The Uruk Trough, sheep approaching a reed hut, lambs emerge
European Museums, The British Museum Sheep approaching a reed hut from
which lambs emerge on The Uruk Trough The Uruk Trough This
stone was found at Uruk, the largest city so far discovered in southern
Mesopotamia, and dates to about 3300 - 3000 B.C. If it is raised high
enough for the relief decoration on its sides to be seen, it cannot
easily be used as a trough or basin - it was probably a cult object in
the temple of the goddess Inanna. Inanna or Ishtar was the Sumerian
goddess of love and fertility and also supreme goddess of Uruk. This
object is one of the earliest examples of formal religious art from
Mesopotamia. The carving shows sheep approaching a reed hut from
which lambs emerge. The meaning of the scene is uncertain, but it
probably reflects the fertility of flocks under the protection of
Inanna. The high volutes on either side of the hut and elsewhere are
symbols of the goddess. Rosettes, depicted on the ends of the trough,
also seem to have been associated with Inanna and they feature
prominently in Sumerian art. Late Uruk period, 3300 - 3000 B.C. From Uruk ME120000
Supplementary images:
Sheep approaching a reed hut from which lambs emerge on The Uruk Trough
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