back to overview
 


Mythology


Mythology



2 subcategories
Monsters

MONSTERS

Mythological Animals

MYTHOLOGICAL ANIMALS

2,473 photos
Stucco plaque of a legendary dog-headed bird known as senmurw. This fabulous animal first appears in the late Sasanian period of the 6th century in embroidered roundels on textiles. In one tradition it sits on the tree of life and by beating its wings spreads the tree's seeds across the earth. ANE 135913
#03070146

Stucco plaque of a legendary dog-headed bird known as senmurw. This fabulous ani...

A phenix,mythologicl bird,rising from the ashes. Ivory carving,back of chair No.3 Detail,total size 58 x 58 cm
#03070161

A phenix,mythologicl bird,rising from the ashes. Ivory carving,back of ch...

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Human headed monster trampling a hind. Bronze, 18 x 18 cm
#03070164

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Human headed monster tr...

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological animals. Bronze, H:19 cm
#03070165

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological an...

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological animals. Bronze, H:19 cm
#03070166

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological an...

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological animals. Bronze, H:19 cm
#03070167

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological an...

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological animals. Bronze, H:19 cm
#03070168

Horsebit from Luristan,Iran,8th-7th BCE Fabulous,mythological an...

Group of sancai ceramic tomb figures, probably Henan province, Tang dynasty, early 8th century. The group comprises two fabulous beasts (one with a human face), two fierce lokapala, guardian figures usually seen at the entrance to temples, and in the centre, two officials, one military, one civil. The military official has armour over his green robe and a bird of prey on his hat. About one metre high, these are among the tallest known burial figures from the Tang dynasty (618-906). They are reputed to be from the tomb of Liu Tingxun, an important military commander who died in 728. The memorial tablet found with these figures records his skill in military matters and the arts of statesmanship, and that he died at the age of seventy-two. Apart from the heads, the figures are completely covered with lead sancai (three-colour) glaze. OA, 1936.10-12.220-9
#03070228

Group of sancai ceramic tomb figures, probably Henan province, Tang dynasty, ear...

Cloisonné jar, Ming dynasty, Xuande period, c1426-c1435. Depicting a dragon among clouds. The inscription on the neck of the jar shows that it was made under the auspices of the Yuyongjian, a division of the Imperial Household. The Chinese perfected the cloisonné enamel technique in the fifteenth century. By the time this jar was made it was considered appropriate for imperial use, and many superb pieces were made for palaces and temples. Some of the vessel forms were borrowed from ancient Chinese bronzes. Other shapes, and some of the motifs, resemble contemporary porcelains. OA, 1957.5-1.1
#03070235

Cloisonné jar, Ming dynasty, Xuande period, c1426-c1435. Depicting a dragon amon...

Jade rhyton, Chinese, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century. This cup takes the traditional form of a hornshaped rhyton. It stands vertically on a flat, narrow base, widening to an uneven lip. An inscription is carved around the inside of the lip. The outside surface is carved with wave-like scrolls, where sea-creatures frolic carved in bold relief. The lower half of the cup is held in the mouth of a fish or dragon, whose tail twists along the side of the cup.
#03070239

Jade rhyton, Chinese, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century. This cup takes the tradit...

Shadow puppet from Java, Indonesia, 19th century. The colours and designs of Javanese shadow puppets are all clues to help identify the character. Here the figure, taken from an Indian version of the tale of the Ramayana, the reddish-pink colour of Kumbakarna's face is an indication of his ruthlessness, while the tusks in the corner of his mouth suggest that he is a giant or a monster. However, he also has positive characteristics, such as his loyalty to his brother, which are brought out in the performance.The earliest references to shadow puppets in Java are by court poets in the eleventh century. The puppeteer is not simply a performer, but also a ritual specialist because of the beneficial influence that the performance of shadow plays is believed to have on the well-being of the community. Ethno, 1859.12-28.547
#03070270

Shadow puppet from Java, Indonesia, 19th century. The colours and designs of Jav...

Assault on the house of Kira Yoshinaga by the 47 Ronin under the leadership of Oishi Yoshio (1659-1703). The true story of the 47 Ronin (masterless samurai) of the province of Harima is probably the best-known story of the valor and ideals (the Code of Bushido) of Japan's famous samurai warriors. The story tells of a group of samurai who were left leaderless (became ronin) after their master was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaga (whose title was Ko-zuke no Suke), who had insulted him. They avenged him by killing the court official after patiently waiting and planning for over a year. In turn, they were themselves forced to commit seppuku for committing the crime of murder, as they had known they would be - the tale being about the honorable fulfillment of revenge, especially for an honorable leader.
#030703 2

Assault on the house of Kira Yoshinaga by the 47 Ronin under the leadership of O...