Image Details

Photo by Erich Lessing

Crouching lions ornament the foot of this basalt cult basin, one of at least six found in various temples at Ebla and dated by their style of carving to about 1900 to 1800 B.C. This one turned up in Temple B1, dedicated to Resheph, the god of war and plague. A warrior stands between each lion on the short side, and a banquet scene adorns the upper register of the long side.