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Ancient hedgehogs: a visual thread.
1st up is *maybe* my favourite – JUST LOOK AT HIM! Faience hedgehog rolled up in a defensive ball with his face, feet, & tail shown in relief. Egypt; Early Dynasty 18 (ca. 1550–1450 B.C.); @metmuseum (inv. 1989.281.91)
1st up is *maybe* my favourite – JUST LOOK AT HIM! Faience hedgehog rolled up in a defensive ball with his face, feet, & tail shown in relief. Egypt; Early Dynasty 18 (ca. 1550–1450 B.C.); @metmuseum (inv. 1989.281.91)
2. Hedgehog mounted on wheels!
From Susa (Iran), near the temple of Inshushinak, ca. 1,500–1,200 BCE. Now in the @MuseeLouvre
Read more about the finds from this temple cache here https://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/temple-inshushinak-cache
From Susa (Iran), near the temple of Inshushinak, ca. 1,500–1,200 BCE. Now in the @MuseeLouvre
Read more about the finds from this temple cache here https://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/temple-inshushinak-cache
3. Cycladic theriomorphic vase in the shape of a hedgehog. Love the painted detail on this object (that looks like the lovechild of a hedgehog and a bear). From Chalandriani, Syros, EC II (ca.2750-2200 BCE)
In the National Archaeological Museum, Athens
In the National Archaeological Museum, Athens
4. Another round hedgehog, but this time not in a ball, just round and happy walking through foliage.
Vessel from Abydos (Tomb DII), ca. 1,500 BCE
@AshmoleanMuseum (AN1896-1908 AE2775)
Vessel from Abydos (Tomb DII), ca. 1,500 BCE
@AshmoleanMuseum (AN1896-1908 AE2775)
5. Drinking vessel, rhyton, in the shape of a hedgehog, found in Ugarit (northern Syria), but imported from Greece; ca. 1,300–1,200 BCE
@MuseeLouvre (AO 18573)
@MuseeLouvre (AO 18573)
6. Cosmetic-vessel, in the form of hedgehog with human head on back – many similar small vessels survive from Egypt from the late period. This one is from Dynasty 26 (664–525 BCE)
@britishmuseum (EA29362)
@britishmuseum (EA29362)
7. Something different! A small hedgehog on the handle of a Chinese bronze knife, from Northeast China, 7th-5th cent. BC.
@metmuseum (2002.201.9)
@metmuseum (2002.201.9)
8. A faience hedgehog rattle from Middle Kingdom Egypt.
The way hedgehogs roll into a ball made it an ideal protective symbol–the rattle would be used to ward off snakes, scorpions, malevolent spirits, etc.
@brooklynmuseum (59.186)
The way hedgehogs roll into a ball made it an ideal protective symbol–the rattle would be used to ward off snakes, scorpions, malevolent spirits, etc.
@brooklynmuseum (59.186)
9. Hedgehog figure from Tepe Gawra (Mosul region, northwest Iraq), aa. 2500 BCE.
@pennmuseum (inv. 32-21-35)
For more on Tepe Gawra, see: https://www.penn.museum/documents/publications/expedition/PDFs/45-3/One%20of%20Iraq.pdf
@pennmuseum (inv. 32-21-35)
For more on Tepe Gawra, see: https://www.penn.museum/documents/publications/expedition/PDFs/45-3/One%20of%20Iraq.pdf
10. Old Babylonian cylinder seal, with a hedgehog between the goddess and the king, above the lying bull; ca. 2000–1600 BCE. Can you spot it?
@britishmuseum (inv. 130694)
@britishmuseum (inv. 130694)
11. Another rhyton (drinking vessel) in the shape of a standing hedgehog.
Early Aegean, Helladic; Bronze Age, Late Helladic III C Period (ca. 1200–1100 BCE)
@mfaboston (69.1144)
Early Aegean, Helladic; Bronze Age, Late Helladic III C Period (ca. 1200–1100 BCE)
@mfaboston (69.1144)
12. Tiny scaraboid in the shape of a hedgehog (only 1.5cm high but such detail!). From Late Period, Egypt (760–332 BCE). The underside of the scaraboid has a curved pattern, not text.
@mfaboston (inv. 19.3)
@mfaboston (inv. 19.3)
