Queen of the Night

[mike_c]

A Mesopotamian terracotta relief of disputed provenance at the British Museum in London. Previously known as the Burney relief (after an antiquities dealer), it was purchased for $2.03 million and renamed the Queen of the Night.

Photography in the British Museum was difficult due to massive crowds and reflections on glass cabinets. Lights were low and I could only shoot hand-held.

[Ocelot II]

1. I love her feet!

[mike_c]

2. me too!

[littlemissmartypants]

12. Symbols of her chthonic powers.

[orleans]

27. or her dancing abilities?

[littlemissmartypants]

28. If she's dancing in hell.

[yonder]

31. Thanks for the new word.

[yorkster]

3. Fantastic. Thx.

[mike_c]

8. glad you like it!

Thank YOU.

[johnnyplankton]

4. Is that an Instagram model?

[mike_c]

9. I'm not sure what an Instagram model is

But I don't use Instagram so probably not.

[Blue Full Moon]

5. Looks like Lilith

[mike_c]

10. it appears the modern consensus...

...is that the figure represents either Ereshkigal or Inanna, both goddesses in the Mesopotamian pantheon.

[Blue Full Moon]

26. Not too surprising since myths do cross cultures

[paleotn]

29. They get recycled, thus Christianity.

The whole dying / rising god thing is pretty old.

[Blue Full Moon]

35. Plus a mushroom trip. Lol

[AverageOldGuy]

6. She looks like . . .

. . . a girl I dated in my junior year in college.

[mike_c]

14. dude....

Dating goddesses never ends well.

[AverageOldGuy]

32. She ripped out my heart and stomped on it . . .

. . . then this drop-dead gorgeous girl in my Shakespeare class -- who I thought would never give me a second look -- took pity on me, patched me up and this July 30 we will have been married for 60 years.

[eppur_se_muova]

33. Wow, you dated a girl with feet like that ???

To each his own, I guess.

[H2O Man]

7. Outstanding!

Recommended!

[mike_c]

15. thanks!

I'm glad you like it!

[Picaro]

11. Pic is excellent

Wouldn’t have known that you had a struggle getting a good shot.

Well, done. Will be touring the British Museum next week. I’ ll be looking for this.

Well done and thanks for posting.

[mike_c]

16. thanks!

My wife did better with her phone in most cases. Have a great time when you go! It's a remarkable museum, even if it is likely the world's greatest monument to cultural theft.

[Picaro]

22. You kind of have to turn off any ethical judgement

Been there a number of years ago. The Elgin marbles are just one representation of British thievery. This piece is another.

Still want to see it.

[mike_c]

24. absolutely

The Elgin marbles, Rosetta Stone, and Assyrian gates are all displayed near one another on the first level. Standing in front of them was really special.

[littlemissmartypants]

13. Well done! ❤️

[mike_c]

18. thank you!

[KPN]

17. Very nice. Great job!

Must be something to see that in person.

[mike_c]

20. thanks!

Pretty much every artifact in that museum is astounding in one way or another.

[fierywoman]

19. Oh wow! "The Magic Flute" is my favorite opera ...

... I'm fascinated by this image. Thank you and : great job with the difficulty photographing it.

[mike_c]

21. thank you!

[democrank]

23. A truly wonderful photo.

Thanks so much for bringing it to us.

[mike_c]

25. thank you, democrank!

[Joinfortmill]

30. Wow!

[George McGovern]

34. Good job mike_c, under less than ideal conditions.

[mike_c]

36. thanks George!