the right hand ap-
pears empty). The torso terminates in a central disc, like Type 2. The finał example
is a pair of earrings, one of which is in the Norbert Schimmel Collection, while
the other is held by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (PI. 3, Fig. 12)Y The figurę
faces left in one earring and right in the other, the lower pair of wings is almost
horizontal, and the central disc is presented in the same manner as that in Type 2.
Differences emerge in the length of the torso visible, and in the absence of tendrils
from the jewellery pieces. Overall, these finał two examples are the most compa-
rable to Types 1 and 2.
As strange as it may seem, the iconographic precedents for these types must
have been styled in a fashion similar to these Achaemenid omaments. The angle of
the wings is especially significant. Only the Berlin seal shows wings like Types 1
and 2 A But all of the aforementioned clothing omaments present their wings an-
gled downwards. Their presentation of the central disc is also identical to Type 2.
KNAUSS 2006: Fig. 14.
SHAHBAZI 1980: Fig. 1.
CURTIS and TALLLIS 2005: Cat. 188; BM 123936.
44MUSCARELLA 1974: no. 156; TILIA 1978: PI. C I; MFAB accessionnumber: 1971.256.
431.e. JACOBS 1991: Fig. 3.
34
unmatched in Achaemenid art. In reliefs, he will frequently appear with a ring
similar to that in Types 1 and 2. He may also appear with a lotus flower. The fig-
urę in the winged disc, however, is not presented holding both objects at the same
time in Achaemenid art.
Thus there were several changes madę by the Samarians to the Achaemenid
motif which render Types 1 and 2 noteworthy. The image clearly did not derive
ffom any numismatic prototype, nor from any monumental depiction. While Type
2 is comparable to one seal impression, Type 1 remains an enigma. The evidence
offered by dress omaments, however, may hołd the answer to the question of icon-
ographic precedents.
Comparatively littie of Achaemenid dress is known. Yet the similarities be-
tween Types 1 and 2 and surviving Achaemenid jewellery are impossible to ignore.
Four examples reveal the depths of the likeness. The first is a group of four-winged
pendants found in the Caucasus (Sairkhe) (PI. 3, Fig. 10)A The lower pair of wings
is almost horizontal, but the wings are splayed in a fashion reminiscent of Types
1 and 2 here. These pendants are comparable to another example: a clothing ap-
plique found in a grave at SardisA It is remarkable for its depiction of the figurę
with a taił extending łike a fifth wing below him, and curving at the tip to the right.
The third examp!e is a clothing plaque from the Oxus treasure (Pł. 3, Fig. 11)A
It bears closest resemblance to Type 1. The four wings extend identically, and the
figurę is tumed to the left, holding a lotus Tower in his left hand (the right hand ap-
pears empty). The torso terminates in a central disc, like Type 2. The finał example
is a pair of earrings, one of which is in the Norbert Schimmel Collection, while
the other is held by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (PI. 3, Fig. 12)Y The figurę
faces left in one earring and right in the other, the lower pair of wings is almost
horizontal, and the central disc is presented in the same manner as that in Type 2.
Differences emerge in the length of the torso visible, and in the absence of tendrils
from the jewellery pieces. Overall, these finał two examples are the most compa-
rable to Types 1 and 2.
As strange as it may seem, the iconographic precedents for these types must
have been styled in a fashion similar to these Achaemenid omaments. The angle of
the wings is especially significant. Only the Berlin seal shows wings like Types 1
and 2 A But all of the aforementioned clothing omaments present their wings an-
gled downwards. Their presentation of the central disc is also identical to Type 2.
KNAUSS 2006: Fig. 14.
SHAHBAZI 1980: Fig. 1.
CURTIS and TALLLIS 2005: Cat. 188; BM 123936.
44MUSCARELLA 1974: no. 156; TILIA 1978: PI. C I; MFAB accessionnumber: 1971.256.
431.e. JACOBS 1991: Fig. 3.